Welcome and Orientation

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Meet your community champions!

replies: 14

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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Worried for my teenage son

replies: 3

Hi there, I have joined your forum today as I’m so worried about my son. His dark days are increasing.month by month. He is depressed and removing himself from his everyday life. he finds it increasingly hard to go to school and engage with people. He has seen a GP but was not very open and honest with him as he was incredibly uncomfortable. He does not feel ready to speak to a professional about how he’s feeling although he was waited listed to see one recently and turned the appointment down. He doesn’t know how he’s feeling he is so lost within himself. he said he has had thoughts of doing something stupid and I worry these thoughts will increase. i want to fix him but don’t know how to. we always tell him we love him, support him and would do anything for him but he feels worthless and I don’t think he believes this or even hears this. where do I go from here?

Getting started

replies: 6

Hey, So, on Tuesday I am going to a GP to get a mental health plan for the first time. My school guidance councillor suggested it and... I AM TERRIFIED! Don’t get me wrong, I really want to do this but I am super duper scared! I feel like they’re the... View more

How to start when you don’t know what’s wrong??

replies: 19

I know I need to get some help, to talk to someone professional about my many, may issues but I really struggle with how to start it all? It feels like I have so many things going on right now that I just can’t work out if I’m anxious, depressed or w... View more

To much time to think in lockdown

replies: 15

Hey guys, Not really sure what to write, i havnt been on here for three years apparently! Time flys. I suffer from bipolar , as well as bpd so things can get a little chaotic at times. Things have been especially tough currently with lockdown, home schooling my nine year old, n living with three other people in a small house 🤦 I suffered from a pretty bad breakdown last night, and so decided to reconnect, as I got alot out of being a member of BB in the past. How is everyone else coping with social distancing and lockdown? Personally I'm on a rollercoaster; one minute loving that I don't have to face the world, next minute in the fetal position crying Wishing love and happiness to anyone reading this, you are not alone MM

New to forum, "old hand" with BB

replies: 3

Hi all, I have offered to be a Community Connector helping Beyondblue spread its new "Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service". What community groups, individuals or agencies do YOU think I should contact? [p.s. I also wanted to see how the Foru... View more

Desperate- please help

replies: 2

I'm a single mother with four children - a fifteen year old daughter, a seventeen year old son and eight year old twin girls. My ex-partner, the former twos father, is currently living abroad with little to no contact. The girls I am ashamed to say were a product of a one night stand but I am please asking for no judgement here. Well...I don't know how to start this. I suppose I'll just be frank. My son and daughter have always been very close, and my son is very protective of his little sister, sometimes to a violent degree. Frequently he has been in serious trouble at school, thrice even suspended due to a whole range of different "defences", including swearing at teachers, bashing up her bullies and threatening her boyfriends. He also gets into much trouble unrelated to her. Thankfully he has been able to avoid any real trouble with the law but we have had some very close calls. He is a really smart kid though, I mean really smart (he read The Prince, Caesar's Commenteries, The Art of War, and a whole host of other ridiculously advanced titles at age ten, and was interested in advanced physics and computer science from age five) and great at sports. He used to be very outgoing and popular, but ever since year 9 he has been a bit of an outcast due to increasingly strange and hostile behaviours which I am sorry to say I ignored in the vain hope they would get better. They did not.My daughter on the other hand has always been very sweet and dolice. My twins are wild, always running amuck outside but she always preferred to stay inside watching documentaries or playing with dolls. They were always close, forever playing together, and as they grew older often in close contact eg. cuddling on the couch and at the time I always dismissed this as normal. As she grew older she became more rebellious, I think in part because of her brother's influence, but nothing serious. Anyway the two of them went out for an afternoon walk around 3 o clock yesterday (they still haven't returned) and so I was cleaning in my daughters room. While making her bed I found a sparkly notebook, obviously a diary. I know it's wrong of me but I have always been nosy so I just couldn't help myself. Besides what secrets could a 15 year old girl have right??? It started off ordinary, just talking about gossip and school. But then around thirty pages in things took a terrifying turn. She started talking of feeling depressed, wanting to hurt herself. Like a fish I was gutted. I had no idea.

It's been going on for longer than I want

replies: 2

Hi new here have been having issues with depression for years but seem not able to make my life change so here I am tired drugs legal & just felt removed from myself now I am waking with thoughts not all ways but a lot . The help is a problem for me as I have no idea how to get it & feel that it's to hard to resolve as I have no issues talking to a strange about problems but that's all it is talk & all I seem to do is talk but I feel not relief from it , How do you cope with loss of life in friends & getting back into life I've got to a place where I live by myself with no connection to family & feel like I have no freinds . Age is a factor + money & work but I really struggle to find a connection with anyone as if I do I feel that it to much

Hello all

replies: 2

Hey guys, my name is Cathy, I joined beyond blue because I have had a rough time at home for quite a while. Things keep getting worse and I guess I want someone to talk to

Learning to cope with anxiety

replies: 1

Hi guys! My name is Hana and I've struggled with social anxiety my whole life (18 almost 19 years), although I only noticed this a couple of months ago. I would always get so nervous whenever my friends from school invited me somewhere, so I would always make up an excuse for not being able to go. Even then I still didn't know I was struggling with anxiety and social situations. When I started opening up to my friends from church about it, they were all very supportive to me and reassured me that I am not the only one who is struggling with anxiety. I get really nervous when I go into calls (with or without video) with my friends, I worry if I am saying the right thing, not being able to speak up during conversations, if I am saying the right thing, checking other people's reactions, if they are thinking something bad about me and overthinking the worst in every situation. Although I think those things from time to time, I do think my anxiety has gotten better since I don't really get to see my friends face-to-face even though I still get to see some of them on calls. I do believe that hanging out with the right friends who will make you a better person and will boost your self-esteem as supposed to friends who say negative things about you and who don't treat you with respect and love makes a huge difference in the long-run! I really hope that what I said can somehow help those understand and cope with anxiety better, I believe that every one of us can fight through this time of struggle and worry! Thank you all for reading! 🥰

Anxiety -Just got diagnosed

replies: 2

Hi I've just been diagnosed with anxiety ...I have chronic asthma and now been diagnosed with anxiety...feel like a can't get a full breathe , and doc told me after a few tests that it's anxiety , feel anxious with this pandemic and work cut down hours and all the pressure on me... What can I do to limit my anxiety ,on tablets for my asthma , my doc gave me anti depressants but felt very nausea from them and I stopped then...

Meet your community champions! replies: 14

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

Worried for my teenage son replies: 3

Getting started replies: 6

How to start when you don’t know what’s wrong?? replies: 19

To much time to think in lockdown replies: 15

New to forum, "old hand" with BB replies: 3

Desperate- please help replies: 2

It's been going on for longer than I want replies: 2

Hello all replies: 2

Learning to cope with anxiety replies: 1

Anxiety -Just got diagnosed replies: 2