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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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Greetings

replies: 1

Hi Beyond Blue Community, My name is Marnie and I thought I would write a few lines to introduce myself as I have just registered with B.B, applied for my first volunteering role and filled in a form for Blue Voices. I was first diagnosed with PTSD in 1997, which came with psychosis, anxiety, agrophobia, OCD tendencies and was in and out of psych wards with several suicide attempts until 2011. I was diagnosed with Bi Polar 2 on top of the PTSD in 2011 and had a very long hospital stay and put on very heavy medication doses. I am pleased to say that over a 2 year period, I stepped down from my medication and have now been medication free since October 2018. My recovery process was long, I still worked and studied, often not telling employers about my diagnosis due to stigma and not wanting to be told I am incompetent, or being treated differently to the rest of the staff. I started meditation and sound healing therapy, which I still use today and recently have taken up Tai Chi, which even after only 2 weeks of practising, is making a huge improvement on memory and concentration. I practice gratitude affirmations and AM extremely grateful for my life and the people around me who I know love me, even when they have had to step away for their own sense of mental health when supporting me. It can be tough to see, hear and feel someone you love so distressed, and often others don't know how to deal with it. I find active meditation in growing my own veggies helpful for mind, body and spirit and sense of healing and independence from that. Nurturing plants and knowing you have grown your own food free of any chemicals and pesticides gives an immense sense of accomplishment and self soothing in knowing I can sustain myself and offer food to family or people in need. My pets are a constant source of joy and gratitude and entertainment. I have an 11 week old English Staffordshire Bull Terrier and 2 8 year old cats who are brothers from the same litter. I am really looking forward to becoming involved with BB, becoming a public speaker and getting involved with some activism stuff. Thanks for reading. Have a great day, Marnie

Hidden behind a smile

replies: 3

Hi Everyone, My name is Dean I’m new here and just after some advice. I’m 28 and actually find myself quite lucky in some ways because I have a wonderful partner and an 18 month old who I adore but can’t shake the feelings I have of myself. For some time now I’ve felt quite lonely outside of my relationship with my partner and our child mainly due to the fact that I’ve distanced myself from former people who I thought were my friends but ultimately it turns out they weren’t. This has of more recent times escalated to my immediate family who I do care for but their lack of seeming interest in my daughter, their granddaughter, is tearing me up a little bit and adding to that is my constant approach of maintaining my happy go lucky nature which I had for the most part of my life and mixing it with my social anxiety leaves me here today exhausted at the constant front I’m putting up. And the worst part about it is this is now effecting the people left in my life who I genuinely love and care for and that is my partner and daughter. My partner and daughter are so supportive of me and we have great times but I’m having sudden outbursts which are mostly over minuscule things due to this pressure I’m putting on myself and it’s starting to effect and wear out my partner who has already got her hands full raising our daughter and having to deal with my issues as well. She is pushing me towards speaking with someone which I know I should but I really struggle to open up to anyone. The fact I feel I’ve got no social network (friends/family) to openly speak to isn’t helping me either so I thought this might be a small step in the right direction. Sorry if I’ve rambled on a little bit but I really appreciate anyone who has taken the time to read this and if anyone feels in a similar situation I would love to hear from you!

Needing Advice

replies: 4

Hi Everyone, I am new to this online forum so bare with me! I have been battling Anxiety/Panic attacks on and off for a few years now. I am the type of person that when I get busy they don't bother me. I recently moved into a full time administration job which is great and I love it but I have noticed my anxiety has come back. I like to read the online news each morning and I tend to notice my anxiety/panic attacks get bad when I see articles about people passing away. I read the article and try to find the part of what caused the incident etc. (super strange I know) Once I have found out what happened or how, if it is health related I will immediately google symptoms of that problem and make sure I have ticked off all the signs and symptoms in my head against myself to make sure I am ok. Just as an example I read an article on the news that said someone who was 25 who had no prior health problems collapsed on a jog and that was it.. I completely understand the privacy behind that article etc but it made me instantly nervous as to why that person collapsed all of a sudden. Do I go to a GP and get a full check over to give myself peace of mind? or is it simply my mind wandering again? I really, really want to kick my anxiety in the butt and this is my first time doing anything like this so I am also super nervous about this as well. Any help or advice would be really appreciated. Thanks Everyone

Introduction and Issues

replies: 1

Dear Community, Name: Kathy Issues: Diagnosed with DAS (Depression, anxiety and stress disorder) DAS is lifetime disorder that can mostly be controlled. Taking anti-depressants, meditating and finding time for oneself. I find solitude and meditation often works. Unfortunately is recurring and there's no one trigger. My view of myself is that I get older, with that I seem to be more emotionally and psychologically fragile. I can't seem to handle or endure what I might have when I was younger. I'm more weepy, more touchy, just emotionally shakier than I remember myself being. There you have it in a nutshell.

