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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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How to move from sadness to triumph?

replies: 9

Hi, please call me Duracell. Apparently i appear really enthusiastic and smart in front of everybody. However, people are actually jealous of me and i have been ostracized since the primaries...not to mention the fact that i am of mixed race...it doesn't matter where i go, i feel comfortable with people but can't fit into any category and people prejudge me according to their thinking of "me"..what race i look to them. I am sad because despite all the gifts i have for humanity ( i don't have an inflated ego, by the way) Gifts such as understanding and compassion ..time and time again, people just use me because i am nice...Nobody really cares, not even my overprotective father, who actually only cares about money.. i should be happy..my mother lost her mother when she was 4? And her father never really looked after her...She is a lone child..All her life she has to struggle...struggle to get love..i love my mother...but even when she was around, i guess i did not treat her right (yes, just because she was too nice) so is there any justice or am i just receiving my karma?

Newbie

replies: 1

Hi i. New to this forum just want to say hello. I suffer ptsd and anxiety. If anyone can tell me if its normal to get anxious and feel depressed when all alone

Why is moving on so hard?

replies: 13

Hi all, I’m new to this forum. I’m 55 yrd old and been in a relationship for the past year. Before that I was single for 14 yrs and very happy. I left a marriage to a violent alcoholic (Who also had affairs).... after 20 years and swore I would not be with an alcoholic ever again! i was happy being on my own, if I wasn’t in a relationship, I couldn’t get my heart broken, right?! i tried online dating, I had some nice dates but no spark from me. My last date was actually a friend of some people that I know. They all said he is a good guy, although I didn’t feel an attraction, he did seem like a nice guy. One girl told me he does like a drink and he needs to cut back. So I ignored that response flag! over the year, he has not really gone out of his way for this relationship. I’m a people pleaser so put in way more than I should have. He could not be bothered coming to my house to see me, I would always run to his. A few times I turned up, he was passed out drunk on his verandah in his chair. I knew what I was doing was wrong, I didn’t listen to my gut! My father died this year, 2 weeks later my dog died suddenly. There was no support, no flowers, he didn’t even attend my dads funeral. I felt so unsupported During covid, we really lived together as I was there daily. I would cook and clean, we got along great. I saw that he actually drank more than what he claimed. I ignored this again, I was just happy of he would spend some time with me. We would pretty much go to bed after dinner.... he would sit out in his shed on a milk crate and drink... a lot! I moved in with him and nothing changed, he would say he had phone calls and continued to sit out in his shed drinking and watching YouTube. I felt so lonely, I hated it! I had major neck surgery, he said he would look after me, he didn’t step up, he actually sat out in his shed and drank even more! I felt so let down by him, I gave my all to this relationship. I left a few weeks ago, he called me and promised to give up drinking, he loves me and was sorry for how he didn’t step up.I fell for his empty words again (many times this has happened) We were to go on a date on the Saturday night, he cancelled, he said he wanted to work on himself, it’s not goodbye, he needs to give up the drink to have a happy life with me. It broke my heart when I found out that he hasn’t stopped drinking!! I ended it, I said I’m done and don’t contact me again. I know he has a disease, but I just can’t do this anymore

ADHD and depression

replies: 2

hi 4 weeks ago tomorrow I wanted the pain of having ADHD over. Since then and despite numerous calls by my GP and myself we cannot get into our local private hospital.

New here

replies: 1

Just checking in. I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression over 20 years ago. Been to numerous Psychologists and Psychiatrists, Clinics. The only posititive outcome was stopping drinking. I developed Cerebellar Ataxia which was diagnosed due to alcohol. It’s so frustrating with loss of balance and coordination. Days are very exhausting. Don’t have any friends and family keep in touch but just. Nobody understands. I manage my Depression, well I seem to but can’t remember when I was happy. Been on a high dose of Antidepressants for years. Doctors say can’t be increased. Tried everything on the market. I am willing to try any treatments but haven’t found any options. Guess Clinical Depression has no cure. So reaching out to those who have been diagnosed with CD. Thank you for listening and your patience.

Overwhelmed

replies: 2

Hello, I’m struggling at the moment. It feels like I never seem to catch a break. Just when I get anxiety under control and get back up to fight another day something major goes wrong or another big expense pops up. There’s never enough hours in the day, even when I have the time I’m physically and mentally exhausted so don’t achieve much. I get very little help and hate asking anyway. I often wonder what the point is.

