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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Hi there, I'm Tea, and I need help with my recent depressive episode

replies: 6

Hi everyone! I don't want to share my real name, but you guys can call me Tea I'm currently in my final year of high school and nearly 18. I'm aiming to be a language teacher. I enjoy music, food, anime and all things cozy. I have lots of hobbies and interests, but I lost my passion and motivation for a lot of them years ago. I've come to this community in hopes of finding and offering support and advice. I look forward to interacting with everyone! For this post, I'll highlight the key points as a kind of TLDR. A bit of background... I hit rock bottom in 2017, and although I've grown so much since, I still experience a few mental health issues. I went to a few counselling sessions during this time (about four 30-min sessions?), but my father suddenly decided to stop taking me; he didn't give me notice or tell me why, I simply stopped attending, but I believe my father saw improvement and assumed that I didn't need it anymore. Now, I generally struggle to be content for more than a week or verbally communicate my emotions. I also experience sudden (and perhaps seasonal?) depressive episodes, during which I'm very emotionally unavailable and low functional. I manage to hide these episodes from everyone except my s.o as it really strains my romantic relationship. I'd love to go back to counselling, but I've never had the courage to reveal to my parents that my depression was never really 'cured'. Anyway, my first depressive episode of this year started recently, but I can't afford to go through this, as I'm in the midst of my HSC and really want to do well. Even counselling feels like a waste of time, even if I were to work up the courage to ask my parents. Does anyone have any advice to offer me to get through this school year, study hard and manage my mental health? Thank you all in advance, for even just skimming through this introduction/first post. Sending you all buckets of hope, positivity and strength

1:00am thoughts.

replies: 4

New here so I’m not really sure if I’m doing this right aha. it seems that most nights when I’m up late I get kinda sad for no reason. I just kinda feel numb and I start to question everything in my life. I’ve even seen memes about this feeling people experience at night. I’m definitely not the only one who goes through this. I’m usually fine during the day also. Anyone else get this or know why it happens?

Needing someone to talk to

replies: 3

Hi, I’m a single mum to 4 kids and also work life is hectic, just recently have been getting anxiety/panic attacks making it hard to do daily tasks and sleep. I will be booking in to see my gp Monday but in the mean time would love someone to talk to... View more

Lonely ,depressed

replies: 10

Hi, I live in Queensland, in one of the most boring of cities, but beautiful at the same time. I am a 42 year old female living on their own. I have many issues as to why Im not moving forward properly in life and have many regrets that have lead me to be more depressed today. I am tired of trying and hate the hot weather here. I am over it. Sick of being lonely and on my own.

New member, Hi there! Feeling overwhelmed.

replies: 3

First time here and glad I found a platform to talk things out so thanks to all in advance. the last year has been pretty hectic as for so many, Last year I was Managing a large group of staff 70+ generally in a fast paced and demanding environment but through COVID in Vic was something else it really took its toll it was emotionally and mentally exhausting the level of emotional support the team required and company expectation not to mention the unreasonable and horrible customers was nothing I ever experienced and it was relentless. In October I was fortunate enough to get a new job in the same company but in a position I was always interested in but wasn’t a possibility but luck would have it a position became available and comes with less stress, slower paced and all the perks. This new role has ALOT of autonomy and my manager and co workers are in Different states and I have been working from home it has honestly been horrible I can’t seem to adjust to having so much autonomy and not having the strict structure and crazy pace that drives your day that I’m used to. The biggest struggle being at home all the time this will change in April, I have no motivation to leave the house going to the supermarket will guarantee a panic attack and I find myself sadly finding excuses to cancel plans to stay home. I have become worryingly self conscious and feel generally down, tired all the time and everything feels like a mountainous an effort. Leaving the house to just visit a friend or see family will have me in a state that results me being in a frustrated annoyed manner, not so fun. My Husband is extremely supportive but struggles with how to help me as it’s not something he can fix for me and tends to get down as he can’t understand why I feel the way I do. we have so much positive going on but I struggle to be my usual upbeat and generally positive self and I’m just so sensitive and overly emotional majority of the time. I feel truely depleted and every day is fight to get out of bed and not to mention the internal fight that I feel I’m being ridiculous and I need to get together already!

Hi there!

replies: 3

Hi everyone my screen name is Nai (or RinNai) and I thought I might join this and talk to people with lived experience with being on the Autism spectrum, having depression and anxiety and some others that I have not yet been diagnosed for. I am also ... View more

Hello

replies: 6

Hello everyone. I have just joined the forum. I have been living with PTSD, anxiety disorders, and depression for a while. I have had mixed success with counsellors, and a recent disappointing experience with my current one has probably been the impetus to come here. I feel the need to connect with a forum where I can feel safe and supported, with understanding and without platitudes!

New girl

replies: 15

Hi everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. I am a single mum and have been struggling on and off with depression and anxiety since I had my first child. Not really sure what to write or how much to share but thanks for having me.

Thought I'd made it...

replies: 18

Hi all, Reading these posts is so humbling. So many of you seem to know how to express what's on your mind. And I'm so inspired by all the courage on display - it's tough to be vulnerable! I held it together this year, I really did. Supported my little brother in Melbourne (who lives alone with autism) to get through the lockdown, kept my business alive (and so kept my income), built a massive vegie plot with my partner, stayed stoic, avoided social media, all the right things. But a month ago I developed severe back and arm pain, which I learned today is a compressed spinal cord. Spinal surgery is possible, plus up to 12 months rehab. The pain is too severe to work through, which means I could lose my business. And my cat (who is my best friend) suddenly developed heart failure, and we don't have long left with her. So now it's midnight and I'm awake with pain and fear and anxiety and grief and the whole year seems to have hit me at once. Like everything I've been holding together has imploded. Feels like I'm being crushed. I must have already been running on empty, because now I feel completely defeated. I've always been resilient. But what happens when you just run out of capacity? It's a scary feeling. Thanks for reading this far. Would love to hear from others who've hit the wall... or even to just receive a virtual hug. It's not easy to ask for help

Creator of the Situation

replies: 3

Hi there, I'm in a tough spot where I've put my marriage and my family on the line. I love my wife but our communication has been bad and I have lost her trust. Over our 20 year relationship I have gone to some strip clubs, watched dirty vids etc, took a small amount of drugs and snuck around hiding it from her. I thought it was small and innocent and it was very, very infrequent but the hurt I am putting her through is unbearable. She has always been suspicious because of my behaviour and has strongly held on for 20 years and it has all come out. A few months back she approached me and I told her half the story and things went back to being great and she went cold on me and approached me again and I told her the full story. I struggled to tell her as the shame and guilt and fear of losing her was unbearable. I have also had a bit of a situation where I'm confronting a troubled up bringing where by my home life was full of violence and alcohol with no father figure or male role models. I'm over whelmed with guilt, shame and fear. I have not been anywhere near one of those venues (nor want to) for about 3 years or looked at drugs for about 2 years and haven't watched any videos for about 4 months. It feels great and that's what I want to do to continue becoming a better person and husband. I'm scared to try and start communicating again in case I get more anger (which I deserve) or shut out completely and then my anxiety and shame spiral begins again. Am I kidding myself that she will ever want to be with me again??

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

Hi there, I'm Tea, and I need help with my recent depressive episode replies: 6

1:00am thoughts. replies: 4

Needing someone to talk to replies: 3

Lonely ,depressed replies: 10

New member, Hi there! Feeling overwhelmed. replies: 3

Hi there! replies: 3

Hello replies: 6

New girl replies: 15

Thought I'd made it... replies: 18

Creator of the Situation replies: 3