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Meet your community champions!

replies: 13

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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Finally admitted I’m struggeling

replies: 2

Hi, all. After feeling down and unmotivated for quite some time, I finally admitted that I wasn’t coping with how I was feeling. It finally came to a head when people’s toxic behaviour at work finally tipped me over the edge. I’m the boss, and although I have tried to manage them, it has finally taken its toll. Admitting that I have depression to my wife, sons, boss and colleagues has been both scary and a relief. I look at my life and think, what I have got to be depressed about? I have a great life, but this head of mine just focuses on the silly, negative aspects of my life and work and blows them up 100 fold. I’m hoping that now I have acknowledged my depression I will be able to take the right steps to control it. This 57yr old male is discovering it’s okay to ask for help. thanks all.

Life is Messy

replies: 12

If you look at me, I seem like a happy go lucky person who has achieved so much in life, and yet I feel anything but. I've had many setbacks in life, made some poor choices in terms of life partners and have had way too many struggles in my life. I am doing the best I can with what I have and sometimes I have to remind myself that it's enough. I can be really hard on myself and feel like I need to be strong for the sake of my children if nothing else. When I'm alone, sometimes I allow myself to fall apart. I feel like I am unable to share my deepest feelings, thoughts and challenges with anyone as I don't have any real friends anymore. It's hard to make genuine connections with people. I do however enjoy saying hello to strangers and I enjoy my volunteer work. Journalling, reading and walking have been life savers. I love quotes and different outlooks on life. Sometimes I think of life as a garden. There will always be flowers and weeds. My happiness depends on where I focus - the flowers or the weeds. Sometimes I can only see the weeds and other times I can see the flowers. I'm also aware that the garden can be mowed at any time, with both flowers and weeds removed, so while I can, I try to focus on the flowers. Life can be messy but life is precious. Thank you for reading my ramblings

Hello all

replies: 5

Hello my name is Maz and fro the past few months I have been experiencing insomnia and anxiety associated with that. It is a really isolating place to be in my opinion. I have recently begun a medication to help with sleep but I have tried lots of other things also to varying degrees of success. Acupuncture, Chinese medicine, hypnosis, counselling, meditation, kineseology and other herbal mixtures, CBD Oil. I would be interested in how other people how navigated this journey. I resigned from work and moved back home to be closer to family, I want to be myself again and would love to go back to work, thanks for reading

Haven't properly left the house in 8years

replies: 3

Im 29 and started struggling with anxiety when i was 21. It basically came out of no where and i didn't know what to do. I didn't realise the signs as I'd never had it before. Next thing i know i was having panic attacks anytime i had to leave the house so i stopped doing it. Food shops could be delivered. Clothes and everything else all could be delivered. I had no reason to go so i didn't. Over the years, I've managed to go out once or twice a year. I was seeing a psychologist at the start until she started speaking of going for walks and i freaked. By the time i was ready to go again, she'd moved to a new clinic and i was afraid to go there. I lived with my dad and i did dog sitting for years so i never really felt like i wasn't working or doing anything. Over the last year though i moved in with my nan instead. Now im not being productive with dog sitting anymore and its all piling up. I only feel safe leaving when my sister or sister in law are with me but 1 lives out of town and the other has a 1yr old & her own family to manage. Im just stuck and i feel anxious 24/7. I lost contact with most of my friends so i really only have my family to lean on but dads fifo, mum & sister live 12hours away and my brother has his own family to worry about. I just don't know how to start going out. Its all come to a major head with talks of my nan going into a care facility. Living with dad again means moving to a whole knew area an hour away from my brother where i know nothing it that area.

Hello

replies: 5

Hi, my name is Rob, I'm 59. I have always been a happy guy that likes a bit of fun and humour to go with life. In the last few years I have been progressively feeling that things are not quite right for me. I am a horticulturalist by trade and have always loved my work ( a bit too much i think) I used to jump out of bed and could not wait to get to work for the day, but I do not remotely feel that way anymore. I was promoted to the manager of where i worked and loved the responsibility until we had a new headmaster come on board and then the harassment started for no reason other than he wanted his people there, I stuck with it and did my job but found no-one was by my side through this. I eventually left because i had no choice and i had had enough and that is when it all started for me, i could not look at emails, answer the phone and everything was a struggle, i tried talking to my wife about it but she did not understand which did not help me at all, I carried on with life and could not get a job that gave me a sense of worth. We nearly lost our house and everything we worked for, I even felt isolated from my family and at the time my dad was dying of cancer which made things a whole lot worse, we packed up and moved state to where the wifes family lived and we started again. I got a job back in Horticulture and was hoping i was on the rebound but that didn't quite go as i planned I was only looking forward, i was finding myself being overlooked at work for promotions that i should have been given, i was overlooked many times and the promotions went to friends of management so i found another job in local government to which i am still employed. I have retrained into administration and safety and am now a safety officer in local government but I am now starting to find the haters again (they surface every time you better yourself) and I am now struggling again, i always now have a sense or worthlessness and and feel i have no purpose on a daily basis and lack confidence in everything i do, i find it hard to get motivated at all and i just can't see any point in doing anything. It is a constant struggle to stay afloat with this and it is making me tired, in the beginning of this post i said i use humour a lot in my life I just wonder if this is a defence mechanism for coping. I do drink a little alcohol and smoke a bit, i like it, it relaxes me but find i can not control it like i used to. I an of to the dr's next month and will chat to him. Rob

