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

TheFish Hey
  • replies: 3

Feeling like I don't belong anywhere

Feeling like I don't belong anywhere

Abbeycat Really struggling today
  • replies: 1

Hi, I'm new to Beyond Blue but not new to mental health struggles. My main issues are dealing with quite severe depression and complex PTSD. I've had many hospitalisations and the last one was 2 months ago. This is the longest period of relative stab... View more

Hi, I'm new to Beyond Blue but not new to mental health struggles. My main issues are dealing with quite severe depression and complex PTSD. I've had many hospitalisations and the last one was 2 months ago. This is the longest period of relative stability I've had this year. However the past few days have been really hard. I've made it to work today (don't have sick leave and I need the money) but I'm not sure how I'm going to get through the day. Hopefully I can just hide in my office and no one will notice anything. I'm feeling very flat, low and empty. I don't usually sleep well and have lots of nightmares, and the last few nights have been particularly bad so maybe that's why this is happening. Thankfully tomorrow is the weekend. I'm planning to withdraw from the world and stay at home. I know that that is probably not going to help, but I'm not sure what else to do. I don't have much support. I live alone and my main sources of support are my medical professionals (and of course they don't work on the weekends). I don't have any family. I do have a couple of friends but I don't let them in too close as I've lost quite a few friends in the past because they see me as too much of a "burden". Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

Regine When life gives you lemons
  • replies: 2

Hi I'm new to this forum & just signed up as a member. I joined because I like reading other experiences & would like to share some of my own. I was abit scared at first to join. But I feel this a good move to share my thoughts & feelings. It's good ... View more

Hi I'm new to this forum & just signed up as a member. I joined because I like reading other experiences & would like to share some of my own. I was abit scared at first to join. But I feel this a good move to share my thoughts & feelings. It's good to know I'm not alone on the rollercoaster ride of depression, anxiety & PTSD. I'm currently learning how to handle the episodes I go through. I also see a psych & on meds. It has been a rough road but still getting up every morning doing my best. Currently a stay at home mum with a beautiful boy. He is my reason to keep fighting through my battles. Also have a patient partner who has been through all my ups & downs with me & is very supportive. But I tend to shut him out at times & lose my cool. So I'm still a work in progress. Loleini

will_myself_to_find_a_hom New member. Introduction
  • replies: 4

Hi, I'd rather not use my real name as it is quite unique, even though I've put up a profile picture. Go figure. 43 year old male, suffering from mild depression and extreme anxiety. Just thought joining this forum might help somehow.

Hi, I'd rather not use my real name as it is quite unique, even though I've put up a profile picture. Go figure. 43 year old male, suffering from mild depression and extreme anxiety. Just thought joining this forum might help somehow.

Marty89 Hard to breath anxiety
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone I'm new to this and not sure where to start but here it goes. I'm a 30 year old man that has been suffering anxiety (mostly by myself without telling anyone) for honestly my entire adulthood. I have had all types of symptoms over the year... View more

Hi everyone I'm new to this and not sure where to start but here it goes. I'm a 30 year old man that has been suffering anxiety (mostly by myself without telling anyone) for honestly my entire adulthood. I have had all types of symptoms over the years such as feeling uneasy and on edge to full blown panic attacks, disassociation etc.. I can manage most of them but my worst is when I struggle to breath.. well feel like I constantly need to take a deep breath and always concentrate on my breathing it's so debilitating, I had it pretty bad around 6 or 7 years ago and took myself to ED thinking I was dying, which they found nothing wrong after several tests and sent me home. The last week or so I'm having the same breathless feeling/ conscious of every breath and it's really upsetting me. I work in a hospital and always find time to put a sats prob on my finger to see if my oxygen is ok it's ridiculous. Is anyone else suffering/has suffered with this horrible feeling and is there anything you have done that has helped you through it? Thank you!

