Welcome and Orientation

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Meet your community champions!

replies: 10

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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I don’t know how to put my right foot in front of the left foot..

replies: 5

I’m lost and feeling alone, I just don’t know how or what to feel or if I even what to feel. I know it’s me, it’s what is inside my head. It makes me cry for no reason, I’m sad for no reason. I just want it all to go away, not to stop but to just go ... View more

Adult Son Mental Issues

replies: 1

We have a adult son (32) who we suspect is suffering from BPD. He has been like this for the last 10 years and seems to be getting worse. If you push a point with him he will tell you he is about to explode and seems to go into a psychosis state for a short time but is able to stop if needed. He has not been diagnosed as he says there is nothing wrong other than depression because he cant see his daughter, it is everyone else. We tread on eggshells around him and when talking on the phone and have tried to tell him to see a medical person. The only thing the Dr gave him when he did go was an antidepressant which did not do anything. He suffers terrible anxiety when we visit, so we don't see him very often. His mood swings change from minute to minute and he will cling on to something you say and turn it around. He is unable to keep a job and has a 5 year old daughter that his ex wont let him see unless I am there. She also has a VRO against him. We have moved away so we can have some sanity however he says he is so lonely and feels abandoned. How do we convince him to get help in the right direction. I have had advice that you have to wait until he reaches rock bottom but he never does. He is actually seeing a corrections Psychologist today but they are not interested in diagnosing just seeing if he is sane enough to attend a violence course. Please any advice would be appreciated particularly with parents in the same boat. There is so much more I could say but I think you get the gist.

Anxiety can it really be causing this

replies: 1

About a month ago i started having huge panic attacks...they went on for a while then stopped. Then out of the blue i started getting really violent twitching under my right eye, then it started above my eye also, then i got another twitch in my face then another. I went to the dr she said fatigue, anxiety, stress. Ok. Fair enough. But its been two weeks now and some days they arent there others its all day. I’m so afraid of them. I suffer from anxiety, depression and i have severe health anxiety. So this is fueling that anxiety. Ive convinced myself that I’m going to die of some rare and awful disease. How can i stop this? I’m living on medication which isn’t good but i dont know what else to do...Shanny

Anxiety and Depression, constant fear for my health.

replies: 3

Hi, my name is Aaron, I’m a 25 year old male, I am happily engaged, and in my biased opinion have the 2 best boys in the whole world. I have suffered from anxiety and depression since I was a teenager, I’ve been on and off antidepressants for about 10 years now, I always have those little periods in my life where I think I don’t need the meds anymore and I do quite well for even years at a time, then it always seems to come back to bite me. In December my youngest son was born, and I wasn’t doing too bad for a while, then ever since we moved house in Feb, my anxiety and depression have just been at an all time high, which is odd, because I couldn’t be happier with how things are right now (aside from the obvious mentality issues). The last few weeks I’ve been thinking I’ve had every kind of cancer possible, Leukaemia, Mouth Cancer and Colon Cancer, which is something I’ve never considered my whole life until now. It all started with these tiny red dots on my arms, that Probably have been there before but I’ve never noticed.. but like a normal person that I am, I of course asked google about it, and google was happy to diagnose me with leukaemia. long story short , I am really afraid of having some kind of underlying sickness like cancer especially, and I am so scared of dying and not seeing my kids grow up. all these long lonely nights sobbing in the shower and the constant feel of fear and panic is just getting too much for me , and I don’t know how long I can keep feeling like this.. I really need some help. kind regards

Feeling lost

replies: 2

From last few months I have been having health issues, my family who are overseas are unwell and I don't know if I really want to do the job I am doing. I don't feel like working but I can't leave my job as I need to pay bills n mortgage. My work is very supportive and I have reached out to EAP but still don't know why I am feeling sooo lost. Don't know what to do, don't want to go out of the house. All I want is to escape n hide somewhere. I have a husband and a kid so it is practically not possible. I just feel something wrong will happen any minute. I feel very emotional and cry very often. I don't know what to do.

Hello there

replies: 3

Hi, 46yr old male here with over 20 year long history with depression and anxiety. Name a med or a type of counselling and chances are I've given it a shot! Things have been tough lately and despite being married with children, I am very alone. I figured it'd be good to participate here as it'll give me a space for open dialogue, something that I'm very much lacking at home and work. Cheers Pete

Absolute Joke

replies: 4

The beyond blue telephone helpline is an absolute joke. Getting essentially cut off by someone after 15 minutes every time I call with extremely serious problems. I wouldn't be calling otherwise.

HI

replies: 4

Here looking for something that's going to help a middle aged couple with 3 Kids that struggle with addiction anxiety and all the rest that goes with that. Thanks for accepting us and heres to 2021 being a kinder year for all

Does isolation make us want to withdraw more

replies: 4

I found I coped quite well during our states Isolation lockdowns, I’ve always liked my own space and I’m not super social. Now that things are getting more back to normal, I am apprehensive of leaving my house, going out or just having to talk to peo... View more

Ongoing job search & feeling helpless & hopeless

replies: 1

Hey guys, Like so many others out there, Covid times hit hard, some with their health but others another challenge, losing their jobs. I have been out of work now since Covid pretty much changed all our lives. Had i known i was going to be out of work this long i might have considered taking up a lengthier course. Nearly 12 months on i am feeling tired of being tired, looking, searching high & low for work through a computer. Im no computer whizz & don't have any huge qualifications but up til now was enough to secure a job. Could be worse i guess and i am trying to be strong, but just some days it gets overwhelming as Centrelink are helping financially to keep a roof over my head & my kids but i don't really feel the job people they send you onto, really want to help they just want to tick off their KPI's. Im pretty resilient normally, but this new norm right now is getting me down. Most jobs you apply for, don't reply or go for interview to no avail. I have to say my self esteem is really low the longer im shut away looking for work. Catch 22 is to do a course that you want to do, it costs you money, which i don't have. To be honest at 53 not sure what to really do but i refuse to take jobs just for the heck of it, which is what Centrelink would prefer one to do. I also won't take low wage & go backwards in life rather than where i was heading, to better myself, being a single mum & the main provider. What to do...

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

I don’t know how to put my right foot in front of the left foot.. replies: 5

Adult Son Mental Issues replies: 1

Anxiety can it really be causing this replies: 1

Anxiety and Depression, constant fear for my health. replies: 3

Feeling lost replies: 2

Hello there replies: 3

Absolute Joke replies: 4

HI replies: 4

Does isolation make us want to withdraw more replies: 4

Ongoing job search & feeling helpless & hopeless replies: 1