Welcome and Orientation

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Meet your community champions!

replies: 12

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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New here - never felt like this!

replies: 2

Well where do I begin? I'm a new first time mum with a husband who constantly works away, to the point he wasn't even here for the birth. I also work full time from home whilst looking after our baby and I literally do everything on my own - I haven't slept more than 2 hours a night in 10 months now. I'm distressed and drowning. Then to top it all off, I've recently found out that while he was away for work while I was giving birth to our child, he was having an affair with a coworker that I believe still would be continuing if I hadn't found out. We live in a state where I have no family or friends and I just don't know where or who to turn to. I feel myself sinking deeper and deeper, the only thing that keeps me going is my child. I just don't even know where to start, my life has completely fallen apart and I just don't have the time or energy to even sort out how I am feeling.

Depressed feeling of alone isolation misunderstood judged and Ashamed

replies: 4

Hi all, Thought id Vent here as Im sick of FB & pple fake caring Im hoping more luck here Im 32 years old & have 2 beautiful boys of mixed race 六 The reason Im here as i suffer alot of diff Chronic Pain Issues & Depression Anxiety. 1 of my boys has ... View more

Hi all, Thought id Vent here as Im sick of FB & pple fake caring Im hoping more luck here Im 32 years old & have 2 beautiful boys of mixed race 🧑🏽 The reason Im here as i suffer alot of diff Chronic Pain Issues & Depression Anxiety. 1 of my boys has Special Needs so life can be difficlt. For the past mnth Ive becme very Angry & dettached with I havent had the best childhood, Mother left wen i was 5yrs. She up & Abandoned us all then had Family with sme1 else. Even though she claimed she cldnt handle my 2 siblings & i. She hsnt made effort to contact us This is actlly wen my ability 2 not handle ppl not listening not understanding my viewsy some idiots dnt care dnt acknowledge my feelings emotions wat ever they may be. Angry at the for pushing me aside not letting me Voice & Feel. For example my son's bday was recently i invited 30+ ppl on my FB. The only thing that came of it was so called friends lying to my face abt y they cldnt come, Faking sickness. I cldnt even make a vent on my FB as ppl certain will jump dwn my throat & somehow turning it bak on me. All i wanted for my son was 4 him 2 enjoy his bday but no apparently that was 2 much to ask 4 My whole life Ive dealt with ppl putting me dwn lying 2 my face using me abusing me. Metaphorically beating the fact Im not good enough 4 any1 Im 2 weird to quiet to loud. Im to negative. The list of it just goes on & on.

Feeling more isolated than usual

replies: 5

Hi Eveyone I just need to try and connect, I'm feeling lonely at the moment I really love being around people but usually spend a lot of time on my own which is always hard to cope with I suffered from ptsd and anxiety for as long as can remember Though i am one of those people that probably seem that they're coping well from the outside inside I'm in turmoil During this time I'm feeling more lonely than usual as my routines that usual get me through the days are disrupted That's all just writing this releases the pressure of it for me

Struggling to find my new normal

replies: 8

Hi there, I know it is a really difficult time for everyone at the moment, but I am seriously struggling with the feeling of being trapped and removed from my routines. I have a job that I love and that keeps me grounded and at the moment I can't do my job. I have a young son who I adore and am now at home with full time. I know I need to be strong for him but am just feeling so anxious all the time. Today I've been in tears a lot of the day which isn't fair to him, I can't stop the anxious feeling in my gut. I guess I'm asking for help to find a new normal while I'm at home without my support network or my routines? Thanks in advance

Hi don’t know what to do

replies: 4

Hi I don’t know what to do anymore as I am over talking and getting the same stuff all the time and nothing is working. I am at that point where I don’t know what is good or bad anymore. I have really nothing happening for me anymore and I am just going day by day doing the same things and have nothing to show for it! I am losing the fight more and more everyday. It is like I don’t have the fight left I am so dead on the inside and don’t have the energy to keep playing like I do. I don’t know anymore.

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 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.

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

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 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

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. 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

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

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

New here - never felt like this! replies: 2

Depressed feeling of alone isolation misunderstood judged and Ashamed replies: 4

Feeling more isolated than usual replies: 5

Struggling to find my new normal replies: 8

Hi don’t know what to do replies: 4

over negative thoughts and turning to alcohol replies: 3

Feeling lost in here somewhere. replies: 4

Lost replies: 2

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

A depressed husband replies: 2