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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New diagnosis!

replies: 5

Good morning. Yesterday I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder. I have been treated for Chronic Depression and PTSD for many years by my psychiatrist who left for another state at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I now have a new psychiatrist. I am not new, however, have not posted for many years. This new diagnosis has left me rattled but has explained many feelings I have had over the years and I have accepted it. I have told my partner about it and luckily for me, he has been very supportive. I now feel awful for many of the things people have put up with (my behaviour). I also feel very saddened that I have been unable to explain some of my extreme behaviour and my deep sadness or mood. Can anyone let me know of a support group I can access for people with Bi-Polar Disorder? I live in Queensland. Many Thanks, Leisalou.

How Psychotherapy saved my life - after being on medications for 10 years

replies: 10

I’ve never used beyond blue before until now. For the past 10 years I was seeing a psychiatrist who I believe was doing the best it thought he new. By the end I was on a cocktail of medication- 6 different antipsychotics and antidepressants and off-label used medication. After several suicide attempts And more in patient hospital visits that I can count, I new I needed to change course. I changed psychiatrists - I started seeing a woman who works using ACT therapy and in the past year I have been slowly tappering off all of my medication whilst seeing an incredible psychologist to help we develop vital DBT skills - to make a life worth living. After 10 years of feeling like a zombie and not being able to have any stable relationships. I feel like I am almost back.. or my eyes have been opened. I was diagnosed with everything over that 10 year period and to think now that I never needed any medication that whole time - just life skills still blows my mind. I am almost completely off my last antidepressant- we all know the joys of those withdrawals but what’s getting me through is the skills I have learnt and learning about how serotonin literally effects everything in your body. My life has never been better I’m so lucky - now approaching 30 that I have discovered a new way of treatment. I encourage every single person in the world to see a psychologist once in their life for any reason - you have to put a lot of work in every day but in the long run it pays off. I’d rather take the good and the bad emotions any day then be stuck like a zombie for the rest of my life. I don’t know if anyone will read this but I just felt like I wanted to tell someone that there are SOOO many options out there. Do your research. Your doctors are just people at the end of the day and they do not know everything.

Returning to work. Diagnosis. Myself and family 1st

replies: 2

I have researched about the benefits of returning to work for mental health and understand the theory behind the benefits of doing so but I don't think it would be best for me. I have had six months off work after leaving a toxic work environment and I am reassessing the importance of everything as I am now probably the happiest and balanced I have felt for a very long time. I am supported financially as was made "incapable of working" but my concern now that I am doing well mentally, my doctors may say that it is time to go back to work (which was the cause of my diagnosis). How is this capability (of being able to work) measured and how can I ensure that I am putting myself first and am looking after my family? (I have not been reassessed after a trial of rtw that I had to cease, I was "capable at work" but my home life was falling apart and I was going backwards feeling so out of control). I finally feel back on track and would like to keep it this way. Do insurance providers and medical professionals support this or care? Are people happy not working? I am finally able to accept not working is best for me at the moment and I can see myself being content with this but how can I keep it this way? I don't really want to quit everything I have worked for in my career but I am not managing doing both career and family. How did I ever do it I wonder? (I used to get asked that alot) I have no idea, some days now I can't even get out of bed and this post has taken me an hour to write! I like the routine my children offer me (aka getting them to school, helping at school (before covid19) and am now getting out to excercise each day and am looking after myself. I see these as my priorities. If I could I would do this until they finish school (ie for the next 12 years) but I would be kissing my career goodbye if I gave up now. I would sacrifice that for quality time raising my children as I have proven I can't do both.

Getting fired due to underperformance at work / Anxiety

replies: 8

Hello, My Dad (an electrician - worked for 40 years) has been suffering from Anxiety and has recently received a warning from his employer due to under-performance and making mistakes. Since then his confidence seems to have been shattered and is now making more and more mistakes at work, he says he is unable to make decisions and his boss says that customers feel as though he doesn't know what he is doing anymore. His employer knows that Dad has anxiety and is being medicated for it but doesn't understand why Dad isn't able to do his job - and saying things like "You've done this for years, why can't you do this now" and "I don't see what the problem is, stop making customers nervous". He has been asked to reply to his 2nd warning letter, I think he is going to loose his job. Whenever he goes to a dr - they just change his medication levels but he hasn't received any advice or medical certs to have a break from re his work. I don't know how to support him. I'm starting to loose sleep over this worrying about him

Where to start and what to do?

replies: 3

I have been struggling with anxiety and depression for years and the whole Covid-19 thing is making it worse. For 2 months now i have been stuck at home unable to see my friends, partner, go to school or go to a doctor for help. I feel like I'm at an all time low and it's just getting worse. My parents are trying to help but being stuck on a property away from everything is not helping and I feel really bad because they are trying to help but I don't know what they can do to help me because I don't know what I need. I'm just so stuck and don't know what to do.

Just joined, never done this before!

replies: 3

Hi everyone. I am new to the group. I joined because I thought being part of a community might help me deal with my anxiety and depression. I can be a bit hit and miss, good some days but then all of a sudden feeling really crap & snappy. In particul... View more

Hey everyone. I'm new here

replies: 2

Hello, this is my first time doing this so I'm a bit unsure of how this works but I'll give it a go. for about a year or so I have been struggling with my sexual orientation. I'm a 15 year old female and quite confused about it. All my life I had been mostly attracted to boys up until last year where I met a girl. Since then my attention has mostly been on girls. I thought I was bisexual and I never felt fully okay with that label, I'm not sure if that label is not for me or if I had trouble accepting it. I'm questioning if I might be a homosexual. Any advice? thanks

Thanks for having me

replies: 13

Hi, Lately I have been feeling really low. I don't want to get out of bed I feel like I don't want do anything. I go to work and put on a brave face I just feel like I am a burden on everyone. I try and talk to people but I just feel like I am bothering them. I am at a loss. I just feel like I am fighting an up hill battle alone. I just over think everything so I can't sleep. Thanks for letting me put what's in my head out there..

Over loaded

replies: 1

Hi I am feeling really tired and have worked too much to the point where i am emotionally and physically drained , I am not doubting myself and feeling incapable ' How can I recharge ?

New on Forum

replies: 2

Hi there Have felt anxiety/depression on and off most of my life. In a marriage but feel very lonely, not sure if I would feel less lonely if I left the marriage. We are complete opposites and trying to build a connection. Sometimes it works but basically always a struggle. Haven't got any stability in my job and work is drying up which is really triggering my depression at the moment. Don't have any close friends and desperate for connection. Getting a stable job that I enjoy is the break I need but is not happening for me. Hoping to connect with others who can relate to this...

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

New diagnosis! replies: 5

How Psychotherapy saved my life - after being on medications for 10 years replies: 10

Returning to work. Diagnosis. Myself and family 1st replies: 2

Getting fired due to underperformance at work / Anxiety replies: 8

Where to start and what to do? replies: 3

Just joined, never done this before! replies: 3

Hey everyone. I'm new here replies: 2

Thanks for having me replies: 13

Over loaded replies: 1

New on Forum replies: 2