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Sophie_M 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 Be... View more

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.

Aaronsis 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 th... View more

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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Lara010 Beginning today
  • replies: 1

Hello, I have joined today and am really grateful for the site and forum. I never write and rarely talk about issues affecting my life which I feel ashamed of. Already though.. in taking this step of joining and writing, it looks as though things can... View more

Hello, I have joined today and am really grateful for the site and forum. I never write and rarely talk about issues affecting my life which I feel ashamed of. Already though.. in taking this step of joining and writing, it looks as though things can change. I am glad I am making this step.

Onlyme64 I’m new
  • replies: 1

Hi I have had problems with depression in the past, at the moment I’m having work issues I know if I left my job the stress and the anxiousness I’m feeling would ease but at my age it’s not easy to find another job and I don’t have many skills I have... View more

Hi I have had problems with depression in the past, at the moment I’m having work issues I know if I left my job the stress and the anxiousness I’m feeling would ease but at my age it’s not easy to find another job and I don’t have many skills I have done the same sort of work for thirty years. I would like to know how other people cope with horrible rosters where you can’t get any down time, employers that don’t really listen

VMvm Anxiety, work and career change. Advice?
  • replies: 2

Hey! Hope you all are well! I'm going through a difficult time and I thought it could help me to read some advice/thoughts from different people and backgrounds. I'm 32, an optimist and positive guy, and for the first time in my life, I'm struggling ... View more

Hey! Hope you all are well! I'm going through a difficult time and I thought it could help me to read some advice/thoughts from different people and backgrounds. I'm 32, an optimist and positive guy, and for the first time in my life, I'm struggling from some anxiety and (maybe) depression. I quitted my sales corporate job a couple of years ago, promising myself I would never go back to it, and I travelled for nearly those two whole years. After my trip, I got back to Melbourne and guess what... I got back to the same industry and corporate job as a salesperson. It took me nearly 3 months to get the job and lots of rejection from interview processes. That job hunting started to make me feel useless, nervous, anxious and quite self-conscious. But anyway, I got a job. It's been two months in the new company and those feeling are just increasing, I don't feel ready to tackle my role (even though it's what I have been doing for 10 years) and when I meet my customers I get quite nervous and anxious. That situation makes my brain go blank, I don't ask the right questions, I don't say the right things and therefore, I get in trouble with my management. I know I don't want to be doing this job, but I have no idea what I can do with my life. The only thing that keeps me going to the office every day is the good salary. Still, I don't think I can handle anymore because I'm suffering and I hate that feeling. Since I finished high school I have been working in sales, so unfortunately I don't feel I have any other skill I can use to find another good job. So my question here, have any of you gone through something similar? How did you handle your career change? Thanks!

Dynamic_Donna Toxic relationship with ex
  • replies: 1

Hi There, I have borderline personality disorder and I went through a 16 year toxic/ narcissist relationship. Ended over a year ago. She has moved on & off course the most perfect relationship. For me. I am struggling to move on. Constant over thinki... View more

Hi There, I have borderline personality disorder and I went through a 16 year toxic/ narcissist relationship. Ended over a year ago. She has moved on & off course the most perfect relationship. For me. I am struggling to move on. Constant over thinking. New job and a new location. That I am not happy in. So a pretty bad year. I think just to much to deal with & finding it a bit overwhelming. Wanting to attend Uni next year. It's like I have taken on to much but also wanting to change my life. Given I am 47. I felt like I needed to do something different. My ex moved on relatively quick. So in a year I have had to go through alot of changes. My confidence has been rocked by everything. I know move on. I have lost 25 kilos. I think I just have a over whelming doubt in myself. Not to find someone. I am not ready for that. Even though people tell me - move on. I am. But I am so worried that I will attract another narcissist. I want to get myself in a better place first.

Guest_9462 Need more groups ..
  • replies: 2

Hi, I've noticed there's no groups or online topics like poetry or other interests for people to post some more constructive ways of expressing how we feel..your only promoting negativity here..more positive ways of expression need to be available ,a... View more

Hi, I've noticed there's no groups or online topics like poetry or other interests for people to post some more constructive ways of expressing how we feel..your only promoting negativity here..more positive ways of expression need to be available ,as what's currently available becomes a bit too depressing..thanks.

