Immediate support
Immediate support

Welcome and orientation

Welcome! If you’re not sure where to start, that’s OK. We’re keen to know more about you and what you’re looking for on our Forums.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Start a discussion

Italian Anxiety
  • replies: 3

What's the best way to deal with first time anxiety that I'm not coping real well with I'm 62 years of age had a stroke 3 months ago , up until the stroke I led a very healthy lifeCan someone with experience please adviseThankyou

What's the best way to deal with first time anxiety that I'm not coping real well with I'm 62 years of age had a stroke 3 months ago , up until the stroke I led a very healthy lifeCan someone with experience please adviseThankyou

Markenviroqld Hi and help?
  • replies: 9

Hi, I feel lost I don't know who I am. I don't know how to discover myself or if I am self aware to be sure.. I just don't know... this to compound the anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts I get.. Why can't I give myself answers?? Mark View more

Hi, I feel lost I don't know who I am. I don't know how to discover myself or if I am self aware to be sure.. I just don't know... this to compound the anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts I get.. Why can't I give myself answers?? Mark

kn94 Strained mother-daughter relationship
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I am having a lot of anxiety lately regarding my strained relationship with my mum. I am a 29 year old female, an only child and still living with my Vietnamese immigrant parents. I was born and raised in Sydney by parents who showered m... View more

Hi everyone, I am having a lot of anxiety lately regarding my strained relationship with my mum. I am a 29 year old female, an only child and still living with my Vietnamese immigrant parents. I was born and raised in Sydney by parents who showered me with lots of love and affection. My relationship with my parents was strong throughout my childhood and I used to share everything about my life with them. I would always please my parents and do what I was told. However as I am getting older, I have noticed that their over-protectiveness, especially from my mother, is becoming almost unbearable. My social life is great, I am in a relationship and have lots of friends I like to catch-up with on a regular basis. I have hobbies I like to maintain like running, cycling, and hanging out with my boyfriend and friends improves my mental health. However, my mum doesn't like this, and would often guilt-trip me into staying home to cook and clean after work everyday. She says if her and dad do household chores all the time, they will pass away sooner. For context, my parents are in their early 60s with no major health conditions and can manage daily chores well. I feel like they have been very difficult and are extremely co-dependent on me. I can't go out now and enjoy my time thinking I would come home to a lecture or an awkward sex ed talk from my mum at the end of the night. We can't have a normal conversation now without arguing as out of nowhere she starts to make critical comments about my weight, criticizing most of my life decisions and giving me unsolicited advice about my job, finances, and relationship choices. I used to be reserved and listen to what she says during arguments, however, now I am needing to stand up for myself and arguing back when I disagree. When this happens, she tells me that I am a disrespectful daughter, I love my friends more than my family and it seems like I wouldn't care if her and dad passed away. It is honestly really hard and hurtful to hear, and makes me very sad. With this, I have become more private and selective with what I disclose to my parents, feeling I need to protect my life decisions and not share with them what is happening in my life to avoid the criticism I receive from them. I feel very sad our relationship has got to this stage as it wasn't this turbulent compared to what it used to be. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this, and if you have any advice you could share x

Haris Estranged from my teenage sons
  • replies: 1

I haven’t had ad any contact with my boys for two years . Their mother simply says it’s their choice not to see me and does nothing to change this . It all started with a party my oldest threw when they were with me one weekend . I had to go to work ... View more

I haven’t had ad any contact with my boys for two years . Their mother simply says it’s their choice not to see me and does nothing to change this . It all started with a party my oldest threw when they were with me one weekend . I had to go to work for a couple of hours and came home to find over 20 teens in my apartment , drunk and rowdy . After throwing them out , my son was ostracised by his friends and he ended up blaming me .Everyday without hearing from them just kills me . To be honest , I do t think I’ll ever see them again and that thought just devastates me

narnia_rocks Living with Bipolar and Struggling to earn enough money
  • replies: 2

