Welcome and Orientation

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Sorted by:

Start a discussion

Hello y’all. Fab 40 with PTSD

replies: 2

Hi I have started to realise recently (prompted by Covid) that I need to put my mental health first. My children are a big motivation for this and the fact I am now single. They rely on me being at my best. Having suffered with PTSD for 20years, I have never sought help or support. I never spoken at length or in full, about the repeated trauma I have experienced. I am now 40, and since ‘life begins at 40’, I thought I should have a go at starting to live my best live because the last 20 have been, at times, tragic. I am hoping to connect with anyone that might have had similar experiences of tragedy and trauma, as well as those who are further down the road to recovery.

Hi everyone.

replies: 3

Hi, I'm new, but have posted a couple of threads. I struggle with anxiety but try to live my life as best l can. I would like to be able to manage my anxiety a little better. It is good to be able to connect with others who have similar issues. Have ... View more

Anxiety after stroke

replies: 3

My husband suffered a large stroke three months ago and is about to be discharged home next week (after therapy in a sub acute ward in hospital) with myself as primary carer. He has visited home three times recently. In the last week he has been having "anxiety" attacks, not eating well and generally been "down". He is able to speak and eat. He is left side paralysed (has some left leg response) and is in a wheelchair. He also has had difficulty sleeping which combined with the stroke makes him fatigued and has impacted his recovery. I am hoping to hear from anyone who has experienced a similar situation or any positive suggestions regarding the anxiety/ possible depression. Also which forum is best for this discussion.

First Post

replies: 8

Hi! I'm new and a bit nervy to start posting on here but I thought i'd just come and say hello. I have been sad recently and I don't really know how to handle it so I thought that this might help. I really hope it does and I look forward to chatting ... View more

Broken up with out of the blue

replies: 3

Hi everyone in really lost. My boyfriend just broke up with me out of the blue and I’m beside myself. Two days ago we were planning holidays together and tonight he says he doesn’t feel that connection. I don’t know what’s real and I feel so heartbroken and lost. He was perfect and I don’t think I’ll ever find someone like him and I’m so scared. The thought of him with someone else makes me sick honestly. I feel so hopeless and alone and I can’t stop crying. I was so scared of this happening and it did. Really need the guidance from someone, I feel so alone.

First post - seeking direction

replies: 4

Hi, I'm having one of those nights where sleeping is impossible and my brain is on some kind of loop. Ive been feeling an increased need to connect with someone but I'm not comfortable with the idea of seeing a psychologist or counselor in person. I have a lot that needs unpacking but I don't really know where to begin. Recently I've been feeling a deep loneliness where it feels like I have absolutely no one who cares about me. I literally do not have one single friend. I'm currently unemployed and I sit at home and study and wait for my mum to come home from work. I might see an old school friend down the street and say hello, i suggest we catch up soon, they say that will be good, and then nothing happens. I can't help but feel rejected and like there is something fundamentally wrong with me. I hate feeling this self pity, but sometimes i cant move through it. I have been diagnosed with bipolar type 2, although im not entirely sure if this is accurate. I have a history of substance abuse and I have childhood trauma ive never shared with anyone. I've mostly posted this to release the negative energy it brings me so that hopefully I can sleep but if anyone reads this and can point me in the direction of a particular forum that might be of use to me.. That would be very much appreciated. I hope you are all well

Hello

replies: 1

I'm a mother seeking advice on ways to understand, support and help my youngest son, aged 21, who has anxiety and depression. The difficulties are that he is a CLAM, and won't open up to my husband and me; he is creative and very clever and studying at Uni but his degree's face to face hours are not demanding and he doesn't have to exert himself to get by; by nature he is STUBBORN and a bit lazy (I'm not making that up, stubbornness runs in the family and I'm a bit lazy myself and have to fight it). He is also stuck in the logbook of his parents' faults and things which we did (he won't tell us what they are). I'm not being down on him, most kids have a logbook like this, in fact I did, but I know that it's not a source of happiness. His mental health is firstly genetic and secondly situational. I just find it very hard to be friendly and affectionate when he's being a selfish 21 year old male, especially when he flips in the red herring of he's not feeling well. I know it's harder for him to do stuff but there is an element of just normal poor attitude. He also appears to think we are just providers of beer and wifi. He has a gaming addiction, and recently has been spending more time on this. He would easily spend at least 5 hours a day gaming. I realize this is also a form of socialising but it's also an escape mechanism. He has a girlfriend but he doesn't socialise with friends and finds family gatherings hard. They are bigger and noisier than normal, with 10 adults and 10 grandchildren 9 and under. Sense my frustration? I need someone to acknowledge that it's hard for family members in a situation like this.

recently diagnosed BPD

replies: 3

Hello, I have recently been diagnosed with complex PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder. I have always known since a young teenager that something wasn't right, I didnt know what or why I was so hypersensitive with EVERYTHING especially when it came to the slightest of disagreements with friends, former partners and current. I havent started therapy as yet due to corona virus, the waiting list is long. how ever i have been educating myself on this illness I've been managing to cope with for the past 16 years, just. I am wondering if anyone else out there have been recently diagnosed, or if anyone feels comfortable enough to share their story and how they feel therapy has helped them? I have been warned by my GP that on the first couple consultations I will have to go back to my childhood and talk about the trauma, so I am intrigued to know about other's experiences with this kind of therapy. Having BPD is hard. and i find myself a lot of the time asking myself, is this my BPD talking or is this really happening? am i overreacting or am i being reasonable? thank you

First post

replies: 4

Hi. First time posting here. Have been struggling for a few months now, but has become really obvious last few weeks to family. Thought was going ok but have fallen down the rabbit hole a long way. Not ready to discuss all issues here just yet. The m... View more

My Bipolar Partner cheated

replies: 1

Hi everyone, I'm new here and have joined because I found out yesterday that my partner cheated on me. Im unsure of where to post this. Do i put it under bipolar? Relationships? Caring for a loved one? Infidelity? Lgbtiq? I feel like every different community will have a different response to this topic. I guess Im just feeling lost and confused. We have been together 2 years and are very responsible our separate mental health conditions. We take our meds regularly and see our respective psychologists. My partners bipolar 2 is well managed, even though she is high energy and struggles to sleep sometimes, that is just her normal. Her medication seems to keep any massive highs or lows at bay. But then covid happened and she lost her job. And then lockdown happened. And she was stuck at home alone for almost 2 months alone, with only her thoughts for about 2 months while I went to work every day. This is the first time I have seen her have a depressive episode. I tried to be extra attentive and I knew she wasnt well. I tasked other people to check in on her while I was at work and even suggested she go to the dr and get her meds checked. Once she started getting work again she picked back up again and seems to be out of the funk now. Then last night she told me that she had cheated on me during that time period. I have no idea what to do now.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hello y’all. Fab 40 with PTSD replies: 2

Hi everyone. replies: 3

Anxiety after stroke replies: 3

First Post replies: 8

Broken up with out of the blue replies: 3

First post - seeking direction replies: 4

Hello replies: 1

recently diagnosed BPD replies: 3

First post replies: 4

My Bipolar Partner cheated replies: 1