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Meet your community champions!

replies: 13

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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Partner of 5 years is a drug addict and depressed. Trying to support him.

replies: 1

Hi everyone, this is my first time using a platform like this. I really don’t know where to start but in summary my partner of five years whom I live with struggles with depression and addiction (alcohol/ket). I am now starting to struggling myself with managing my own mental health trying to support him. He is aware he has an issue and has started to seek professional help(counselling) however, since doing so the issue has gotten A LOT worse. I am trying to be supportive and set reasonable boundaries in place but feel like it’s not working. I know this won’t be fixed over night and it maybe a life long battle. I feel since seeking help he uses this as a way around doing drugs more and expecting me to be more accepting of it. Due to the virus we are now both not working meaning more stress and more time on our hands. Since no longer working, he has drank everyday apart from a handful and on those days he was on drugs. He is not Aggressive or abusive under the influence. He is always loving and caring. I love him dearly and really would like some tips or advice to help me cope with supporting him but also making sure my needs are met as well. Is this even possible!?

New here!

replies: 2

Hello! I am a 20yo living in South Australia. I currently am looking for a new way to connect to those who may be feeling the same way as me. My usual support groups are hindered at the moment due to the current pandemic. I know the feeling of isolation, but not like this. I feel like I am coping well - but still with an ED and PTSD it is definitely more difficult some days. xx

Anxious and unable to cope with the current situation

replies: 2

Hi I am feeling depressed and anxious during the self isolation period. I am unsure when it will end. I don't know where everything is going to be.

Hi

replies: 1

This is a first for me, normally I am just like eeyore - head down, one foot in front of the other. Recently I just feel like life is continually tripping me up. I have a very medically complex child (2yr old) who requires 24 hour care to keep her breathing - that’s not even an exaggeration.. she has many other challenges also and is linked in with palliative care. i have had a heart attack due to stress and an undiagnosed heart condition that lead to open heart surgery last year. I have two other children 7 and 1 year. I have a history of depression and have been back on medication for awhile now. my partner struggles with pretty bad anxiety. My mother is currently fighting cancer, and my father is not coping well. my family circumstances have lead to very little interaction with friends, I don’t get good sleep, have very little time to relax and unwind. And have constant fear that I am letting my family down, not earning enough, will miss something with my little girl etc. im climbing a mountain and cannot see the top - it’s been a long 2 years and I’m short on energy and optimism. I don’t know what to do and often have bad thoughts. any ideas would be fantastic.

Struggling to find peace

replies: 2

I’ve been struggling with anxiety for a while now. After the separation with my wife it made things a little harder. I have a new relationship with a wonderful woman, and at times my anxiety pops it head up. It seems when I feel when people get close... View more

Brand new! Hello!

replies: 4

Hi everyone, It's nice to meet you. I'm Nimi. For a lot of my life I have struggled with the dreadful combo that is depression and anxiety after I suffered bullying throughout highschool years ago. Recently, some things have happened that have caused me to doubt myself and struggle to ground "who I am". I don't really know if that makes much sense, but you know when you don't really feel a sense of direction in your life? I feel kind of in shock and traumatised, and I tend to ruminate on these events and feelings where I have made mistakes before in my life and have a hard time forgiving myself. I think I am slowly developing more confidence again but I wanted to do something I have always been afraid of doing... meeting new people! So I thought that joining this community would be a wonderful idea. I would like to try and develop my self-esteem and belief that things can get better. Thanks for reading, Nimi.

Building self confidence

replies: 3

Hi I am new to this I have for many years struggled with low self confidence therefore I find it hard to fit in socially so I have become quite isolated even though I work and have an supportive partner. I am a casual hospitality worker and find talking to customers easy as I don't have to socialise with them. I struggle to fit in with my co-workers other than for work reasons. I haven't been out socially for some time. How do I build my confidence and begin to feel good about myself. I have a poster with all the things I want to change in my life, I read it every morning and it helps in the short term. Janjump

Introduction

replies: 3

Hi, This is my first post on here. I'm 38, have a 7 year child who is in year 2 at school, but since the virus started I have been home schooling. I have been diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety and PTSD. I was first diagnosed when I was 26. In 2015, my ex husband was in a horrific truck accident which left him a paraplegic. He started mentally abusing me and my side of the family. Anyways I'm on 2 types of antidepressants and I feel so overwhelmed by having to schoolwork, be a mum, be a daughter, be a sister. I just feel like that the world has gone crazy, anyhow thanks for your time

Feeling overwhelmed that I’ve been diagnosed with Depression & Anxiety

replies: 3

Hi all, I’m 22 years old and recently after several weeks of trying to figure myself out, have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and prescribed me antidepressants. To be specific, I’ve been suffering bad for about 6 months, but have probably been suffering unbeknownst to me for over a year. I am very confused because during the time I have been suffering, I have also been the happiest I’ve ever been. Having met the love of my life, plans to buy a home and have children in the near future and I do have friends and family’s support. During this time I’ve been irrational, angry, retroactively jealous, and insecure in my relationship though I have no reason to. It has seemed to be my perspective that has made it difficult to be in a good state of mind, no matter how I try and change my mood it cannot he changed. I now have feelings of guilt that my partner did not choose to be with someone who is depressed, and I feel ashamed to have depression as if there is something wrong with me. Even though I never felt that way about other people. I have always been supportive and understanding about other people’s depression, but I feel completely different about myself. I have just started my medication this morning after a week of being in denial and feeling terrible about being on medication and already feel tired, cloudy and having strange bursts of anxiety. I just wanted to put my story out there. Does anybody else have any similar situations? Tisha

heya

replies: 2

hey there, i don’t know exactly what im meant to say but im new so... hi! i don’t exactly know what’s up with me but my doctors figure it’s some bizarre mix of anxiety, depression and ocd. the problem is that im extremely high functioning and i can get through the day relatively easily which leads a lot of people (including myself) to believe that im not bad enough to deserve help or meds or support of any kind. rationally that’s not true but i do feel pretty alone sometimes because even if i can get out of bed and even do really well in school, i basically have no motivation other than distracting myself from obsessive rumination or not letting other people down. i don’t really need tips on how to get better because i have doctors and my parents who are all lovely and i generally know the standard things i just don’t have any energy or care to do them. i just want to find some people with high functioning disorders to relate to because no issue is “too small” and just because others have it worse doesn’t mean that it can’t still really suck. thats about all, im good with deep talk or just silly jokes or comments i just came for a nice supporting community love you all no matter who you are

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Partner of 5 years is a drug addict and depressed. Trying to support him. replies: 1

New here! replies: 2

Anxious and unable to cope with the current situation replies: 2

Hi replies: 1

Struggling to find peace replies: 2

Brand new! Hello! replies: 4

Building self confidence replies: 3

Introduction replies: 3

Feeling overwhelmed that I’ve been diagnosed with Depression & Anxiety replies: 3

heya replies: 2