Welcome and Orientation

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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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Hello

replies: 55

Hi all. newbie here. I decided to join because I just simply need help. I’ve never been good at asking for help or admitting when I need it but it’s to the point that I’m now struggling. I have severe anxiety, severe depression, ptsd and post natal depression. Lately everything has just creeped up on me and I’m feeling so confused and overwhelmed over it all. Does anyone have any advice to jus start to cope or how to handle all these? I have a daughter and I feel guilty that I have depression like I feel I should be happy all the time. I just need help

First Post intro

replies: 1

Hi there this is my first post, I’m hoping you guys can point me in the right direction for some help please. My 20 year old daughter has just been diagnosed with Quiet BPD, she also has further mental health issues including ADHD. I’d really like so... View more

Can't cope gb

replies: 5

Hi, I'm new here. I have PTSD and severe anxiety and depression and agoraphobia from long time child abuse. This has been an issue on and off over many years. This time the pandemic made it much worse and I feel hopeless. Need people to talk/ connect... View more

Newbie needing direction.

replies: 5

Hi, I brand new here and I came hoping to find a safe place to talk. And, because I'm new here, I don't know where in the forum to start. I'd appreciate some direction. I've suffered anxiety and PTSD on and off for a long time, and more recently, depression, which is quite severe at the moment. Which is why I am here. I am really struggling and the covid lockdowns and isolation really don't help. Any advice on where to post and how to get the most from these forums will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

About Me & What I Struggle With

replies: 10

Hi, I’m Ace and it’s lovely to meet you all. For some background information about myself, I use any pronouns (he/she/they) with no preference. I also like cats, baking and listening to rock music. I have rarely talked about what issues plague me but I feel like this is the time. For as long as I can remember, I have had nightmares. I have rarely had a good dream in my entire life. Recently (since about a year ago), the nightmares have become even worse. They are more graphic, more terrifying and feel more real. These nightmares I have range from everything from r*pe to violence. Sometimes I am the one committing acts of violence against others but majority of the time I am the victim of this violence. I am making this post now as two nights ago I had the worst nightmare I’ve ever had. I won’t go into detail of what it was about as it is too graphic but simply put it was just more graphic violence. Sometimes when I wake up from these dreams I am too afraid to go back to sleep, but recently I have started becoming afraid of sleeping. Last night I cried thinking about the IDEA of going to sleep because that’s how much these nightmares bother me now. I was so afraid of going to sleep that even though I was incredibly tired, I forced myself to stay awake and pull an all nighter. However, I eventually went to sleep and I didn’t dream. Still, as I am typing this I am dreading the idea of sleeping when it is hours away. I feel like my fear of sleeping is impacting my ability to live my day to day life. I know that these dreams are just it, dreams but when I’m asleep they feel so real that even after I awake, they still haunt me. I would really like to know if anyone else has the problem and how they cope with it. I have additional stress from PTSD which I was diagnosed with last year and exams coming up so I would really like to get 8 hours of sleep a night without dreading it or being haunted by my nightmares. Thank you for reading this lengthy post and I hope you have a wonderful day :).

Stuck with how to start finding help

replies: 3

Hi This is my first time reaching out. I think I need some help. But every time I think about speaking to my doctor I just can’t do it. I am frequently on the verge of tears and have a feeling of panic. I can’t shake the sense that everything is going to go wrong and thinking of all the bad things that could happen. I’m losing my temper more easily and snapping at people at work. I just want to stay in bed under a doona and cry but drag myself to work (essential worker) and run myself into the ground to distract myself. I have a diagnosed autoimmune disease (10years) and cant stop worrying about the future and how my health will decline. I am also frightened of how much it will cost to seek help - I am single, live alone and have no family in this state. Spare money for therapy does not exist. I’m not really sure the point of my post, apart from to start putting in writing how I feel. Some advice on how to be brave enough to find help and how to start the conversation would be appreciated. Thank you

this sydney lockdown is even getting this introvert down

replies: 18

Hi Im new here I was actually enjoying the lockdown till a few days ago - but all the neighbours noises are finally getting to me I just need peace and quiet to be happy -the trail bikes the dup dup music invading my solitude - just being stuck here ... View more

Just joined

replies: 3

I am what people would refer to as a senior. I have always been prone to periods of depression - I am a worrier and one of my parents was a very anxious individual and quite negative about life, the universe and everything. So I think I have inherited at least a part. I have mostly coped in the past because I was working (now retired), and had a loving partner (now widowed since 2015). I always had plenty to do and a shoulder to cry on. But I doubt if I would have joined this without the pandemic. During 2020 I was finishing writing and publishing a book, which finally happened in March this year. This was so all-consuming of my attention that I coped fairly well, particularly not living in a capital city with its attendant lock-downs. Now the virus has spread to the regions, my only face-to-face contact is when my daughter - an essential worker - drops off her 2 children for home schooling 3 days a week. I love the time I spend with them but when on my own, in spite of having lots to do around the house and yard - like catching up on the housework I didn't do whilst writing a book! - I don't feel motivated to do any of it. I have good friends and rels I can talk to on the phone or email, but it just isn't the same.

Hey

replies: 5

I just need to know if anyone else can't stop thinking about their parents dying, and death in general. I know I'm supposed to flip death in its head and live, cherish every moment etc. but it just hovers over everything like a black cloud and genera... View more

What do you do to cope?

replies: 5

New to beyond blue, thought I would reach out to you all and ask the question, what do you want do to cope in hard times? What are some tips / tricks that have helped you in your low times?

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

Hello replies: 55

First Post intro replies: 1

Can't cope gb replies: 5

Newbie needing direction. replies: 5

About Me & What I Struggle With replies: 10

Stuck with how to start finding help replies: 3

this sydney lockdown is even getting this introvert down replies: 18

Just joined replies: 3

Hey replies: 5

What do you do to cope? replies: 5