Mental health carer of a family member inpatient in a mental health facility

replies: 4

Hi everyone, I have been in a caring role for the last two months for a younger family member. I'm glad I found this space after lots of searching. I'm in Queensland. I have lived experience of poor mental health myself - mostly demonstrating as anxiety. In my experience, caring for a family member in a mental health facility, I have found it hard to get relevant and timely information in regard to the carer/support person role, in regard to the person I am caring for's treatment progress (I have the person's consent). I have also found it challenging when trying to engage with the mental health staff at the hospital. Often they are busy and when I ask to speak to someone I feel like I am often brushed aside. So feeling unseen and unheard. I also have not been asked in the 8-9 weeks that I have been visiting my family member if I myself am doing ok. So that has been tough. I'm so happy I found this space to connect with others. Sending kindness to you all; you matter

Hello

replies: 4

Hello everyone. I just like to introduce myself. I'm 50 and I have lived with anxiety on and off almost whole my life. Recently my anxiety got much worse due to hormonal cancer treatment and related clinical trial. Usually I'm quite logical person but a lot of "nonsense" thoughts came up during a major anxiety episode that I still have to keep fixing. I've tried numerous ways of making myself feel better throughout whole my life, some of it worked some of it didn't. I did manage to have some anxiety free years but it usually came back when something bad happened. I've come here to learn from others, try to help and see how others deal with similar problems.I'm looking forward to reading everyone's stories and tips.

Depression

replies: 1

Hi all I guess everything does happen for a reason... I've stumbled across this and many atime wanted to chat and admit my feelings. I'm not sure on what to say or write but, here goes.. I've been suffering from PTSD & DEPRESSION since I was 15yrs old. Unfortunately I never knew any of this or what the name of the horrible 'empty, sadness hurt' was until much later in my 40s.I was diagnosed with depression at about the age of 30. Unfortunately the medication wasn't working because I chose to numb my feelings through drugs instead. As I've gotten older and decreased my drug intake, alcoholism has been subsided for the drugs.I'm also finding my current life atm is nit getting any better. I'm at a cross road needing to encounter the next step but, it just keeps going backwards. I'm not sure on what to say or write but, here goes.. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT Regards

Comfortable embracing the grey

replies: 1

My father left when i was 18 months old, i never missed him, how could i, he was never.there, he didnt leave a gap, was how i saw it . My mother never remarried or had another partner , My mother had mental health issues, bi-polar,manic depression and schizophrenia to name a few. She would eventually end up spending alot of time at Greylands and Heathcote. As a child i was physically abused [beaten , poisoned ]mentally damaged[i took many months for the authorities to became aware of mother, and for those months it was terrifying,] and sexuallly abused by mother. Years later im a ward of the state. Growing up i felt worthless, unwanted and abandoned. Years pass and im a single dad,with 100 percent custody. My son gave me purpose,. Then at the age of 17 he just left. For nearlly 5 months ihad no word from him,i was devastated, in a house surrounded by memories, photos clothes bedroom etc. And once again i felt abandoned.and nearlly 5 years later i no longer have a relationship with him,. I was depressed, i embraced the grey. I no longer have nt sensed joy since . I have repeatedly seen a psychologist, i speak with friends,.. Everyday there are triggers, as i haave early childhood PTSD. And i question myself,, why am i putting.myself through this pain. I didnt like my childhood, and now i dont sense joy in this world, and im left feeling exactly as i did growing up Abandoned and Worthless

Rats Gnawing at my Stomach

replies: 4

G'day Friends I have been chronically ill all my life and now I care for my Wife who had a brain tumour. My oldest son nearly died in the Pinery Fires and he and his Wife lost their farm and House. He is sick now with PTSD but doing really well. My Wife is doing well after her seizure, but me, I have fallen in a heap. I'm still going to work and being productive, but I'm shaking like a leaf on a tree in a storm. I am having reactions to my drugs and little sleep, but the worse thing is that I feel like rats are gnawing at my stomach. I am forcing myself to eat and drink because I lost 7 kg in a month. I know that this is just a glitch and that I will get better, but "What a Ride!!" I haven't been out in my garden for two weeks and don't do any of my hobbies any more. Trying to do things bit by bit. Still do the house-work, but my aim is to be even more productive at work and also start to enjoy life again. At the moment I am sinking with just my nose above the water! (So there is still hope!) Don't give up peoples, better days are ahead. Back to work, I'm not paid to chat!!

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Finally admitted I’m struggeling replies: 2

Life is Messy replies: 12

Hello all replies: 5

Haven't properly left the house in 8years replies: 3

Hello replies: 5

Mental health carer of a family member inpatient in a mental health facility replies: 4

Hello replies: 4

Depression replies: 1

Comfortable embracing the grey replies: 1

Rats Gnawing at my Stomach replies: 4