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Sophie_M 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 Be... View more

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.

Aaronsis 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 th... View more

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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Sophie_M Monthly Forums Update: Reflecting back on March
  • replies: 0

Hi Everyone, Thank you for continuing the conversation within the Online Forums. We acknowledge that March may have brought several challenges, changes, and hardships to many and understand that reaching out on the forums may be the first step for pe... View more

Hi Everyone, Thank you for continuing the conversation within the Online Forums. We acknowledge that March may have brought several challenges, changes, and hardships to many and understand that reaching out on the forums may be the first step for people wishing to seek help, recover, and stay well. It’s important to remember that you do not need to be in crisis to reach out for support. In addition to writing on the forums or accessing the Beyond Blue Support Service you may also find the following support options to be helpful: Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service (CMWSS) – The CMWSS is available 24/7 and is operated by trained counsellors to assist with any concerns about your wellbeing in relation to COVID-19. This service is offered by phone at 1800 512 348 and via online chat: https://cmwssonline.beyondblue.org.au/#/chat/start NewAccess is a free and confidential mental health coaching program for anyone feeling stressed or overwhelmed about everyday life issues, such as work, study, relationships, health or loneliness. This program support Australians from 12 years old and is available in parts of ACT, NSW, QLD, and VIC. To see if New Access is available in your area, visit our webpage here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess/where-are-your-access-coaches-located Community Voices: What are people talking about? Challenges at uni Lately I just have been feeling very overwhelmed and stressed with uni. I feel like I am just so behind and that I can't catch up on work. Assignments are also piling up so much that I don't even want to look at them. When I do I feel like I am going to have a panic attack. I have got extensions on some but honestly, I don't feel much better. – AUSLOVESLONDONGAL (Read more here) I moved states to attend uni to focus on my dream goal of doing art as a living. I moved into a sharehouse/boarding house almost and we live our own lives with little interaction. I sleep through the days, skipping uni classes and have racked up a heavy amount of work to catch up on. I've missed one deadline - my first assignment. I don't know what to do. I don't have any motivation to do anything - Toughavocado33 (Read more here) I’m current at uni and I just feel like everyone is so much far ahead than me and I just don’t think I have a purpose anymore I’m always ghe joke and always tend to fall behind I don’t know how to make it stop. I just want to leave everything and be by myself nothing makes me happy anymore and coming home is like a chore - Liz22063 (Read more here) Depression and loneliness For such a long time, I've had insufferable feelings of loneliness to the point where I feel depressed. I'm hesitant to use the word without a formal diagnosis, but my feelings and thoughts are very much in line with what a depressed individual would have. – Leyland (Read more here) Currently 6 weeks pregnant, through ivf and sperm donor, but now it's starting to hit me how alone I am. After a visit to the hospital due to cramps and bleeding, I messaged my best friend who said she'd be there for me, then fell asleep. I don't have any other friends, my family don't know I'm pregnant because theyve always told me I'd be a bad mother and shouldn't be a parent. I have noone on my life. Noone to share things with. – Starletbunny (Read more here) I recently spent 3 weeks in treatment for depression, anxiety and disordered eating and am now back home and am 'in recovery'. I have had a few relapses since being home (mostly around eating/food) and am generally finding recovery pretty hard. Every day is a struggle and while there are moments of joy, most days I feel sad and lonely. – girlonsafari (Read more here) Strategies for staying well Looking for help and ideas on how to get the best out of mindfulness and meditation. My pycologist gave me some mindfulness apps with exercises to help with my stress but I cannot get the hang of them and breathe in all the wrong places. Same with meditation I went along to a couple of groups followed the instructions but just could not get the hang of it. Is there any special techniques that people would like to share. – contrarymary (Read more here) Do you have a happy place? A place where you can exhale, and feel okay, if just for a moment? Is it your backyard, or a shed you work in? Is it at the gym? Do u breathe a sigh of relief when you close the door to your therapists office, knowing you can talk about ur life without inhibition? - Sleepy21 (Read more here) As sufferers we must find ways to make life for us and our family and friends more joyful and to do that one of those processes is to lower your stress and anxiety by balancing your workload on projects and avoiding tiredness by getting lots of sleep. - white knight (Read more here) Valued Contributor Award Our Valued Contributor for the month of March is Matchy69! Matchy69 has been nominated for always approaching others in a welcoming and nonjudgmental manner. Matchy69 is also known for regularly checking in on others on the forums, ensuring community members feel comfortable, safe, and valued. Thank you Matchy69! 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 New/Updated BB Resources The 'COVID- normal' section of the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service has recently added the following new content: Managing anxiety about having the COVID-19 vaccine Adjusting to work in COVID-normal times The following articles have also been updated under the Financial and mental wellbeing section: Ways to promote a positive mindset if you lost your job during the COVID-19 pandemic Looking after yourself through unemployment The link between financial wellbeing and mental health Financial counselling explained (and how it can help) Living with financial stress – Michelle’s story Financial hardship and mental health: messages of support from the community