MotoGPFan New Member. Introduction.
  • replies: 4

Hello all, Been reading through your Forum and you all seem like a great bunch. Never been a big fan of opening up, nor 'bothering' others with my issues, though I think this is probably the right time. 28 year old Male. Happy, loving guy. Have had a... View more

Hello all, Been reading through your Forum and you all seem like a great bunch. Never been a big fan of opening up, nor 'bothering' others with my issues, though I think this is probably the right time. 28 year old Male. Happy, loving guy. Have had a more than excellent life so far, great friends, perfect family, awesome adventures. Although 2.5 months ago I had my first ever panic attack come out of no where, which was followed by another 2 weeks later whilst driving. I had been living overseas for on and off 4 years travelling, having the time of my life, meeting the love of my life. (Whom which I have just recently bought an engagement ring for) I've always been a bit of a worrier, but this has NEVER stopped me doing anything, nor have I thought of it anymore than just good old natural worries. These past 2 months with Anxiety have been pretty debilitating. I can't drive a car by myself, and am not totally 100% when driving with someone. Public places are a struggle. Just basic activities that I'd do without thinking, have now become a total struggle. I've been home for 1 month now. The whole thing is frustrating me more than anything. I want to get on with what plans I had 2.5 months ago. I still can't work up the courage to apply for jobs, seeing as though I'm not comfortable in any situation bar a familiar one, nor can I drive. I've had one session with a counselor though I'm not sure if I click with this one. I understand that they have a difficult job, though I feel as though they are focusing on something that I feel isn't, and has never been an issue or a worry for me; my future. Not after any answers. Just thought I'd put the feelers out and say hello. To be honest, I've never even thought of mental health, not once. Not in a good, nor bad way, just never crossed my mind. Boy has this perception changed. Thanks a tone for listening, and I wish everyone else the best!

DominiqueM I'm new and I can't get out of bed
  • replies: 9

It's a bit longer than I intended, but here it is... Hi, I'm new to Beyond Blue, and so grateful that I can participate. I have been living with a mish mash of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder for 20 years, though I wasn't diagnosed for the firs... View more

It's a bit longer than I intended, but here it is... Hi, I'm new to Beyond Blue, and so grateful that I can participate. I have been living with a mish mash of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder for 20 years, though I wasn't diagnosed for the first 10 years (Hindsight is a wonderful thing), I just thought I was going crazy and talking about it to anyone would make them see I'm crazy. I'm 10 years into therapy, medication, regular dr visits and I'm feeling worse today than ever. To be really honest if I was to go back further, I probably started having mental health issues in my late teens, I’m 55 now. I only leave the house for doctors and therapists appointments, I don't go shopping, to the movies, I make excuses not to attend social events, and it's so tough because I know once I can "get over" myself, I'll have a great time, because I love people, I love socialising, I just can't do it now. I'm now at the point where I can hardly get out of bed. Everything scares me. I'm so scared of everything that "might" happen I'm not able to enjoy the now moments. My biggest fear is death. I've had so much death of friends and parents in the past two years, topped up with losing my beautiful Dad last Christmas. I can't get my mind off it, sometimes it's all I can think about. My husband is an amazing support, and keeps reassuring me that it will pass, and it doesn't matter how long it takes (I wonder when did he get so wise). Today I got up, made the bed, dressed (no shower) went down to the kitchen, emptied the dishwasher and reloaded it, and now I'm back on my bed, feeling like the walls are closing in, but I can't find my way out. I take medications, though they made me fat, which doesn't improve my mood. I'm stuck.I cry. I think too much. I’m overwhelmed with life.What next I often think? How can I move forward if I can’t even get of the bed?

The_Sports_Guy Difficulty concentrating, focussing and feeling foggy
  • replies: 3

Hi all, Last year I was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Thankfully, I am now almost 12 months in remission and back working and living a pretty normal life. I often have flashbacks of difficult conversations with specialists, flashbacks on... View more

Hi all, Last year I was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Thankfully, I am now almost 12 months in remission and back working and living a pretty normal life. I often have flashbacks of difficult conversations with specialists, flashbacks on being in hospital and feel emotionally exhausted with what I've gone through over the last 18 months. The most challenging and difficult part of this now is having trouble concentrating, focussing and feeling foggy which makes work and everyday life activities extremely difficult. I feel like I'm 'not really there'. I feel like no body fully understands what I am experiencing, which makes me feel a little lost and helpless. I have wonderful support from friends and family, and a fiance - but strangely enough, I still feel like I am battling this alone.

