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Meet your community champions!

replies: 12

Hi everyone, We wanted to share with you the way that our wonderful Community Champions are here to support you. You may have noticed that a few of our Forums members are labelled ‘Community Champion’. Community Champions are volunteers within the Beyond Blue Forums who: have the time, skills and empathy to support other members regularly; help to welcome new members; are actively engaged members that help set the tone of our community. Our Community Champions are regular contributors to many conversations across the forums. They are a consistent and friendly voice that have committed to sharing their experience and expertise with this community. They are not health care professionals or clinicians. Like you, they have an experience with a mental health challenge or diagnosis – either for themselves or someone they care for. This forum is for people who understand what it feels like and have a lived and living experience of mental health challenges. Our Community Champions help everyone feel comfortable and confident by demonstrating what excellent peer support is all about. Click here to find out more about how you can become a Community Champion! This incredible team are excited to introduce themselves below, and we are sure you’ll see them around the forums in conversations important to you.

HELP..Am I posting in the right section?

replies: 10

Welcome to those who are considering posting for the very first time, welcome. Thought I would repost part of the words that Chris B posted awhile ago, (2014) as I can hear that people are unsure if they are posting in the right section or worried that they are posting "the wrong thing". 1.A good title makes the difference Just like a headline in a newspaper, when scanning the dozens of threads to click into, it’s only natural that people will choose the ones that resonate with them most. A title that entices the reader, or asks a question, is likely to get a better result than something non-descriptive like “Depression” or “I don't know what to do”. If you think you’re not good at choosing titles, leave it till last. Spend time writing your post, then perhaps choose a sentence from what you’ve written as the title. 2.Join in threads that have already been posted We all have our own unique stories, but part of the reason for joining a forum like this one is because you know that you will have a lot in common with others who are posting. Before starting a new thread, have a look through the current topics being discussed and see if there’s a conversation you can join in with. It can be quite common to have a handful of very similar threads happening at any one time, with members seemingly unaware that there are others right there who are going through the same thing. Talking to other members on their threads is a great way of getting yourself known so that when you post a thread of your own, people may respond quicker because they recognize your name. 3.Choose the most appropriate section for your post Many people browse the forums looking for stories specifically to do with pregnancy and parenting, employment, grief, loss, separation etc. Going straight for the “Depression” section may seem like the easiest option, but this section is often the busiest, so your post is more likely to get lost among the threads. Making good use of the different forum sections not only helps keep the forum relevant, but you’re more likely to find others who are going through the same experiences as you. Also, if you're wanting to discuss issues of trauma, abuse, suicidal thoughts or self-harm, it's really important you post in the designated section to avoid triggering others who may not wish to read about these topics. Mostly..just come and chat, we are here for you. Our amazing wizards in the background will see your message ends up in the right spot. Sarah

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Hi and hugs

replies: 4

Hi all I'm new here. I just wanted to say g'day and just needed a place to express what I'm feeling. I have been battling mental health issues for over twenty years, engaging with many psychologists over this time. The issues have been with me for as long as I remember and I'm in my forties. I've been misdiagnosed several times and have stopped labelling my experience as anything other than an episode. I'm feeling slightly nervous about being admitted to hospital today for the sixth time. At the same time I'm noticing all the usual unpleasant emotions I experience on admission are not there. Except perhaps feeling a shyness to tell the Psychs what I know I am finally ready to admit. I've noticed pleasant emotions. This feels uncomfortable oddly, perhaps because I haven't allowed myself to do so for a long time. I'm feeling loved and supported both by others and myself. I am curious, hopeful, determined, strong and proud. I was admitted to this facility for a month last year, it was the first time I allowed myself to be vulnerable in front of group sessions. My self awareness grew exponentially. I felt safe to feel unpleasant emotions while I was there. I used music, journalling and exercise, swaying and rocking in my room to calm myself after. I'm sitting typing this with dance music on so I don't feel odd rocking and swaying to alleviate my anxiety. It's working a treat, I don't feel like a doofus and it feels like a nice big internal hug. I'm being super kind and loving towards myself. I am telling me I have done the hard yards and it is paying off, a few more won't hurt. The other troubles in my life have been parked for revisiting at a later date. This time is for me to work on me. I hope everyone else remembers to give themself a big internal hug today : )

