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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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tallperson93 After 26 years thinking I'm happy, I'm not.
  • replies: 3

Hi, This is my first time experiencing that I'm not happy, very sad and ever since realising that I'm unhappy, which doesn't help i'm far far away from friends and family. this just makes me scared. I'm not too sure what I'm suppose to talk about but... View more

Hi, This is my first time experiencing that I'm not happy, very sad and ever since realising that I'm unhappy, which doesn't help i'm far far away from friends and family. this just makes me scared. I'm not too sure what I'm suppose to talk about but this is new to me.

Indecisive_Overthinker NEW USER, WHO DIS?
  • replies: 1

I think this is where I'm supposed to post my introduction in order to use the forums. I'm a 30yr old mum of 2, i work full time in real estate and have social anxiety at the very minimum. To say i over think, regret choices and generally make things... View more

I think this is where I'm supposed to post my introduction in order to use the forums. I'm a 30yr old mum of 2, i work full time in real estate and have social anxiety at the very minimum. To say i over think, regret choices and generally make things worse for myself is a major understatement. Just trying to find some friendly ears for when being in my head gets to be too much.

Talk_to Thanks
  • replies: 2

Thanks for allowing me to join can really need some help with some issues that are troubling me. On many fronts in my life at this moment

Thanks for allowing me to join can really need some help with some issues that are troubling me. On many fronts in my life at this moment

OffMyTrain 1st post " helping myself "
  • replies: 7

Hi. This is my 1st post. For the past 3 years I've been helping myself cope, after being refused care many times.. I found out why my depression wasn't improving on anti depressants. And finally got a gp to change my medicine to better suit bipolar d... View more

Hi. This is my 1st post. For the past 3 years I've been helping myself cope, after being refused care many times.. I found out why my depression wasn't improving on anti depressants. And finally got a gp to change my medicine to better suit bipolar disorder , and ptsd. After 6 months I'm gradually stabilising. But I'm extremely disappointed in the health professionals for making my condition deteriorate so much.. I've introduced self maintenance ,including mind centering, interrupt my routines with deep bre staying, and have eliminated most triggers from my life style. I hope I'm welcome here, cause I'd like to contribute. Max.

MissRanga Intro to me, my brain and how things don't work
  • replies: 4

Hey all, MissRanga here. Don't even know where to start. I've been thinking for a while that I should probably get help in someway. Maybe go see a counsellor or something but I don't have the inclination to spend the money on it. I have Generalised A... View more

Hey all, MissRanga here. Don't even know where to start. I've been thinking for a while that I should probably get help in someway. Maybe go see a counsellor or something but I don't have the inclination to spend the money on it. I have Generalised Anxiety but have a pretty good handle on it. I'm in my late 20s and am currently living with my partners parents in order for us to save for a house. Have 2 dogs and various reptiles. Im introverted and like my own company. I have a fulltime job and a part time business with a friend. Life should be pretty good but I've been feeling real down alot lately. Blame it on Corona, living with parents, work, everything really. I have some good days but alot of bad days. Feels like a bit of situational depression. Anxiety makes it worse. Some days I just don't want to get out of bed but I have to keep working, keep doing the day to day things. Going to go read some forums here and see if they help. Sometimes I don't know why I bother trying, better to just wallow in the the sad feelings because then I don't have to out effort in. Thanks for reading.

Blueaqua Do I need medication? Forever?
  • replies: 2

My experience of medication was limited to an episode of depression during a hard time. I was dealing with unemployment, difficult home situation and relocating from overseas. Once things were back on track I was able to stop medication. Then followi... View more

My experience of medication was limited to an episode of depression during a hard time. I was dealing with unemployment, difficult home situation and relocating from overseas. Once things were back on track I was able to stop medication. Then following the birth of my first child I was insanely anxious. Nightmares and agoraphobia. Too frightened to go outside for a walk, had fears of a car coming up the footpath and hitting the pram. Somehow muddled through and it settled down 5 months post birth. When my second child came via an emergency c-section and having a toddler to care for too, this time I medicated for anxiety. I tried coming off it after a year and ended up a blubbering suicidal mess. My GP put me in a different medication which worked well, COVID came and he upped it. Higher dose led to BAD side effects. I’ve been weening myself off s-l-o-w-l-y since then. Now down to the lowest dose and feel like my head is full of cotton wool. I feel down and trapped. But realise that recently I’ve experienced miscarriage, income loss, moving interstate, and VIC lockdowns. The restrictions do my head in. Not ideal scenarios. But life never is. So how do I know if my feelings are valid or if I need meds? I just don’t want to be on it forever.

Mic3 "I'm fine"
  • replies: 3

I've lived with depression since I was 13-14. I'm 42 now. Been doing lots of different of things to help and some things work and some things don't. I am a little bit of an introvert with anxiety but have friends. However I feel that I can never real... View more

I've lived with depression since I was 13-14. I'm 42 now. Been doing lots of different of things to help and some things work and some things don't. I am a little bit of an introvert with anxiety but have friends. However I feel that I can never really properly talk to them. One thing that I feel is that you can't really talk to many about how you really feel. I come from a culture where "everything is fine". You just don't talk about how you feel. I'm so not like that but I still have to suppress how I'm feeling because you shouldn't really express how you are feeling. I find it absolutely great that mental health is on the agenda for many today but the problem is to find that one person or group etc who want to listen without fear or to much of a judgment. I am in search for a day to day wellbeing group which is super hard in Covid times. For me it's more about talking about how you feel from day to day, from week to week. I guess you can call it to unload. I've tried psychologists but doesn't fit me. I'm not sure if this makes sense. Are there any groups like that out there that someone can recommend? Thank you

A_little_broken Saying hi, a newbie here.
  • replies: 2

Hi all, thought joining these forums might be helpful and also helps knowing I’m not alone. Life is throwing so many curveballs of late and I’m finding things very overwhelming.

Hi all, thought joining these forums might be helpful and also helps knowing I’m not alone. Life is throwing so many curveballs of late and I’m finding things very overwhelming.