Welcome and Orientation

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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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First post , hoping to help

replies: 3

Howdy all Joined as i wish to share some of the things i have learned in the last decade . I think i should start with a bit from the past . I never had true anxiety , never knew what it was but on one faithful day this all changed . I cant really go into details here and even if i could i dont think it would do much good except to say something happened to reset my nervous system , in a matter of days my body/ mind became scared of every little thing . I suffered with a massive amount of both mental symptoms but also over 100 different physical symptoms . Over the last ten years i had to relearn to not be scared of everything and i do mean just about everything , not only what my mind was telling me but also learning not to react to some of the most horrible symptoms. I read everything i could find , listened to 100s of peoples stories . I learned so much , it gave me a insight into anxiety that is a little different than most of the people that tried to treat me. Many of the early people treating me simply did not understand both my story but also anxiety in general . I am lucky in the last few years i have found the right people that have helped me to both be well into my recovery mentally and physically . I was a past moderator on a anxiety for a few years and find it amazing the lack of true information that is out there . It seems to be like it is a big secret but it really is not . Anxiety is not a death sentence and when you find the education behind what is happening and what is needed to fix it then it gets a lot better . I am talking true anxiety as a disorder not just normal anxiety which we all have at some time . As i mentioned i am hoping to help some with what i have learned and in a little while when my recover is a little further along i hope to also train as a mental health worker . I am a firm believer that it is education that is the key to recovery , Anxiety is feed by fear and that fear is simply in the fact that we dont understand it and then we fear it . Cheers

Going crazy

replies: 3

Hi everyone, this is my first online forum and i'm not sure what to say... i suffer depression and this last few weeks has had me spiral down pretty bad to the point i dont want to wake up in the morning. I used to be like this years ago and its scared me abit. that awful dreaded feeling when i wake up.. oh no .. not again ...i'm in a 12 step program and am trying to work on positivity and things but woah i feel walloped into the ground again by indescribable sadness.

Joined Beyondblue

replies: 1

Hi all, Ive just now joined beyondblue as I’ve had and still going through an intense emotional time. 5 months ago I found out my wife had been cheating while I worked away, I confronted her on the phone, as she was away at the time, and she basically blamed me for not emotionally supporting her. The lengths and lies she went to to disguise the continuous affair has me baffled. New neighbours thought I worked for a certain company as a vehicle was in our drive quite frequently. I was angry, confused, resentful for most of this time, she calls it revenge. She claimed she broke it off 3 times, but each time it continued, then saying ”you know what’s going on” she has since called separation of our 9 year marriage, claims the affair has nothing to do with me, although we live under the same roof when I’m home. Still I am blamed for everything Is this normal behaviour when a spouse has been caught out?

Introduction -New Member

replies: 3

Hi Everybody, I joined for the first time today, as I found this to be a really helpful forum. Just wanting to get advise and see if anyone's in the same position as me. Im a Mom, musician and student, battling my way through my depression & anxiety. (recently diagnosed with epilepsy) Studying full time, Im doing gigs on the side casual, while carrying the weight of looking after kids and living in a blended family. I literally have no friends because im always doing assessments or learning new songs. There are no Moms at Uni and it feels social isolating ,and I feel like my partner does not understand. Is anybody else going through this? Than you

Confused, lost, scared, hurt maybe a little angry.

replies: 2

Hi everyone. This is my first time talking to anyone so I don't really know what I'm doing. My name is J, I've just turned 32 and live in a small country town. My partner has just recently left me. We have been together just over 2 years and we have been through ALOT together. We were both addicts (clean almost 2 years now)when we met. She had 2 kids when we got together and we had a baby together 6 months ago I have an 11 year old from a previous relationship. We both got clean together. We moved state. Disconnected ourselves from our old friends. Things were going pretty good until a couple months ago. Then a couple weeks ago she left and took her (I love them and treat them as my own) kids and our baby away. I went to work in the morning as I usually do. Gave her and the kids a kiss and left. By lunch time she said it's over and she's leaving. I'm hurt. I don't understand why or what. I know she wasn't happy where we live and wanted to move back to where we came from. I didn't because I didn't want the drugs to control me AGAIN and I couldn't trust myself back there. I sit at home and cry. Missing my family. I've called and spoken to the kids a couple times and they are really happy. Our baby girl is growing up so fast and I'm missing it all. I don't leave the house unless it's to work because I don't want anyone to ask if I'm ok. I'm not ok. I don't know what I should be feeling. She tells me that I ruined her life and that they deserve better then tells me later that she loves me. I feel useless what do I do now. Should I just let them leave and live their life. It's breaking me

Is anyone here with service dog

replies: 2

Hey im new here. Im thinking of getting a small pound pup and buy a vest online to be a service dog animal so i can take my dog everywhere. My psychologist suggested the idea for my anxiety is anyone on here with a service dog for advice?

First time

replies: 3

Hullo everyone just like to introduce myself I am a married father of three girls and three grandchildren I’m 55 happily married and own my own Buisness and yes I have depression and on medication I’m just reading this post back and asking myself what do I have to be depressed about I think we all think this at times I’m like many men and hide my depression family know and close friends I’m probably more open then others but I don’t burden anyone with my problems My wife has put up with a lot over the years and I know it’s hard for her as well talk soon Ajay64 cheers

Anger management

replies: 4

Hi I'm a new member and I find this difficult. are there any spaces on here to discuss managing anger? With me there are no violence issues, but I find it hard to stay calm and composed when things don't go my way grateful for any pointers about wher... View more

Older Single mum of toddler -so very lonely

replies: 5

I’m an older single mum and weekends I’m incredibly lonely . I keep busy taking my beautiful child to swimming , dancing , parks etc but although we are happily together I’m incredibly lonely. My mums group are all married and couples and much younger than me, and I’m just a few years younger than their mums. weekends I’m not invited anywhere as people do family things I now work full time and my family lives a long way away , so not support . My friends are out and about travelling and dating so they have drifted off , but I may get the odd call. I put on a happy face for my child and always seem upbeat for her, taking her places and doing activities but I’m feeling so lonely . Nobody wants to hang out with us

Feeling anxious most of the time

replies: 2

Hi all I am new here, well actually have joined this forum long ago but doubted whether to post anything or not :). I have been feeling anxious for the past year and I have found it very difficult so much so that I struggle to get by each day. No matter what I do it feels worse every day. I find it very difficult to open up and talk about how I feel so hopefully i can chat with someone that is feeling the same or going through similar thing as me. Irena

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

First post , hoping to help replies: 3

Going crazy replies: 3

Joined Beyondblue replies: 1

Introduction -New Member replies: 3

Confused, lost, scared, hurt maybe a little angry. replies: 2

Is anyone here with service dog replies: 2

First time replies: 3

Anger management replies: 4

Older Single mum of toddler -so very lonely replies: 5

Feeling anxious most of the time replies: 2