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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Introduction...newbie

replies: 3

Hello, Where would we be without Beyond Blue? I would have no one to confide in. I can’t stop crying and I hide it day in and day out but I don’t have to hide it when I call BB. Single mum of two 100% care. Ex husband who was also my best friend cheated. Not in a million years would I of expected that happening. Broken family, heart, faith and mind. The loneliness is just sad really. People say do something for you. Yeah who with? Myself? I’m tired of doing things with myself. I just wish I had a best friend, someone I could call on, talk to. People have their own lives, happy lives with others and at the end of the day they won’t do anything for me. It’s a waste of breath and you once again get let down. Sorry it’s depressing. I would appreciate any advice if possible. I look forward to reading other threads.

my introduction

replies: 6

Hello everyone, I am Kat and I have had a lifelong history of anxiety and depression. my life right now isnt going anywhere because of it, i dont have a job im employed at (but i make some money housesitting), im lonely, and it feels like no one cares. ive been having trouble concentrating/making mistakes a lot/feeling over my head with every task. my work history is patchy so i feel too scared to apply for proper work and still live at home. I graduated with a bachelor of arts three years ago but have never used it. i dont have any family here besides my mother who is always saying shes sick of me. she has a lot of anger issues too..and it takes its toll.whenever i bring up therapy she says its too expensive. my main problem is being isolated and feeling like no one offers me any help. and instead they just berate me a lot, everything feels too late to turn around like this is just my life and i hate it. even with my birthday im always alone and people will act like its too much to ask to hang out with me, but a friend will demand i stop what im doing to help her with all of her problems. i dont know why no one does it back for me. i feel like i could be achieving a lot but im not and everything its far too hard and bad to turn around..hoping these forums will help

Introducing Myself

replies: 9

Hello! Newbie here. I'm a PhD student from the United States living in Australia for a year doing some research for my dissertation. For most of my life I have struggled with depression and anxiety, and have sought a variety of different treatments. Over the past few years I have been doing better than I ever have before, and as mental health is both the subject of my academic research and very important to me personally, I wanted to join the community and lend support in any way I can. Looking forward to listening, sharing, and contributing!

Hi, I’m new!

replies: 2

Hi there, I’m new to this so forgive me if I do this wrong. I’m “pheobe” and was diagnosed with GA and depression about 12yrs ago and have on meds since which took a while but ultimately saved me. Over the years I’ve had small downs but nothing major till now. Had a major episode a month ago for 5 days and this one 6 days ago. Have now increased meds slightly to see if it helps. Which of course comes with side affects and the doubt and worry it won’t work and things will get worse. So I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. Ive had to take today off to give my body time to adjust as I knew there was a potential to burst into unstoppable tears in front of my coworkers which would be devastating and even more distressing. Thankfully I’ve only had tears once today and in the comfort of my home. But I can’t stay home forever. I’ve been reading a lot about natural treatments for depression and find it overwhelming. I know nothing is immediate but if anyone knows of any techniques that can help reduce my symptoms I’d be very grateful. Thanks. Pheobe

In a nutshell...

replies: 2

Its hard to know where to begin as there is so much going on that there isn't enough place to put it all down, so here is a really high level summary just to get it out there. I have no family, both of my adoptive parents have now passed away and my "family" disappeared when my mother passed, which I can only assume is because they never really considered me family. I have no brothers or sisters and have no children. I have been married to my wife for 10 years now, she has 4 children to a previous marriage she never sees because her ex alienated them from her, her family have always been abusive towards her and mistreat her but she keeps going back for more. So we really only have each other. She has a history of BPD, depression and trauma and it hasn't been easy dealing with all of this but ultimately I have always been there for her. Something happened a few years ago when she was in a clinic, she just didn't come home & didn't tell me. Then she went through abuse where she was staying so she isn't doing well. Its now been 2 years and we have limited contact with each other, messages here and there and she eventually agreed to go to counselling with me but wont go more than 1 hour a month. She wont tell me anything, wont talk to me, wont even give me the rough outline. She keeps going out of her way to do things for strangers and has been slowly pushing me more and more away. Its like I just dont matter to her any more. What is confusing is that she keeps "saying" she wants us to work it out, but her "actions" never match what she says. At what point does trying to be understanding turn into being the idiot who isn't getting the hint? I am trying so hard not to give up, but i dont know if she is being honest with me any more. All it would take to make things different is for her to genuinely talk to me, to explain where she is at and what is going on in her head... but she just keeps giving me nothing & expecting me to be there no matter how much her actions say I really dont matter to her any more.