Hello I guess

replies: 8

hi everyone, uh im not really sure what to wright here but here goes nothing i guess. i havnt been on here for too long but i guess that this is the best way to tell people whats going on in my life with out actually telling people if that makes sense? anyway, sometimes i just feel very alone and like i dont belong even tho im surrounded by heaps of my friends and even family and latley ive just been feeling really down and tired and i dont know why, like i try to be happy but it just doesnt work and then my parents get mad at me and its this whole thing but anways i was just hoping that someone on here might feel the same or understand.... idk bye for now i think (im still not really sure how this works) from A

First time user just looking for someone to talk to

replies: 21

Hi everyone, I am looking to talk to someone who also struggles with depression, anxiety and anger issues. I’m 22 years old and completely hate myself. I argue with everyone and push them away, I act like I don’t care and that I don’t need anyone but the reality is I spend most nights crying myself to sleep. I struggle with PTSD from a sexual assault from 4 years ago and also sexual harassment from my step father 2 years ago. This has given me constant anxiety especially at night, I live alone and am in constant fear that someone is going to break in and get me. This does not help the fact like I work roughly 85 hours a fortnight as a carer at a nursing home, a job where I have to be constantly happy and always have a smile on my face. As you can imagine it is exhausting. Just want someone who has gone though something similar to help me with positive thoughts!

Introducing myself

replies: 6

Dear Beyondblue members I’ve joined the forum for support and to communicate with others that live with anxiety. I am going through a bad patch. This is affecting my marriage a lot. I crave security but my issues are driving him away and I think he can’t understand my anxiety. We have been together a long time 25 years. Lately all he talks about is me leaving or him leaving and the added pressure is a challenge for me. As I hate insecurity. He’s also recently semi retired and I find change a challenge due to childhood trauma and massive ongoing change and stress. I don’t have family or friends here that I can talk to. We live interstate and moved 9 years ago for his work which was supposed to be a 3-4 year move. Now the change in our circumstances (his retirement) means he’s reluctant to spend what interstate relocation would cost but I don’t want to commit to living here forever. I am 10 years younger than him and still work but part time. Recently my GP referred me to a psychiatrist to see about alternative medication. I’ve been for one visit and will go back we have not decided to change medication yet but I do take medication currently. i exercise, eat well, have had lots of therapy over the years but sometimes I just can’t cope. I feel like I’m talking to my husband too much about my issues - I need to find a way to self soothe and switch off. But at times I need to talk. I’m seeing my GP today and will ask about a mental leak that plan. What I really miss is my husband and wish we could talk but he just gets frustrated, then cross and that just makes me feel worse. I don’t want the marriage to fail. Thank you for reading my post. Tia Rose

Pablo 61

replies: 2

Just arrived here. I'm glad I'm not alone in this. My physical symtoms of anxiety are truly out of a sci-fi movie. Sure I get the classic symtoms such as , neusea and nervousness. But it's the head numbing headaches that move all around my head. To a... View more

Hi

replies: 2

Hi, not too sure where to start. Struggling with depression that doesnt lift or change and has been constant for such a long time. Take my meds, try to do the dbt mindfulness and grounding strategies and keep a daily schedule and routine but while it helps me to manage to survive it doesnt make life ... meaningful/enjoyable/bearable. Wondering what else others do to help them get through, help to not feel so low all the time? thanks

Am I being oversensitive?

replies: 3

My husband and I are having difficulties, I checked his Twitter and saw he re-tweeted this: "Sex is like pizza: if you’re having it at Domino’s, it’s time to re-examine the choices you’ve made that led you here" I'm offended and upset, but he blew it... View more

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Greetings replies: 1

Hidden behind a smile replies: 3

Needing Advice replies: 4

Introduction and Issues replies: 1

Hello I guess replies: 8

First time user just looking for someone to talk to replies: 21

Introducing myself replies: 6

Pablo 61 replies: 2

Hi replies: 2

Am I being oversensitive? replies: 3