Hi I am in my midthirties, male and I have had Biplolar since I was 12 years old.I have been able to achieve a bachelor degree after high school. But it was in a field of work that is very stressful with the type of people in it. So I have decided no... View more

Hi I am in my midthirties, male and I have had Biplolar since I was 12 years old.I have been able to achieve a bachelor degree after high school. But it was in a field of work that is very stressful with the type of people in it. So I have decided not to do that again (at least for many years). I have lost several jobs over the years and it is so frustating. Reasons for losing jobs: Performance managed 3 times because the jobs were not a good fit for me. They were advertised with deceptive words.Another, time, the company went bankrupt.I am now working casually and I really enjoy the job. but they're only giving me 16 - 20 hours per week which is not enough.I am able to live on it, but very meagerly. I can't save money towards a replacement car (if needed) or holiday or anything.My health is managed well but I still struggle with heightened anxiety sometimes, and crabbiness, irritability. I don't have a good sleep pattern. I overeat, am fat and sometimes it's hard to breathe. Especially with a nose issue I have, and a side effect of medication. I need self control.Thank you for reading this. I am looking forward to participating here.

Emotions26 Being me
  • replies: 28

I cannot work out how to see all of the discussionsHow can I read all responses?Confused and lost before coming hereWho do I ask and how for help? The above was written last night - day 2 of joining BB I have responded to several posters and received... View more

I cannot work out how to see all of the discussionsHow can I read all responses?Confused and lost before coming hereWho do I ask and how for help? The above was written last night - day 2 of joining BB I have responded to several posters and received some lovely replies. I have also responded to a post written by a member a while back expressing confusion about new set up here. Now I feel that I might have intruded upon that person's personal space. So I went searching.Somewhere found the suggestion start with introduce yourself - have no idea now where that is - no matter - I am here now Then I thought.I will start a thread or post or page myself.Possibly nobody will reply and it will sit and collect dust. If I don't try, I will never know. So I have come to this place BB to extend my practising being me which I have commenced in real life. Not an easy exercise and most people who know me are not particularly enthralled with the emerging of the new me - no surprise really as I have spent far too long listening to everyone else's egotistical chatter. I found by chance, yes, a thread or passage by someone writing about an analogy of their life being a performance on stage.I wanted to reply as the words intrigued me and I would love to be able to converse with that person.I too am extremely deep.Well, I could not work out how the page seemed different again! So being me is proving to be as difficult an exercise in the virtual world as it is in the real world. Any thoughts.Should anyone find this; read this and want to continue the conversation.It would be nice to hear from members who are replying because they want to as much as support from champions and other titles is appreciated. Thank you if you have read this far.

Guest_8303 Insomnia has destroyed me
  • replies: 4

I have suffered for insomnia all my life. But I feel like the latest bout has defeated me. I am not a person anymore, I am not more than my disease. Insomnia defines me. It is more than me. i wish I could have found help for this. Everyone has a home... View more

I have suffered for insomnia all my life. But I feel like the latest bout has defeated me. I am not a person anymore, I am not more than my disease. Insomnia defines me. It is more than me. i wish I could have found help for this. Everyone has a home remedy for insomnia. Everyone thinks you can just out think it. Maybe that is true for them but I cannot. I close my eyes, try to meditate whatever the sleep just doesn’t come. I try all the home remedies but there is no sleep. The lack of sleep makes me into a different person, a barely sane monster. Then people tell you little things that worked for them and get offended when you say you already tried. The idea that you might have a greater problem than they have experienced is offensive to them. It’s like if you had a physical disability and everyone just told you to think your way out of it. It’s hard.

Srfr People pleasing
  • replies: 2

Hi; am frustrated as I tend to go out of my way to be useful to other people. This particularly in relation to work life. Am sick of being treated like crap due to others lack of empathy/thoughts that kindness equates to weakness. Any thoughts?

Hi; am frustrated as I tend to go out of my way to be useful to other people. This particularly in relation to work life. Am sick of being treated like crap due to others lack of empathy/thoughts that kindness equates to weakness. Any thoughts?