First time for everything

replies: 8

Hello, This will be the first time I've ever posted on a forum like this. I'm a little nervous. I'll gather my thoughts and create a proper post eventually. But in the meantime, I'm a mum of three, i'm grieving the loss of a parent, experiencing some significant financial instability and its all coming out as sheer overwhelm and struggling to cope on the daily - Gosh, life can be A LOT at times. So, hi to all, nice to meet you all and I look forward to chatting online sometime. x

Are you grieving too 😞

replies: 5

Today I woke up and I felt heavy & scared and I cried & I thought why am I crying?Today I realized I am grieving... I am grieving because I have lost the one person that should mean the most to me... METhat may sound selfish to some but for many years I have been there for everyone, to listen, to help to carry them through tough times and I now find myself alone... I have a partner and he is a great person but I still feel alone. I have lost motivation and interest in what I love which is my horses, my animals. I have lost my confidence I everything I want to do. I question myself and second guess my daily routine. I believe I am a good person who is always there for others why do they not reciprocate... Is it because I disguise my pain from them and they think I am fine or is it they just don't really care if I am not fine..... So I thought am I being relative should I be proactive I have been treated by physicians & professionals for years I take my medication and normally this keeps everything in perspective but life is never a flat line it is a roller coaster, ups n downs but sometimes the downs are a liitle harder to bare..... Today I joined Beyond Blue to be proactive and try to find the helping hand I need to get through the tougher times

Hi I'm new to posting

replies: 4

Hi, I've just been looking at the posts and threads- thank you! Just writing some of my thoughts and feelings down has, I think, helped

Trouble moving on from help that wasn’t helpful

replies: 2

I paid a life coach $4000 I was bed ridden, couldn’t walk, urinate, eat or work and my hair was falling out. I would cry for a minimum 12 hours after an appointment. Was he right for me? Clearly not! But he said he could help “fix me” even though I said I would go elsewhere. So I paid more money by this stage I was addicted to his drama especially when I woke up to “Hey help me out on a video I posted” which was apparently of his ex wife’s flying monkeys, I was addicted to drama from my ex and he knew this! I have also been told by a professional that because he used the words “fix me” I became codependent upon him. He told me all the above health problems were leading to my destiny! Now that I’m out of the sycophant phase that he seems on needing from his followers I can see how gullible I was spending the $$$ on his “help” He had a weird and wonderful way of having you as a friend and changing to a client when it suits his mood so you have no idea where you stand. My own friends and Husband didn’t like him, yet I stood up for him time and again in true empath style. Once I even asked him if he was a Narcissist as I felt very confused and crocodile tears followed, which I fell for… And really should any “professional” ask how kinky you are? Or would it be better to ask how is your labido? Even his own mother believes he’s in a cult! In a way he was fortunate with me as I believed I psychologically transferred my ex onto him so I kept going to him for “help” only to find out he is equally delusional of his own place in life. Clearly my trouble now is moving on, I was supposed to start work at 9am and it is nearly 1pm and I still have no drive.

Newbie...having a tough time

replies: 9

Hi I am new to the forum so here goes.....I am a 49-year-old father of 4 ...2 adult children and 2 under the age of 15...my story so far .... I was happily married to their mother since 1993 and our life together was normal..until she was diagnosed with Melanoma approx. 6 years ago.....although we tried all treatments it was to no avail and on June 2015 my wife passed away. As you can imagine my concern was my children as we had already been through previous trauma with my oldest girl having a motorbike accident when she was 16 which left her a paraplegic...it was hard on all of us especially her mum. So after her death, I concerned myself with raising our kids the best I could and helping them deal with the loss as well as my wife's family. I meet someone whom I fell for and recently proposed to her. We have been together for 2.5 years now and I love her and she loves me. We recently got back from Broome we I had proposed to her and for whatever reason the last 3 days I have been all over the place. I feel flat, lost, last night she stirred and asked me to move over a bit and for whatever reason I got annoyed over it and couldn't get back to sleep...I kept thinking`Why doesn't she want me near her...does she does not want me in the room..does she not love me anymore` then I woke this morning still feeling that way ...then I tried not to bring it up but I couldn't ...we then argued as she couldn`t understand why I felt the way I did, and you know what I don`t either, it just leaves me wondering what is wrong with me, am I insecure? The thought of losing her just scares me so. I ask myself why am I sabotaging this relationship when it means so much to me.....

