Welcome and Orientation

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Sorted by:

Start a discussion

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.

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 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...

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 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.

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 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

I don’t exactly know what I am suffering with but some times I feel like I am my worst enemy

replies: 5

At any point in time where I am facing some difficulties I can feel like my brain is shutting down on itself. And like my brain doesn’t even though I don’t think at all and that is somehow my coping mechanism now. Just to recap of that my dad passed away when I was 22 and add to her and me are pretty much. Right after that I got to know that someone I trusted have broken my trust completely and has no regard for me where as I put that person on very high regards. I was just broken and damage, I am the eldest and lots of things and my mother Is a housewife. My mother is a very strong woman but none of her children were very strong. The reason I consider why this happened it was because my mother had a very loving and caring and straight yet comforting Father. my father was strict and he never used to communicate with us at all. Therefore after he passed arrive or three of us just wrote program. I think we were waiting to grow at home so that he could be our father. We were waiting to get to know him and being able to talk to him. That missed opportunity just broke me into million pieces and I didn’t known how to coup up with that, no one guided me in using the best technique to coup up from that! i have a very weird wiring if mind and that is to hide my true feelings. I practically have to fight with my mind like Legit I have to put up arguments for myself in order to be able to speak if something is bothering me (i am changing a bit but yet). This has brought a lot of negativity in my life that I can’t even begin to mitigate. I have become a yes man kinda person. I watch a lot of TV just to ignore my feelings and that is how I can’t get anything done on time. I have never ever said these things out loud cause thats how I am. U know how long it has been!? I am 29 years old now. It has been around a decade. The anonymity and safety of this group compiled me to pour my heart out today. Specially because now I cant make any decisions and since I made one major decision recently I am in a turmoil that its wrong and I am going to disappoint my partner who is in my life for the long run. My brain is shouting at me that “its not a joke its your life you need to get your shit together or else if you keep on making such bad decisions you would end up divorced. And you don’t wanna get divorced you have a sweet thing going on for you.” The other part of me says with no regards if my well-being “who cares lets watch tick tock or a movie or a drama series” Lily.

My first post in a forum.

replies: 19

Hi, I’m new to the forum. I have a mild case of depression and I’m doing really well. I am currently studying to be a counsel or so I can help or assist other people in a similar position as me.

I'm drowning please help me.

replies: 3

OK newbie here, My partner and I have been together nearly 2 years and from the beginning I openly told Him I had many insecurities before we got serious I don't know how to turn this from long to short But basically he blames me for the now insecurities He has. I'd I asked to look through his phone he says It's because I'm guilty of something. I made mistakes in The beginning but never was unfaithful or dis loyal or Anything like that yet he still believes I slept around. If I get angry or upset about something he just calls me A narcassist and that's what I do. I love him so much But I'm drowning please help!!!!

Hi i'm super new to this and need help......

replies: 2

Struggling with anxiety and depression. Started a new job 5 weeks ago and i feel like im drowning and not good enough. Feeling completely overwhelmed all the time and to be honest i think ive always had this problem and am realising this now after so... View more

Feeling down and talentless and numb

replies: 7

Hi I've been feeling completely pointless today. Like I'm untalented in everything and any sort of idea of a job in my future doesn't appeal to me and makes me feel sad and horrible so why would I ever want to put myself into that position. I really want to do well with uni but I wake up wanting to sleep and don't know how to get out of this continuois slumber. I want to do things but I'm so tired and have no thoughts. It's like all my feelings are gone and I can't feel anything towards anyone or anything and I don't know how to feel again, but also I keep beating myself up because people are actually struggling and I keep complaining and being self-pitying and that doesn't feel like a valid reason to feel this way. I just wishi could stop feeling like this.

Depression has hit heavy and hard

replies: 4

Hello everyone, I'm struggling quite a bit, so I have decided to join so I can hopefully get some help during these trying times. Here's a bit of background information: I have always suffered on and off with depression since I was quite young (I was a victim of parental abuse for almost a decade and believe I have PTSD from it). For the past year, I had a great full-time job, living with my partner of a few years, and enjoying spending time with my family. All of a sudden, after my contract ran out at my old job and I had to go into part-time work (in the same industry, but with half the hours), I have completely sunk to rock bottom. The intense wave of depression hit over a week ago and it has shifted my entire worldview and self-confidence, all of a sudden I am questioning my relationship, feeling worthless, and anxious about not being able to have kids and a family (I'm in my mid-twenties and most of my siblings have stable relationships with babies). I have told my partner about this, and she is devastated by this as it came from nowhere, and is having difficulties coping with my mental health and sudden doubts about our relationship. I feel completely horrible about this, and have even booked myself in to see a local therapist because the pain is getting so bad. I have a history of not loving myself, which makes me jump from one thing to the next, hoping to find something that makes me happy (only to discover once I have it that it was only temporary happiness). I'm hoping therapy will help, but I don't want to end up alone, I want a family but feel like I am too damaged, and by the time I fix myself it will be too late for me. Sorry if this is a convoluted post, my mind isn't coping well at the moment

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Anxious replies: 3

Not sure how to feel replies: 13

Looking for help replies: 5

coping with today replies: 3

I don’t exactly know what I am suffering with but some times I feel like I am my worst enemy replies: 5

My first post in a forum. replies: 19

I'm drowning please help me. replies: 3

Hi i'm super new to this and need help...... replies: 2

Feeling down and talentless and numb replies: 7

Depression has hit heavy and hard replies: 4