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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Hello Everyone!

replies: 6

Hi, I haven't posted here for a long time but given how I've been feeling recently, I felt it was time to check in. I've been taking meds for anxiety for many years and like many others have been feeling stressed about the pandemic. This year I've been lucky enough to finally move into a place that's big enough for me and my kids. It's about five years since my divorce for rents to come down enought to be able to afford something suitable. Given that I haven't had the chance to see many friends in quite a while, I've been spending way too much time in my head becoming anxious about even minor things. My whole body has been feeling tight and tense for what seems like four months now. I've been taking meds to relax but I don't want to rely on these too much. Some days it feels like I'll feel like this forever. I'm still working but even there is stressful becuase of alot of internal conflict within the company. My son has ADHD but is a beautiful boy with a good heart. My daughter has just turned fourteen and I'm worried for her as she grows up. I've been mostly single since my divorce and I'm getting to the point in my life where I feel as though my kids will never see me happy with someone and that no one wants to be with someone my age who doesn't own my own house and isn't climbing the corporate ladder. My marriage and some previous relationships did alot of emotional and psychological damage, and kinda feel like I've been treading water for years in some ways. I don't really feel as though even my closest friends understand me, and at the age of 49 this feels like something I should be saying as a twenty-something. Apologies if this intro is a bit rambling. I hope you are all doing ok out there.

I have nothing left

replies: 7

hi I’m not sure where else to go. I’m a 41 year old male. Both parents have died of cancer, my sister is still a drug addict who’s children now take the drug aged 13 & 17. I was a weekly recreational drug user for a long time but after my dad died slowly I used it 3-4 times a week to relieve the pain. I met my wife who was a daily user, we cleaned up, moved away and her daughter started calling me dad. 10 years together and at the start we struggled to get clean. Eventually we did and I wiped all out debts and bought what I thought would make us happy. I went into 40k debt on holidays wedding honeymoon furniture car bike etc. I become a manager of production which I’m very proud of. eventually my ex turned back to drugs and i started slipping too, I told her if she gets it again I’m leaving. This happened 10+ times. so she destroyed us and Lied about me to cover her tracks. Depression hit me again and I got anti-depressants. I moved interstate as rumours came back to me and I knew it would end bad if I stayed. now I’m interstate alone and no contact with my daughter. I’ve taken a 40k per year pay cut and I’ve just declared bankrupt. My ex kept everything I owned and I can’t afford to go to court to fight it. now I have found a large lump under my collarbone and I feel pain radiating from it and I’m too scared to get it looked at. I’m never happy, I fake laughter and pretend to be the man, making jokes of my own life as if it has no effect on me. I recently began drinking alcohol and getting into fights which is highly unlike me. This lead to relapses on drugs. I’ve now quit everything but I feel numb and deeply unlovable. I feel like a burden to all that I meet. Anti deps ruined my sex drive so dating isn’t an option. I feel like the walls of life are closing in on me with an internal sense of impending doom lingering around my heart and I can’t deal with a diagnosis of cancer. I am sick of pretending I’m ok. I have nothing left.

Another new kid

replies: 6

Hi, I'm new too and don't really know what to say...

Introduction Jaimie

replies: 5

Hi, I am new here. Looking for other people in a similar situation to share the emotional burden. I am a single parent, belong to the LGBTQ group, female, migrant, very low level of social contacts or support network. Anyone out there in a similar si... View more

New to depression and anxiety

replies: 4

Hi All I'm a stay at home mother of 2 kids. I have a 1 year old and a almost 6 year old. I have never experienced depression and anxiety until March this year (2020). Its been almost 3 months since I started anti depressants. I'm on a second type now 5th week in and I was going well but I'm now starting to feel the depression more than anything. I want to know that it gets better. It's hard to get by and im finding it a struggle to get through the day without bawling my eyes out. I have this deep pain in my chest and no matter what I do it doesn't seem to go away :( I love my children and husband so much and hate them seeing me this way. My question is are there any other mums out there that struggle with anxiety and depression that suffer from pcos aswell? I have pcos and find my hormones all over the place. I need to find something that helps me get through the day happily.

Introduction

replies: 17

hi everyone nice to meet you, I am really excited to be here. I am a libra and an introvert and I love science, English, books and phisloghy, I am bad at spelling to I have some mental health conditions (social anxiety, GAD, panic disorder, OCD hyperacusis(is that spelled right) I love nature and music to (sorry I am really bad at writing intros have a great day/night everyone

First timer

replies: 1

Hello & thank you.

new to the forum

replies: 7

Hi Not sure in how to act or be on this but thought I might try it out. Very confused on how it works though. Hope you're having a good day!

New

replies: 3

Hello

Hello, first timer

replies: 2

G,day, first post,really unsure how this will go, but I'm here,making a start on doing somthing more help my anxiety/ depression. At present I talk to my GP over 10 years,and over the years talked with psychologicalists/councillors, I like write about my life and in general our human condition which helps a great deal. Had a anxiety/ panic attack at work recently, had to go home. But like all moments, it passed,and all good next day. Anyway stay well all,and like I say,you/we are stronger then you think. Take care,stay well. ,

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hello Everyone! replies: 6

I have nothing left replies: 7

Another new kid replies: 6

Introduction Jaimie replies: 5

New to depression and anxiety replies: 4

Introduction replies: 17

First timer replies: 1

new to the forum replies: 7

New replies: 3

Hello, first timer replies: 2