Kielbill Unsure
  • replies: 1

Hi, just joined recently. I know that I have a problem but I really dont know what it is or exactly how to describe it. I understand I could go to the doctor for it, but its really hard to do with my job. Since it takes mental health into considerati... View more

Hi, just joined recently. I know that I have a problem but I really dont know what it is or exactly how to describe it. I understand I could go to the doctor for it, but its really hard to do with my job. Since it takes mental health into consideration. I find myself enjoying daydreaming far more then reality, I can distinguish the two and switch rather quickly but find little joy in the later. I dont know if im depressed as I dont feel sad, but I also find most of my emotions mute and rather chaotic in a sense. Some days ill feel lonely, but others I really enjoy being alone. I know I have anxiety but it comes and goes as does my mood. However even with this, the spikes and lows are very close together rather mute in fact. I can tell the differences, but it doesn't feel like it should. I have felt this way since a young child, but my mother believed mental health could be changed by attitude so i put away the thoughts. Mental illness runs on her side of the family but in her view its just because they didnt have the mental fortitude. My family has always been very big on wearing masks and your current attitude is what you should feel. So if I show myself happy, eventually the mask will reflect what i feel inside. I dont know if i have gotten good enough that it fools even me? Since if I need to, i can change the mask I wear and somewhat feel like how im pretending to be. I will feel rather tired afterwards however. On rare rare occasions probably 1-2 times a year it feels as if the mask falls and everything rushes me. All the anger, sadness and even joy that I should have been feeling the whole year all at once. My anxiety sky rockets and I cant do anything for the whole day. I usually experience migraines at times like this and would get them as a kid since this phenomenon has happened since my early teens. I dont feel like im actively suppressing it, it feels as if it falls away afterwards and im back to whatever i was doing before hand, just a bit more tired. If anyone has felt this way or understands it at all I would appreciate the help.

Guest_9462 first post
  • replies: 15

hi folks. im Max. feeling bit out of sorts lately. cause everytime i say exactly how i feel, people cant handle it and usualy try and have me committed. so i never say how i feel... not any more... any way.. was very disappointed in. my mother wantin... View more

hi folks. im Max. feeling bit out of sorts lately. cause everytime i say exactly how i feel, people cant handle it and usualy try and have me committed. so i never say how i feel... not any more... any way.. was very disappointed in. my mother wanting to be with her friends instead of me on mothers day. and for a mother who abandoned her kids many times i guess i should have expected it..

pening1998 Newbie
  • replies: 6

Hi, I've just signed up out of desperation of needing someone to lend an ear or two. I am a mum of 2 girls - 17 and 14. What brings me here today is I am at wits end of how to talk/connect with my 17 year old daughter. My 14 has PVL (Periventricular ... View more

Hi, I've just signed up out of desperation of needing someone to lend an ear or two. I am a mum of 2 girls - 17 and 14. What brings me here today is I am at wits end of how to talk/connect with my 17 year old daughter. My 14 has PVL (Periventricular leukomalacia). Here's the link for the full explanation - https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=periventricular-leukomalacia-pvl-90-P02619 . In short, it's a form of brain injury. I'm sure there are other parents in similar boats as me. So I am hoping that I can talk to someone before I go insane. Thank you for reading.

Lucka “I do not know” is the start!
  • replies: 6

1/ I really dont know what im doing. 2/ Well I have been typing and deleting and then I find myself starting again! 3/ I just need someone to talk to but I cannot talk to people I know! 4/ Everyday I wake up, first thing that hits me is this huge wav... View more

1/ I really dont know what im doing. 2/ Well I have been typing and deleting and then I find myself starting again! 3/ I just need someone to talk to but I cannot talk to people I know! 4/ Everyday I wake up, first thing that hits me is this huge wave of sadness. Everytime. 5/ I cannot talk to my husband, he tried to show me that he understands but I know he just tries to be supportive, he doesnt understand! And I dont want to make his life complicated! I want him to be happy so I keep everything myself even though I still tell him how i feel enough to not let myself go crazy! 6/ I feel like there are two person(s) in me. one is Me and the other one is also Me but more like Me’s carer. Sometimes I can visualize myself drift away from my body and stand from a distance to look at me, judge my actions and give myself advice. 7/ When im angry, i dont know what to do. Many times, I slab myself when I am angry because that is the first thing come to my mind to release my anger. I am not crazy nor I have any mental issue, i know what’s right and wrong, what I should/shouldnt do. 8/ I am very very lonely.