Feeling pretty overwhelmed

replies: 3

Hi everyone, I’ve never done this before but I’m really having a super hard time and I don’t know what to do. It’s been one thing after another for a while now and living in Vic with COVID lockdown hasnt helped the stress. Just this weekend I lost one of my closet family members suddenly. I’m so shocked snd heartbroken. I couldn’t see him because of restrictions on travel. Then 48 hours later my best friend passed away and I also haven’t been able to travel to see her in Sydney. These were two of my life’s most favourite people. I feel like I’m made of lead and can’t be bothered to do anything. I can’t sleep, I don’t want to eat. I’m usually a very friendly and happy and motivated person but this has really taken it out of me. Nothing feels good anymore. I’m just so flat. Sorry to be such a downer, I hate to be like this.

My Situation, work and stuff

replies: 1

Hello everyone, I'm currently experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression on my work situation. I have gone through so many jobs and nothing has stuck for me or appealed long term. I have either been let off or resigned. I'm confused about what I want to do and am currently unemployed with no income. I had a couple of jobs in the past which have lasted for over 10 and 3 years, I however grew sick of these roles and felt like I never had the opportunity to progress anywhere. My passion has been in printing and design but have never been able to pursue this as I have made wrong career choices in the past that have steered me in a direction that I don't want to go down (blue collar labouring). I wanted a job in digital design or IT which is what I studied in the past but whenever I apply for these roles I'm considered to be inexperienced, which has frustrated me to the point of wanting to give up. I don't want to give up but am finding it hard to stay positive and optimistic on my future endeavors given whats happened to me in the past. I feel completely lost and this has been negatively effecting my personal life, unable to get a girlfriend, move out of my parents house, save enough money for a place of my own etc. It's pushing me to engage in destructive behaviour. I realise that this will get me nowhere but I believe that I need an outlet for my frustration. I play sport and exercise frequently so that helps. I'm currently 29 years old nearly 30 in January. I have friends but most I never hang out with on the weekends and only chat online once every so often. Have my own car so thats handy for getting to places. I have three job prospects on the horizon yet to hear back on. I really want to change my life around and experience what I've missed out on. Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone!

replies: 3

Hi everyone. I'm new here and thought I should introduce myself. I'm Georgia, and in my twenties. I've been dealing with severe anxiety, depression and OCD for ten years now. The last five years have been horrible. I've been unable to work because of it, unable to go out and socialise and really had a hard time making friends. There were many times I didn't want to keep living as well. I couldn't answer phone calls or make them. I couldn't even answer the door or even walk down the road. It had gotten so bad that my family had their eyes on me round the clock. I started going to therapy last year after finally being fed up with my life and decided to try medication as well. It's changed me for the better. I managed to start studying this year which was a huge step for me, I've made my first phone calls and I can now answer the door. I'm taking my next big step and decided to make a claim for the jobseeker payment. I'm incredibly nervous about this. I really want to work, but as we all know with depression, stepping into the unknown is terrifying. I know that I'm going to be placed with a disability job provider and that they will be conscious of my condition when finding me work. I was just hoping to know if anyone else had experience with finding work and what the whole process looks like. I'm trying not to get worked up, but my thoughts are racing.

