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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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crockers over negative thoughts and turning to alcohol
  • replies: 3

hi new here I have been a mess for years always waiting for things to go wrong and turn to alcohol to numb the pain. when really it is me who is stuffing everything up. I go round and round in circles fell good for a few days then it all comes back a... View more

hi new here I have been a mess for years always waiting for things to go wrong and turn to alcohol to numb the pain. when really it is me who is stuffing everything up. I go round and round in circles fell good for a few days then it all comes back again. its like i have a negative answer for everything instead of seeing the positives in life.then i drink for it all to go away.

Muddled6976 Feeling lost in here somewhere.
  • replies: 4

First time on here a bit nervous and anxious about talking. Lost brother to suicide 13 yrs found him, lost dad to cancer 5 yrs. Feel like I've had trauma since I was young. Some not so nice memories. But how do you hold one accountable some 45+ yrs l... View more

First time on here a bit nervous and anxious about talking. Lost brother to suicide 13 yrs found him, lost dad to cancer 5 yrs. Feel like I've had trauma since I was young. Some not so nice memories. But how do you hold one accountable some 45+ yrs later, with only brief glimpses of what really took place. Some days are just harder than others. Menopause to top it off.

Notgoodatalking Lost
  • replies: 2

Hi! I’m feeling completely lost, stressed and anxious. I’ve sometimes have negative thoughts. But these last two days have been worst than ever, I feel so angry, sad and negative. I can’t stop crying, my mind is taking me to negative places. I fighti... View more

Hi! I’m feeling completely lost, stressed and anxious. I’ve sometimes have negative thoughts. But these last two days have been worst than ever, I feel so angry, sad and negative. I can’t stop crying, my mind is taking me to negative places. I fighting with my partner, she doesn’t know what to do. I feel like she thinks that I’m acting out to get attention or that I’m crazy. Help please! I don’t want to feel like this

DR17 New here - I understand depression but not this physical anxiety & panic!!
  • replies: 5

I'm a long time depression sufferer and for the past year I have been doing well and in control. However, being in isolation with my three kids, homeschooling and both myself and my husband losing our jobs - 3 days ago I had a serious panic attack. P... View more

I'm a long time depression sufferer and for the past year I have been doing well and in control. However, being in isolation with my three kids, homeschooling and both myself and my husband losing our jobs - 3 days ago I had a serious panic attack. Panic attacks are not common with me and on the odd occasion they do occur, they are mild - I hyperventilate and get a headache and that's about it. 3 days ago I experienced something very different. I lost complete control of my vision and my legs, I had to run to the toilet, the room was spinning and I fell to the ground breathing very shallow but not hyperventilating. I called a friend who is a psychologist and she walked me through what was happening - telling me I was having a panic attack. This felt like it lasted forever, I was still shaking and grinding my teeth and dizzy 12 hours later. My eyes were darting from side to side and I felt like I was completely high. The next day I couldn't stand for more than 2 minutes and felt miserable. And since then I have been extremely nauseous and continue to feel butterflies in my stomach - often running to the bathroom. Is this a normal side effect of a panic attack? I don't want to call the friend again as she seemed a bit put off that I called her in the first place. I'm too anxious to call my doctor right now. I'm blown away by how physical this whole thing was. The odd part is I'm not feeling particularly depressed or low right now - but I am stressed out by this whole isolation situation. Any advice or even just replies are appreciated xx

Titi A depressed husband
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I am new here. Trying still to understand how this works...;) My husband has depression, and I am finding hard to cope with isolation and been completely ignored by him. He is closed inside a shell, and I really don't know how to open it... View more

Hi everyone, I am new here. Trying still to understand how this works...;) My husband has depression, and I am finding hard to cope with isolation and been completely ignored by him. He is closed inside a shell, and I really don't know how to open it. He doesn't talk to me about his feelings, he is so distant, I can't reach him. And that hurts. I don't know what to do.

Lost_Found Lost&Found
  • replies: 3

Hey all I’m here for the first time tonight love been struggling for quite sometime now& have seemed help but I always keep coming back to hating myself

Hey all I’m here for the first time tonight love been struggling for quite sometime now& have seemed help but I always keep coming back to hating myself

Fruity1 Anxious
  • replies: 3

I'm a newbie. Feeling very anxious, these days I just break down & cry & im struggling to understand why? im normally a strong person but this is frustrating.

I'm a newbie. Feeling very anxious, these days I just break down & cry & im struggling to understand why? im normally a strong person but this is frustrating.

Dontknowwhattofeel Not sure how to feel
  • replies: 13

Hi. I'm not really sure where to start. I've never had proper counselling because I'm scared to share my issues so I thought I'd try here. I know despite non professional help I know I'm abnormal emotionally and somewhat physically as I see things I ... View more

Hi. I'm not really sure where to start. I've never had proper counselling because I'm scared to share my issues so I thought I'd try here. I know despite non professional help I know I'm abnormal emotionally and somewhat physically as I see things I can't explain and hear voices I know shouldn't be there but are. I doubt myself a lot and feel like I can never think straight or sometimes if I feel much at all. It feels everyday I lose interest in myself, I barely eat, I struggle to sleep and feel half the time I don't know what I'm doing or why I'm doing it. Most days I consider temporary escapes through substance abuse or alcohol intake or too an extend self harm. I'm not sure if I want these things or if I enjoy the pain the bring and concluding that I deserve such self abusive attributes. Id say I feel lost but at the moment I'm not sure what I feel...

Jonathon_Seagull Looking for help
  • replies: 5

Hello all. I have been struggling most of my life but things are getting really tough now. I'm out of a job, have lost all interest in my previous career and have no confidence that I'll be able to survive doing anything else. That's not really the i... View more

Hello all. I have been struggling most of my life but things are getting really tough now. I'm out of a job, have lost all interest in my previous career and have no confidence that I'll be able to survive doing anything else. That's not really the issue though, I'm fortunate enough to have some savings so I can be without a job for a while. What I need is help with long term deeper issues. I have a number of difficulties I deal with every day. I am strongly introverted and a bit of a recluse. I got into a bad rut/state of mind as a teenager which left me socially isolated and I was never able to develop social skills. So I've spent the last 40 years never having what I think most people would call a close friend. Whenever I do try to build a friendship, it goes badly and I just end up hurting more and being even more reclusive. I don't try any more. I have no family that I can talk to. I am married to a lovely supportive person but she comes from a culture and background where talking about this stuff doesn't happen. She is the only source of support I have but I need something more. I don't trust counsellors, psychologists and the like. Apart from having quite a few failed attempts to get some help from them, I have family who've worked in that field and I've learned that they are often in more need of help themselves. I'm sorry, this is turning into a bit of a dump. I'm in a pretty dark place.

md757 coping with today
  • replies: 3

Hi I am new, not much into this but thought I would give it a go, I am finding it very difficult like a lot of people at present, I have been unemployed for a long time and now may be even longer due to unemployment levels rising. I try and manage my... View more

Hi I am new, not much into this but thought I would give it a go, I am finding it very difficult like a lot of people at present, I have been unemployed for a long time and now may be even longer due to unemployment levels rising. I try and manage my depression and anxiety but it is exhausting to try and be positive all the time. I know I am not alone feeling this way but it just feels like you take 2 steps back all the time