Sonnenblume Functioning with anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hello, I can see there is a lot of young people struggling. I'm 47 and had anxiety and depression all my life, no one called it that, I was a "sensitive, shy" child. I've been to the place of "it's just not worth it", and what am I hear for. This wor... View more

Hello, I can see there is a lot of young people struggling. I'm 47 and had anxiety and depression all my life, no one called it that, I was a "sensitive, shy" child. I've been to the place of "it's just not worth it", and what am I hear for. This world isn't for me, I don't fit, cause I am just so different to most people. Thing is everyone here is similar to me, you aren't alone, and who cares if you don't fit. Don't get me wrong, every day I have to get over my fear, pack my lunch bag and go to work. I've worked since I was 15. These days you guys can take a mental health day, if you need it. I want to hide, people are awful and I wish I wouldn't have to face them every day but I need to live, pay my mortgage and put food on the table. I'm a functional anxietist. If you ask yourself what your purpose in life is, don't look at your friends and those huge dreams, look at the day to day stuff, the little things, cause those little things, really do make big things grow. I realised that what I wanted was a house, some land, a horse, dogs, not too far from the ocean and enough money to not struggle. I have all that. Please realise, even with medication you will be dealing with this ALL your life. You have great days and then there are the really black ones, but you come out of it, maybe not stronger, but wiser, with new ways of dealing with it, or the realisation that you can deal with those days. Suicide isn't the answer, it is an easy way out for you, but your actions will destroy the people close to you, no matter how few there are. I've seen it, I've experienced it, it's not a solution. I've seen counsellors and I've taken medication, I've grown and I understand my parents now and why they did what they did. It's easy to "blame" others for how you may be, but we do have to take responsibility and make peace. Making peace is the most important thing. "Fighting" this isn't the answer, accepting it and working with it as best as you can, is the only way. Seek help, got to the gym, go for a walk every day. You do have to put the hard work in, it's not easy, nothing ever is, I don't know how I do it most days and most days I don't want to,but I do. Try to not listen to the negative people, try not to care what others think of you. Don't use your condition as a reason to not try, EVERYONE has their demons. Learn to live with them. Chin up, smile, let the sun shine on you and become that functioning person, that tries to make a good day for themselves every day.

JWB Feeling lost, but no idea why.
  • replies: 3

To anybody looking in I have a relatively good life. A roof over my head, a decent job and I am in good health, I have friends and family who love me. But for as long as I can remember now that I know what it is, I have been depressed, anxious and st... View more

To anybody looking in I have a relatively good life. A roof over my head, a decent job and I am in good health, I have friends and family who love me. But for as long as I can remember now that I know what it is, I have been depressed, anxious and stressed. I’ve always felt guilty about it because I feel like I have no good reason to feel the way I do, and think there is always someone worse off. In recent years it has gotten worse, to the point where I no longer know how to manage it. I have been seeking the help of a councillor, making sure I socialise with family and friends, exercise and eat right. I play social sport and do yoga every week. And recently have gotten a second job in a field I am truly passionate about. I feel that I am taking all the right steps, or at least trying to take them to achieve my goals and keep me distracted. But I feel it’s all just that, a distraction. Even on my best days I still find myself wondering what it’s all for and why. On my worst days these thoughts turn a lot more sinister. I am just so tired and exhausted from constantly feeling like I don’t belong here, in this life, but trying to hide it and act “normal”. Even as I write this I can’t shake the guilt I feel knowing that I really don’t have it bad. So why do I feel this way? I don’t really know what I even hope to achieve from writing here, I am just so lost.