Left on the side of the road

replies: 1

I have Bipolar disorder, with borderline personality disorder, I also have a chronic pain disorder Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. These conditions have caused complex depression as they all come with there own depression. For any of you that have had any experience with the above you will know of the mood shifts, aggression etc. I was married 17 years, up until July last year with two teenage kids. To be honest I had been looking for a way out for the past two years due to varying reasons, though I had no where to go, with no money to get there. My ex wife being the income earner. My ex had been constantly telling me that my moods etc were becoming to hard to live with, I was becoming to toxic. Just before July we sold a property we owned in Victoria, I found my way out. We agreed to split as friends. I bought a place outright/no mortgage. Ex found a place for her and the kids. At first I was welcome to come and go visit her and kids, everything thing was ok. I was all set to spend Christmas with her and the kids. Then the bomb shell was dropped that our 14 year old daughter had been self harming, and does not like me etc due to my moods etc before I left. Ex was pissed with me but came around. As of a week ago the only person talking to me is my 15 year old son, I’m no longer welcome at there house except to pick him up and go hang out somewhere. I’m no longer welcome for Christmas Day. I’m taking my son out Christmas Eve. My ex says we have nothing to discuss and refuses to talk to me. Usual MO for her. Has her say then I have no recourse. This all happened over night, I have no idea as to why! On top of all that this is the first Christmas Day that I will be alone, all alone. I had a major falling out with my blood family two years ago, and I have no family or friends here where I live now. So the the car pulled over and left me by the side of the road without saying why? I have sat going around and around on it. I don’t know how to feel, how to think, I have no one to talk to just to get things off my chest. I have things to say. Though no one to listen. No point of recourse.

Every Day.

replies: 1

What is happiness? What is most important to me? Freedom. Freedom to work if I choose. Freedom to sleep in or wake up early. Freedom to travel or stay at home. Freedom to associate with anyone or avoid everyone. What delivers this freedom? A fully owned home and $2M AUD. With that you can live off $60k income with no housing costs and appreciating underlying assets to keep up with inflation. Then there is no stress. I don't have to worry about working to survive. I can work at my leisure. Then there is no stress. If I fail at my work then it doesn't matter. I can still live off my passive income. I was on the way to $1M by the time I was 30 but I stuffed it all up. Now i'm continuing to waste my time. So why waste my life slaving away. Every day. Every day. Never happy. Nothing changes. Always calculating the minutes until 5:00pm every day. every day. Nothing changes, saving every penny. It's like climbing a mountain with never ending faux peaks. Every minute outside my room it's like my chest is tightened up. I'm tensed the whole time. Once I get home and am alone I can finally breath again. It's not as though I don't know what I should do to become "successful" or live a "normal life". I'm not stupid. Stop drinking so much. Exercise. Eat healthy. Go back to work. Work hard. Every Day. Every Day. Go out and socialize... The problem is. It's like you're asking a fish to fly. It can't fathom it, nor does it have the inclination to do so. I don't know how to be the person who wants to succeed every day. Every day. If I had this inalienable drive that other people seem to have. Then this would be easy. I have the aptitude. I have the education/experience. I could work for 30 years. Get married have children. Live a happy life. There is nothing physically in between me and that reality other than time. The problem lies in the intangible. I cannot fathom being the person who can do all of that. The mere thought of spending a day working towards that makes me want to give up and cry... It's all too much. Then it's every day. every day. How can an undisciplined person teach themselves discipline. How can they even have the drive to do so.

Anhodenia

replies: 2

I was diagnosed with severe depression in 2001 but believed I was only moderately depressed. In fact, as the years rolled by I felt I was suppressed rather than depressed. I then learned about anhodenia and believe that it fits the bill perfectly. Before I heard about it, I knew I had no positive feelings. Plenty of negative feelings but no happiness, joy, excitement, pleasure, fun, love, etc etc. The one negative feeling missing is grief. I guess one has to feel love to feel grief but the lack of grief still baffles me. Luckily, I have two reasons to get up every morning. Maggie and Mollie are my two West Highland White Terrier dogs. One positive feeling [or experience] that goes up and down is motivation. When it is up I manage to do tasks over and above what is necessary to just survive. My motivation is reasonable at present and I'm getting long overdue work done on my motor home in which the three of us live. Many say I am living the dream - on the road in a comfortable motorhome - and it could be true, but I sure wish I could get some joy out of it.

Newbie seeking advice and/or anyone’s similar experiences

replies: 1

Hi guys, —Possible Trigger warning— I have been suffering from anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia, intrusive thoughts and chronic fear for 8 years. End of last year till now it has gotten worse, I’ve already given yoga, CBT, anti depressants , breathing techniques, therapy and dietary changes yet still not seeing change. To put things into perspective of what actually happens on a daily basis, I would wake up feeling on edge, walk to work and still feel slightly on edge, the thought of being anxious lingers in my mind Until it requires full dedication to what ever I need to do however it comes back in small waves and triggers my mind into a fearful state along with the intrusive thoughts (how long will this last, I’m afraid that I will lose control and escape quickly wether I die or not) Same goes for heights, being on an airplane, being a passenger in a car on a freeway/motorway- these all have the same outcomes, I need to escape I don’t feel safe and I may or may not jump out. I recently have gotten married so one would assume I’d be ecstatic, which I was . Closing in on the next few hours till the ceremony I felt real bad with “fight or flight”. Anyone else having the same or any advice?. The medication I was on was one type of SSRI. I tried ea different SSRI and the 2nd dose I had out my mind into 70% suicidal thoughts.

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

How to move from sadness to triumph? replies: 9

Newbie replies: 1

Why is moving on so hard? replies: 13

ADHD and depression replies: 2

New here replies: 1

Overwhelmed replies: 2

Left on the side of the road replies: 1

Every Day. replies: 1

Anhodenia replies: 2

Newbie seeking advice and/or anyone’s similar experiences replies: 1