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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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Seeking help with strategies to support myself and my partner.

replies: 2

Hi all, I apparently made this account some years ago, but don’t think I posted anything at that time. I’m not sure of the best category for this. In summary, my partner and I are both struggling and I’d appreciate any advice on how I can support her better. I’ve been depressed for a long time and have made a concerted effort to go back to therapy this year. I’m struggling with motivation, isolation and an inability to break maladaptive habits. I would say that I’m not suicidal but I do want to die. My partner is struggling with work stress and anxiety. She is working long hours and is too anxious to sleep. She told me recently that she feels trapped, and doesn’t know what to do. I couldn’t say anything, I don’t know what to say. Her stress response is to externalise things, so I fear that if I say the wrong thing she will attack me and we will both feel worse. My stress response is to internalise by shouldering blame and apologising, so this will end any conversation we have. I’ll say something like “I’m sorry I said the wrong thing” and that will be that. I really want to be able to do something to support her but I don’t know what to do or how to start, can you suggest anything, no matter how small?

Increase in Meds

replies: 5

Hi all, name is Steve It all started in December 2011, major break down from working 2 jobs, 7 days a week and life its self. Spent 4 weeks in a mental health ward. Diagnosis was Major depression and OCD Intrusive thoughts. Relationship break up and separation from my partner, being together since 2001 and a 3yr old son went with his mother. Was put on an antidepressant medication in the ward. Back in the family home alone. Spent several months on the couch, out of my mind. Seeing no one, ignoring all contact of calls and knocks at the door. The only person I didn't hear from was my ex partner. Bills and rent getting direct debited from my income protection. Became my self again over a 4 month period after being taken off that medication and onto another antidepressant. I quit drinking alcohol, still a smoking tobacco (not weed, quit that 10yrs prior). Had some relapses along the way. Got back with the ex a yr later. Didn't work for a few yrs, had a payout to support the family. We soon spent a few hundred G over a few 3yrs. We had 2 more kids. Moved houses a few times and settled in a good rental. life was great, left me old job to a new job with a mate. Increased my income 5 times of what I was getting in the old job. But it meant 14hr+ days, on call. Rain, hail or shine. Work hrs were capped at 12, but time sheets for altered to fit the hours over the month. 2018, my ex left me for another guy, because I was always working. 2018 to 2020 was a battle. police, courts, DHS. Spending at least once a week in a jail cell for a few hrs after video interviews of allegations from the ex. My boy is almost 17 and lives with me. Haven't seen my other 2 boys in 4yrs. 2022 I had a work injury, work denied it happened at work. 2yrs fighting with work through lawyers. Work was made redundant just as I finished my claim with a win. Forced to sign a resignation, So I had a choice of comp payout or redundancies pay. I sighed the comp claim. Now no job, little money till payout comes in. After a yr of no weed, I smoked 3am last week and went to bed. But my mind went crazy. panic and extreme anxiety set in. Spent days on edge, before going to the Dr. He increased my medication dosage. Its been a rough week mentally. I'm just hoping its just from the increase side effects.

Is there something wrong with me? Or am I something?

replies: 2

Hi!To start, I am the only female in my family. I am the eldest with 4 siblings...so parentification.My 'parents'(mother and step father) were foster carers... abandonment.My mother was gender preferential...so isolation.I would inform something was wrong with me, that I saw things differently. I was belittled and ignored...neglect. I am now 37. I have a husband. I have a son. They mean nothing to me. They used to...now they don't.I don't know what to do...

running on empty

replies: 3

All I do is absorb pain! Mental or physical the world doesn’t mind. god (yeh right) knows I’ve had an abundance of both. Socialising equals drugs alcohol & addiction. getting clean equals gym & sport… A POSITIVE!! You’d think so But you’d be wrong!! Cos gym & sport equaled bursitis & a broken collar bone (first game) LOL back to drinking. Back to drugs. Lost my partner. Living alone in one of those prison cell share house bs single occupancy mini apartments. cant socialise, cant train. On a waiting list for clavicle surgery. anyway I just wanted to vent. There’s nothing anyone can say or do. I just don’t understand why ending the pain is something people aren’t supposed to do

Time

replies: 1

Hi guys, I gave up a very stressful career 18 months ago and am now doing something I enjoy but still can’t seem to shake the anxiety and doubts that I was hoping would disappear. I have a great wife and most of my children are wonderful and successful but I still can’t seem to feel happy. I have been on medication for a couple of years but the side affects just make my anxiety worse. Is there any way to get myself back?