Josasem Helpless and New
  • replies: 5

Hi Everyone, Im new to this forum. Im going through a major change in life. And I can’t seem to shake the feeling of hopelessness.

Hi Everyone, Im new to this forum. Im going through a major change in life. And I can’t seem to shake the feeling of hopelessness.

Ultimate_Worrier Hi, I'm the Ultimate Worrier
  • replies: 7

Just introducing myself. 43 year old man and have suffered my whole like from Generalised Anxiety Disorder. I don't have any great issue in my life to attribute this to. (I suppose it wouldn't be a disorder if I did.) No abuse as a child. No addictio... View more

Just introducing myself. 43 year old man and have suffered my whole like from Generalised Anxiety Disorder. I don't have any great issue in my life to attribute this to. (I suppose it wouldn't be a disorder if I did.) No abuse as a child. No addiction problems. Financially secure, good job, and in a loving relationship with two kids. Perfect health. And yet once every six months to a year, I will have a bad episode of anxiety. Impending doom. Tight chest. Obsessive thoughts. The awful sense that this time it will never go away, or that I'll go crazy. It's like a tedious re-run that I have to sit through every year. I'm on standard SSRI medication, and have been for twenty years. I occasionally see a counsellor, which always helps. When I'm not having bad episodes, I oscillate between feeling positive, and just on edge. Travel, especially airplanes bothers me, and I'll be stressed for at least a week beforehand if I have to give a presentation. But otherwise, I am often in good spirits. A lot of people are very surprised to hear about my issues when I tell them. As far as I can tell my annual/semi-annual episodes are triggered by some combination of physical tiredness and mental stress. Over-doing exercise, colds, hay-fever, lack of sleep, plus work deadlines, family issues, kids being kids and sometimes variation in medication. Some combination usually triggers me. Then I'll go through a cycle that usually follows: - initial sense of being over-whelmed - tight chest, cortisol burning through my arms and legs, trouble getting a full breath - the "I'm going crazy" thoughts - I'll end up in an asylum, I'll do something really dangerous (I hasten to add I've learnt to recognise these thoughts in particular as irrational fears; they are not impulses, and I've never come close to acting on them) - then a few days of feeling like I'm about to have a panic attack, or I'm about to snap, along with just not being able to put the thoughts out of my head. On top of that, there's a sense of altered consciousness. A feeling that this is the real reality - life is awful - and I will never go back to the other reality. - Finally, a lot of walking and talking and after a few weeks I start to feel better. Will be a few months before I truly get back to normal. I wanted to join BB to try and share a bit of my story, and also to give some hope to young people in particular. Despite all the above, I am a good news story. I've mostly had a normal life. Thanks for being here,

jays1989 Hi Everybody
  • replies: 1

Hi everybody, I'm new here, like really new here ( just signed up ). So I'm pretty overwhelmed at the moment because for the last month I've enrolled into uni and I've been doing quite well but the only problem I seem to have is finding that right ba... View more

Hi everybody, I'm new here, like really new here ( just signed up ). So I'm pretty overwhelmed at the moment because for the last month I've enrolled into uni and I've been doing quite well but the only problem I seem to have is finding that right balance where study life and everyday life can meet in the middle because most of my days are filled with studying and assessments and proof reading and... and now I'm rambling argh stop it. Sorry about that I just got a bit ahead of myself there. So yeah I have anxiety and depression and I tend to overthink everything to the point where I feel ill... not really sure how to get around all of that because I try to stay out of my head as much as possible and before i realize it I'm worse off than where I started.

