Welcome and Orientation

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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 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 - new here!

replies: 3

New! One thing I don't enjoy about beginnings is having to tell my story all over again, so I will leave that part and ease people into it as things come up. I have been on other forums ... the nice thing about a new beginning is that I get to rename myself and think about where I'm heading. I have had depression for a long time - it's always there. However, the name Lodestar seemed a positive point of renewal: 1. (Navigation) a star, esp the North Star, used in navigation or astronomy as a point of reference 2. something that serves as a guide or model [C14: literally, guiding star. ...] Only two more things: 1. I promise to be less woolly as I go along here. 2. I joined because I felt the need to be with kindred spirits. I have a good psychologist, but he is only available once a month. Thanks for reading.

Hi! - New Member

replies: 6

Hi there, I am a Master of Education and Developmental Psychology student on placement here, and am quite new to the BeyondBlue forums. I'm looking forward to contributing to threads, expanding my skills through engaging with you and perhaps sharing my own lived experiences. A bit about myself - I've been studying psychology for the past 5 years and have some experience with telephone support for anxiety, I enjoy reading (a mix of manga, fiction and self-help books) and listening to podcasts (particularly Hamish and Andy, and Stuff You Should Know). I probably should have gone with a username that was easier to be read as a "name". But I guess pinwheels are colourful and fun - I hope I'm able to provide support and spread positivity where I can. Take care, Pinwheel23

Hi Everyone!

replies: 4

Hi everyone, it’s nice to meet you all! I am new to the forums and wanted to introduce myself. I am a Masters of Educational and Developmental Psychology student and just began my course this year. I have always been interested in development over the lifespan and am particularly interested in working with children and adolescents in the future. I’ve just commenced a placement with Beyond Blue through my course and really looking forward to getting to know other members on the forums. In my free time, I’ve been really enjoying watching Masterchef and have now been super into baking. Thank you for having me on the forums and I look forward to being a part of this great community!

New and a little lost for words

replies: 4

Hi All! I'm new to this space I noticed many others describing themselves in their welcome post and to be honest this is quite a tricky task for me but I'll give it a go. I'm a young woman who enjoys the the simple things in life such as going for walks, listening to music, watching Netflix and spending time with the people I love. I would say I have two interests being fitness and psychology. Studying psychology means I reflect alot about about about the human experience and mental health. What do I believe? Although we are all unique, we are all human. We all experience hardships in some form or another, or time. As weird as this sounds I take comfort in this. I truely believe that with time, honesty and good support we can all find the answers to our questions, the solutions to our problems. The dark times suck. But I am always inspired and in awe of the resilience and uniqueness of each person. Know I'm here, I'm listening and I genuinely do care about what your thinking, what's going on with you. So thats it, thanks for having me in this warm and welcoming space you have all been apart of creating

Hi Everyone

replies: 7

Hi everyone, Thanks for having me on these forums, they seem like a fantastic space to give and receive support from each other. I’m looking forward to chatting and maybe sharing some of my own experiences. It’s definitely been a struggle during covid due to the lack of social contact but I’m very lucky to have my gorgeous greyhound to keep me company. It definitely helps to be reminded that a walk each day is a requirement! I enjoy reading, watching the walking dead, pottery and knitting. My Gran taught me to knit when I was young and I picked it up again during covid. You might see me around over the next six weeks as I’m completing a placement with Beyond Blue through my masters of professional psychology course. I hope to hear from you soon. InhaleExhale

bullied by my mum

replies: 3

My mum always calls me names and puts all this pressure on me, to look after the baby, clean the house and all that still isn't enough. she is always mad and yelling at me. i cry everyday because of her hurtful words. sometimes i feel like i should just die, what is the point of life it is all disappointment. she calls me fat, useless and even bitch sometimes if i really piss her off. i can't talk to my mum about how i'm feeling because she yell at me and wouldn't understand. even other family members such as my uncle and grandma do the same thing. i always wonder what i did for them to hate me this much. i can't tell my friends because there's no way they can help me and i already told my school's guidance counsler she only gave me a book and told me to write my feelings in it. that didn't help very much. so now I'm depressed and lonely and want to end it all so badly. what do i do?

I am a new community member

replies: 4

Thank you for allowing me to join this fantastic organization and who is doing wonderful things (such as the online forums and chat) for the public. I have a wealth of lifetime experience which has being good and not so good. What I have learnt is having someone to chat to is key. Whether it is Beyond Blue, a close friend or even an animal (to me this is key) for keeping a positive outlook on life and hopes.

social anxiety

replies: 7

Hi, I go to a quilting class every week for 4 hours. I am in tears before I go and feel so stressed all the time I am there. I try to talk calm to myself but I shake and sweat while I am there. Then I burst into tears on the way home. This goes on every week. Its supposed to be enjoyable and this is the only time I get out and about with other people. I would like some help in dealing with this please. I am feeling so stressed over this.

New beginning to think I have depression

replies: 3

Hello, this is my first post and I’m starting to think I have some sort of depression. To me it seems hard to know if it is or not as you read and watch others and they seem to have it worse than me. Which makes me feel guilty to think that I may have depression. it also make me feel worse that I do t really have anything to complain about , well paid job , house health kids etc . Having said that there are a few things that I guess got me here. I’ve been divorced for 6 years and after a bitter court battle to sort custody out, I am now settled in 50/50 shared custody, which is good although when the kids are at their mums the house is very empty as I am still single. I’ve had the odd relationship but nothing that has lasted which is something I’m longing for. my job has also become a lot more pressured, with my work making me more anxious day by day from the pressure. I didn’t think it but maybe having to work from home with COVID has added to that as I’m constantly thinking about work or the people from it that annoy or make me anxious. I’ll leave it there for now and add some more later

Just found out my long term Parnter has been in a sexualy relationship with ICE user

replies: 2

Hello my name is Logan, i am 53 years of age male, I am not sure how to put all this as i am just shattered beyond believe but will do my best. I have been in a long term relationship with now for 5 years (girlfriend/Lover) who is 52 I have just recently found out that she has been in a sexual relationship with other man who which i have found out that is an ICE user and is actively seeing other men is a sexual relationship who are also injecting ICE, i broke down for the best part of today and when i had the courage i was on the internet searching all about this type of substance and behaviours, I’m for the best word i can describe is just shattered the partner who i thought i know was not. I confronted my Girlfriend who did not deny any of the this , i cant hep feel so sick in my stomach like my heart has been ripped out, i felt the need to reach out to this community for so guidance or some help to try and deal with what I have be dealt with. My most concern is for the health of myself and my partner and the sexually transmitted diseases that come with ice users. Logan

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hi - new here! replies: 3

Hi! - New Member replies: 6

Hi Everyone! replies: 4

New and a little lost for words replies: 4

Hi Everyone replies: 7

bullied by my mum replies: 3

I am a new community member replies: 4

social anxiety replies: 7

New beginning to think I have depression replies: 3

Just found out my long term Parnter has been in a sexualy relationship with ICE user replies: 2