I need a lot of guidance and help to get on the right track

replies: 2

I'm stuck and I don't know how to get out of it. I need to change my life because this isn't normal in the slightest. I don't want to get too into it because there is a lot, but Im 43 years old and have been on DSP since I was 16. My mother basically brainwashed me into believing that I wasn't capable of doing anything in life. All i was good for was taking care of her. I have spoken to therapists over the years but none of them helped me, and the one I was making progress with decided to just up and leave. A month or so after that, my mother passed away and I broke up with my only friend, right when I needed her the most (2015) and my life went kinda crazy for a while. I ended up in the psych ward because I done something stupid. I was told that I needed a lot of therapy so I started seeing someone again but left because it was making my life worse. I want to talk to someone who can maybe guide me and help me as I have no idea what im doing or what im supposed to be doing. I don't want to continue living like this.

How does this forum work?

replies: 1

Hi,how does this forum work?

Very nervouse now

replies: 1

Hi I am in a precarious situation now, and feel quite vulnerable ,I am a 73 yr old male and have a partner who is an alcoholic and narcissistic. She doesn't like domestic chores or doing any thing around the home, we look after my Nephew who has an acquired brain injury.he is easily influenced . last week my partner and I had an argument,over a very small thing ,it got out of hand ,she was yelling at the top of her voice. I was trying to reason with her ,to no avail!!. my nephew heard the commotion and can to see what was happening ,she immediately said that i was angry and abusive,and when with him into the laundry and shut the door ,I wanted to let him know that this was not true so forced open the door ,she let out a scream and said that this was abuse and she should call the police . My nephew being brain damaged her her and immediately called the police,he told them that his uncle was being abusive towards his partner . the following day the police can and interviewed all concerned .fortunately they decided that is was not serious enough to arrest me and charge me ,but reserved the right to place and incident report on file so that if ever there was another incident then I would be charged.and bought before a magistrate . I am not a violent person never have been ,I do have a curt tongue, that can deliver a scathing message . my problem now is that with the report on file ,if she feels that she wants to be vindictive towards me for what ever reason all she has to do is call the police. My nephew is very distraught about the whole incident,he is now worried like myself that she will use it against me . to be honest The relationship is at and end.but if I ask her to leave she will create a scene and the end result is what I am afraid off.

Ptsd triggered after years of healing, feeling lost

replies: 8

Hello, My story is so huge with so many parts that I don't know where or how to start... But I know I need help. I have been in this situation and head space before, so I am terrified and feel just as lost as back then. I experienced 2 yrs of emotional abuse from my sister in-law which came to a head at the hardest time in my life, resulting is a mental breakdown and PTSD. I moved away and started to heal and feel more myself, only we have recently moved back and the first time I was at the place I broke, I had a panic attack and realised I hadn't fully healed as I had thought.. But then I saw her for the first time in nearly 6 yrs and Everything has come crashing back like it was yesterday. Now I don't know what to do. I have no emotional support. I am fortunate to have a loving husband who has been there with me, but he doesn't fully understand and isn't good with emotional support and he just shuts down when he sees me so distressed... and professional help is unfortunately out of my financial reach. I desperately want to heal, to be able to function without fear around my family.

Online chat to counselling

replies: 1

I can't seem to get onto the online counselling chat. It has a window which says insert name and tel number and then I can't get further than that.Please can someone help me.I can't speak.as my husband is here

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Seeking help with strategies to support myself and my partner. replies: 2

Increase in Meds replies: 5

Is there something wrong with me? Or am I something? replies: 2

running on empty replies: 3

Time replies: 1

I need a lot of guidance and help to get on the right track replies: 2

How does this forum work? replies: 1

Very nervouse now replies: 1

Ptsd triggered after years of healing, feeling lost replies: 8

Online chat to counselling replies: 1