BlueIvy Hi
  • replies: 4

Hi, new here. Often feel anxious especially re: marriage. Maybe I think too much. Hard to know really.

Hi, new here. Often feel anxious especially re: marriage. Maybe I think too much. Hard to know really.

Ataloss72 Don’t know what I’m doing here
  • replies: 5

Well hey. I’m don’t really know why I’m here and why I signed up to this. I’m 48 dad of 6 kids. Married twice divorced twice. I guess it’s been a hard decade for me. Had a lost of loss in my family and a divorce too. I have put a lot to the side and ... View more

Well hey. I’m don’t really know why I’m here and why I signed up to this. I’m 48 dad of 6 kids. Married twice divorced twice. I guess it’s been a hard decade for me. Had a lost of loss in my family and a divorce too. I have put a lot to the side and yer I’m that guy that’s always happy at footy club or at work like not a worry in the world. But I have struggled the last year I guess. I really don’t know what I’m doing here and hate to waste everyone’s time. This maybe just somewhere I can put what’s in my head down not sure. But thanks for reading anyway ok

EveC I Need People
  • replies: 8

Hi Everybody, I joined the forum last night. I've been getting severe anxiety/panic for decades. Seven years ago my brother passed away. He was my only sibling. My parents are still alive, but elderly and divorced. I'm in my late 40s, live alone and ... View more

Hi Everybody, I joined the forum last night. I've been getting severe anxiety/panic for decades. Seven years ago my brother passed away. He was my only sibling. My parents are still alive, but elderly and divorced. I'm in my late 40s, live alone and the social isolation is just terrible. I've had to admit to myself recently that I need people. So I am just looking for some people to talk to. I am crying as I write this. Admitting I need people has been hard for me. Eve x

Laurie_M My husband went to a brothel
  • replies: 4

Hi all. Yesterday my husband told me that he visited a brothel just before we met. He didn't have penetration sex but he received oral sex. He told me that he felt nothing and stopped. He went there only because he was drunk with his friend and this ... View more

Hi all. Yesterday my husband told me that he visited a brothel just before we met. He didn't have penetration sex but he received oral sex. He told me that he felt nothing and stopped. He went there only because he was drunk with his friend and this specific friend loves visiting brothels. It was a huge disappointment to learn this even though it happened before me. However, he admitted that he went to brothels three more times during our relationship before we got married. He only went there for oral sex but couldn't do it. So nothing actually physically happened. He gets influenced easily. It is just the way he was raised by his parents. Some of his friends are really weird. I believe him that nothing happened because I am good at detecting his lies. I was suspicious that he visited a brothel before but couldn't get the confession until yesterday. We've been together for 5 years and married almost for 2 years. I don't know what to think. I find it disgusting but on the other hand, nothing happened. Nevertheless, it upsets me and I don't know whether I can trust him. He says he is loyal. He registered on some forums since 2017 and talked to others to seek help. He wants to see a psychologist too. I don't know whether I should give him a chance. I don't even know how I can get intimate with him anymore knowing this. Do you have any suggestions for me?

R_J_H Dealing with anxiety/depression thoughts
  • replies: 7

Hi Everyone, this is my first time reaching out to anyone while I’ve been dealing with some anxiety, depression and bad thoughts. I haven’t truly felt like anyone is able to understand what I’ve been going through so I’d thought I would try here. I f... View more

Hi Everyone, this is my first time reaching out to anyone while I’ve been dealing with some anxiety, depression and bad thoughts. I haven’t truly felt like anyone is able to understand what I’ve been going through so I’d thought I would try here. I feel like friends and family won’t truly take it serious or understand my thoughts. I don’t feel comfortable sharing too much right now but this is what I feel is necessary at this time. For a couple months now I’ve been battling with the feelings of loneliness, no one truly caring for me, the lack of interest in my life and the inability to have someone there for me when I need someone. I’ve been having troubles sleeping and having bad dreams due to my anxieties even though I’ve tried meditating at night and the headspace app, however this does not truly help me. I do have good days but for the last week or so I’ve been having more bad days than good. Just wanting to reach out to anyone who has been through/going through the same things and if they have any advice to try and deal with these issues. thank you to anyone who can help and for listening/reading as well. R.