Monthly Forums Update: Reflecting Back on September & October

replies: 0

Hi Everyone We acknowledge as communities across Australia experience an easing of lockdown restrictions this can bring about overwhelming feeling and emotions for some. Please know there is support available to work through any difficult moments. It’s likely that others here may be going through something similar, so feel free to join in and connect across the different forum sections. Community Voices: What are people talking about? Family Conflict/Breakdown Hi everyone, has anyone else had a difficult time connecting with their spouse's family? Or any advice appreciated. I have been with my partner for almost 2 years and its great but I don't feel loved by their family. They are never intentionally rude to me nor have they said anything directly to me to upset me, but I get the feeling they just don't care or want to make an effort to get to know me. - w1nn1e (Read more here) The last week has been rough for me. I've been constantly thinking about the future for myself and my family. I'm just an average 18 year old and my life cycle repeats itself everyday - attending online lectures for Uni, chatting with friends and doing what I enjoy. Recently I woke up to my parents having a massive argument in the backyard, I could overhear some of the things they were saying, including my mum telling my dad to move out. My parents argue a lot, but most of the time it's only over small things... so I guess that day was just overbearing for the both of them. - Xenoviah (Read more here) Health Anxiety I thought I had my health anxiety under control, but over the past month I've gone into the doctors maybe 10 or so times for various reasons, and honestly, if I could go in everyday, I would. – 44Max44 (Read more here) I have been suffering health anxiety on and off for over 30 years. Currently going through a rough patch again and waiting to have an ultrasound. My anxiety is very high at the moment and my mind will not slow down thinking all negative thoughts. - Tugboat (Read more here) Coping During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Vaccines I'm getting my 1st Covid Vaccination today and its causing major anxiety, I'm actually not as worried about myself but I'm seriously having anxiety about my 17 year old daughter, I left the decision up to her if she wanted to take it as she is 6 months off 18 and figured it should be a decision she makes, and now I wish she had decided not to have it, recently the Dr put me on medication to help with the anxiety but these feelings Im having about my daughter are so overwhelming I can't stop worrying about her having it. - Rainbowpolly (Read more here) I’ve recently begun having panic attacks I’m slowly learning to de escalate myself from them. I’d love some insight on fearing the fear or living in a state of apprehension as this is how I can best describe my anxiety at the moment. I think subconsciously as I’m not always aware what I was thinking when it happens that I may be sort of stuck in this state of anticipation of something happening. My anxiety was centred mostly around the vaccine oddly it peaked after having it and I started fixating on the physical symptoms of what I assume is the anxiety… - Moonchild 11:11 (Read more here) Meet Beyond Blue’s Newest Community Champions! Mk2692 Stui Mark Z. chadicha Adalaide Baljit Ric65 Read more about the Community Champion's team HERE Valued Contributor Award Our Valued Contributors for the months of September and October are ‘mmMekitty’ and ‘On The Road’! mmMekitty has been nominated for creating a friendly space across the forums for others to join in and share their journey. mmMekitty also makes sure that others feel validated as well as appreciated for their contributions on the forums. On The Road has been nominated for always checking in on other community members and approaching conversations with a high level of empathy, while offering honest insights about how they coped with their own mental health challenges. Thank you mmMekitty and On The Road ! To read more about what a Valued Contributor is and how you can nominate a fellow community member, please refer to our thread Nominate a Valued Contributor here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support BB News/Resources Join Coastrek 2022! Coastrek is a fitness team trekking challenge with the aim to get more women moving in nature with Wild Women On Top. Register for events in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide online today! How to support a healthcare worker during the coronavirus Australia’s healthcare workers are playing a vital role in slowing the coronavirus but many are reporting increased levels of stress and anxiety. How to check in with someone during the coronavirus pandemic We’re all currently facing unprecedented challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic, and one of the most important things we can do is check in with each other. Strategies for transitioning back into the workplace after coronavirus As we move towards COVID normal, it’s important to have strategies that will help you manage your mental health as you transition back into the physical workplace. Managing social anxiety after lockdown If you experience social anxiety, adapting back to normal life may feel hard. Here are some tips on how to manage social anxiety in the moment. Apple Podcasts: My inner critic: Nobody is harder on me than me Beyond Blue's podcast, Not Alone, aims to connect people across Australia by sharing relatable mental health stories.

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

HELP..Am I posting in the right section? replies: 10

Hi and hugs replies: 4

First time for everything replies: 8

Are you grieving too 😞 replies: 5

Hi I'm new to posting replies: 4

Trouble moving on from help that wasn’t helpful replies: 2

Newbie...having a tough time replies: 9

Feeling pretty overwhelmed replies: 3

My Situation, work and stuff replies: 1

Hi everyone! replies: 3

Monthly Forums Update: Reflecting Back on September & October replies: 0