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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Harangued by darkness

replies: 5

When it comes to my mental wellbeing, I've never come clean outside the closed conversations with trusted friends before. But as I get older & more isolated, I suffer more and more with anxiety and feel very shy about sharing my state of mind with others. I don't want to attract judgments that will adversely affect anybody's future opinions about me. My sleeping is often interrupted by dark thoughts that are not a part of my reality. And throughout the day, my reality is interrupted by senseless & unreasonable negativity that brings down my day. I live in a building with a range of people that I get along with nicely, a beautiful family, and a good husband of 38 years. I am functional, well-organized, I stay on top of my domestic commitments, and I am a good contributor to our residential community. I live in a lovely apartment in a beautiful part of the world. I have so much to be thankful for and yet I am plagued by anxiety, anger, impatience and extreme irritability. There have been various periods throughout my life (from 10 years of age) where I have become prone to these emotions, and again I have found myself living in this same headspace over the last few months. I absolutely hate it! Admittedly, as a family we've had a lot going on lately, but it's really hard feeling out of control while my husband remains on the same trajectory as always - steady, balanced, unphased. It makes me want to scream!! Trying to act normal around him is hard work...impossible. Is there anybody out there who has been where I am (and have been countless times) throughout my 65 years?

Struggling

replies: 3

This is my first post, unsure how to begin, a year ago I discovered my wife was abused by a coworker, she tried to help him but he abused her instead. I’ve lost faith in the world, I’ve lost the value in myself, I moved my entire family interstate because I didn’t trust myself around the abuser who I wanted to punish. I know it’s wrong to even consider my wife had any complacency in the abuse, I told her the guy was trouble. She still tried to help. She kept the abuse a secret instead of confiding in me. I feel I wasn’t worthy of her trust to help. I feel worthless. In trying to protect my family I feel I ask too much of her.

Sad

replies: 3

Sad

Grief

replies: 3

Hi everyone first time doing anything like this. I’m not doing too well. My beautiful mother passed away one month ago. I feel like my world has crumbled. I have this pain inside me and I’ve all of a sudden become scared of the outside world. Im due to return to work tomorrow and this has caused me to spiral. I have made an appointment with my GP tomorrow to gain additional support.

gender fluid person

replies: 7

i there im a 28 male person and i feel trapped into being masculine and straight when actually i want to explore the world of lgbt non sexually of course i want to dress up fem and look pretty and have girl talk and drop my masculintiy at the door for at least a few hours and just relax into that space but after trying to do it and coming out as trans fem ive lost my job and been told that being trans is wrong by my mum and now i feel very depressed and alone, please im just desperate to connect

Alone

replies: 3

Hi everyone, I'm new here. No idea if this will help but google suggested I give it a go.I have depression, anxiety, BPD, PTSD and BD. So yeh a list. I'm medicated and when I can afford to I see a shrink. I manage most of it ok I just really struggle with my loneliness. I have no family or friends where i live its just me and my kids. I keep myself as busy as possible to avoid these feelings I suppose but they always sneak back in. I joined a club to try make new connections but I guess everything takes time. I'm just sick of crying I guess xx thanks for listening

New member Here

replies: 3

Hello everyone, Just wanted to drop by say hello, i hope everyone has had a good Christmas and new years whether you were with family and friends or simply spending time alone with your amazing pets. a little about myself so I am an ex defence person, i have lived experience of PTSD, anxiety and depression, I have studied mental health and work in the field. I am basically here not just for my own guidance and advice but hopefully to also contribute to this beautiful community beyond blue has here and help someone who is going through a rough time. anyway i thinks thats enough blabbing about me. thanks!!

New here

replies: 2

Ive had depression for nearly 30years now. Along with that anxiety has crept in. Plus Im pretty sure I have PTSD and hoarding. my biggest issue though is loneliness. i have no family and over the years friend have just used me. i walked away. work friends arent really friends. when i have crisis mental health times, i wish i had a friend or love. my last partner was 20yrs ago. I haven’t had a real boyfriend since. i take meds, practice self care, see a psychologist. Im sick of being alone.

Procrastination to motivation. If only it was as easy as saying the word.

replies: 1

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie to this forum. My chosen title is coming from a place of frustration with myself. I know that it will pass, but lately it has been more of a struggle. Let me explain..... sometimes i find it hard to have a shower or brush my teeth and other times its even difficult to walk outside of the house. it seems like the more time i think about doing it , the harder it becomes. Hence procrastination!So i have to give myself a bit of a motivational talk. It goes like this....You can do it ...Get in that shower,you will feel better. stop thinking about it and just do it. At times it drives me nuts that i have to do this, but if it works, i will continue to do so. And it eventually does ....For other procrastinators out there, know that you are not alone

Xmas 2023 not always a happy time

replies: 13

Hello everyone, I decided to start this thread as another member couldn't find a place to share how Xmas time felt for her. There are many of us I'm sure for whom the Xmas period is a difficult time & not the jolly time that media & even those about us expect us to find it. I stopped doing Xmas back in the late 1990s as the family gatherings had become unbearable. I didn't see then & I still don't today why we force ourselves to try to fit into a narrative of happy families/joyful feelings when the truth is so very different for many of us. I still get made to feel as though I'm some how strange for not "doing Xmas" & for spending the day alone at home. I'm sure I'm not the only one. So this is a space for those who find the Xmas/New Year period difficult for whatever reason... to vent, share or simply let out whatever feelings this time of year brings up. Paws

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Harangued by darkness replies: 5

Struggling replies: 3

Sad replies: 3

Grief replies: 3

gender fluid person replies: 7

Alone replies: 3

New member Here replies: 3

New here replies: 2

Procrastination to motivation. If only it was as easy as saying the word. replies: 1

Xmas 2023 not always a happy time replies: 13