Proper Intro.

replies: 2

Hello, so I wanted to do a proper intro. My name here is my nickname I was given by my Dad because I'm 'short like a weed'. It has no other meaning but that, I use my nickname a lot as I don't like my real name. I don't have a relationship with my Mother, I'm ok with that, I'm a Daddy's girl. I have five siblings only talk to one, fell out with the other, but honestly doesn't bother me either. I live in the Mainland but am a proud Tasmanian, I was brought up and lived in Tassie for most of my life. I have no friends, but have 2 kittens, I adore more than anything. Never had any kind of alcoholic beverage, and never smoked. I have zero self worth, I can't spell, don't know grammar well, I was sick a lot as a kid, I liked school but didn't get to go much. I hate promises, made one to my Nan, and didn't get to follow through with it before she passed away, so I don't do promises. I like to write stories and draw, I'm very bad at both and well I've no motivation to do anything lately though.

Anxiety

replies: 5

Good morning, i suffer from general anxiety. At times it has been so debilitating we have had to change family plans and cancel. Have you ever felt your anxiety has let others down & does it get you down? i felt a tad down today because my anxiety is... View more

Intro - new professional member

replies: 2

Hi there! My forum or "stage name" is Yonath, who is named after one of Lord Dunsany's most sympathetic characters. He is my favourite fantasy writer. During the day I usually work as a psychiatrist in Tasmania. I am also an Addiction Medicine Specialist. I have never been diagnosed by another doctor as having bipolar disorder, but I recognise in myself the typical symptoms of hypomania having occurred during two separate episodes 18 years apart, with a low-grade depressed picture in-between during which I am a hard-working sort. My current symptoms are; heightened creativity (now with several really good guitar tunes composed), ability to rally my psychiatrist colleagues behind a shared and important cause, impudence, improved sense of humour, rapid processing, ability to dominate a conversation when indicated, increased speech, general randiness, and some vaguely mystical experiences here and there. The current episode is still ongoing but started a couple of months ago without major consequences to my employment or livelihood. Being more sociable than usual I am happy to post about it in these forums. Given that I am very much enjoying my current state, I am hoping to maintain it for several years into the future! I am going to see my GP tomorrow because there has been a lot of stress at work recently and I need a few days off before going back Monday next week.

Aged care /nursing home/centerlink/lonely

replies: 2

My husband is 50 and in a nursing home, I am 45 and I have been on wife’s pension for 27 years. On the 20th March they are axing the wife’s pension and because my husband is in a nursing home I’m going to be put strait onto Jobseekers payment because I am not a carer anymore and not of age pension age. I are still very involved with my husbands finances and care as far as visiting him daily and sorting most of his affairs out . I am a total mess now because of my own health and I feel I have been thrown to the wolf’s . I’m also very lonely and have 2 children that don’t give a crap about me . I’m struggling to keep it together and I’m very depressed .

Hi

replies: 6

I’m new but it just feels weird complaining about myself, guess I will just check out other posts

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Introduction...newbie replies: 3

my introduction replies: 6

Introducing Myself replies: 9

Hi, I’m new! replies: 2

In a nutshell... replies: 2

Proper Intro. replies: 2

Anxiety replies: 5

Intro - new professional member replies: 2

Aged care /nursing home/centerlink/lonely replies: 2

Hi replies: 6