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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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Need help understanding Misophonia

replies: 9

Hi, I have Misophonia and find that the more I try to block out people making noises while they eat the more it seems to be amplified. This is getting worse and I end up getting so very irritated. I love my family but it gets to the point of me wanting to eat on my own. I feel that they don't seem to understand and say comments like its me and that I am just being annoying or picky. I have gotten to the point of not wanting conversation at the dinner table or any time when food is involved as sometimes they eat and talk with their mouth open. Even if this is brief I can't seem to block it out, even when people drink it seem like they are dying of thirst and feel the need to gulp. I know this is putting such a strain on our family times and i am trying but i don't understand why these noises are so amplified. This is really starting to get me down as I feel like the abnormal one. Please any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Here to listen & help

replies: 16

Hi...I'm a person who has gone through chronic stress for many many years (though I didn't know it at the time), running my own business, and then afterward, to then crash into burnout and depression. That journey hit the lowest depths back in 2021. 2 years on and through applied habits and changing how I live I'm happy to say things have turned around. My experience was that what I fed my body, mind and brain has helped in this journey, and if I can help 1 person on this forum, or simply listen, then that is why I'm here.

i thHi there

replies: 2

Hi there,I am a 43-year-old mum that has had anxiety for multiple years before having my two children, 8 and 2. I am married and work part time. I have noticed feelings of jealousy, comparison and annoyance with social media and sometimes I feel like deleting it but of course, the FOMO creeps in especially when my family are overseas and I don't have much to do with my brother that lives in another part of Australia. This has been ongoing for many years. I don't really have a close relationship with my hubby's family (and don't really want to) and Ideally, I want to make new friends but don't know how to do that without having to have facebook, instagram, social media. I have decided the only way I can do this is to make friends in activities I do with my kids or at my workplaceI attended a play group today for my 2 year old and I felt socially awkward. I do online exercise as I don't think I could do creche at my gym. I love walks. I love music and movies.

lost and trying to find my way back

replies: 7

Hi, I am in my early 30s. Married but in a long distance relationship with my wife. We have been in LDR for 14 yrs now but since COVID hit, I was unable to go home. I moved to Aus 6 yrs ago in view to bring my wife here who is suffers from depression. However last year, i believe my absence during the 2 yrs, she has decided to leave the relationship and I took it very hard.I am still working, seeing a counsellor and living day by day but although its been a year since she left, i find myself having daily anxiety and feeling lonely and weak. I sometimes breakdown at least 2-3 times a week. I am just hoping maybe someone with the same experience could share with me how to get out of this mental state. I miss my wife a lot.

HELLO

replies: 2

Hello,I have joined the forums today and look forward to interacting with you all.My mental illnesses are GAD and Clinical Depression.I am currently on a recovery journey from a relapse 3yrs ago.I have 29yrs of lived experiences and am happy to share anything with you.My main role in life is advocating for those that can't.I have spent 9yrs with the Office of Public Advocate as a Regional Coordinator in mental health and shared my lived experiences in this role.Hoping I can be a useful contributor to you all and hoping to learn from you all as well.

Kylie

replies: 2

I have different physical symptoms I am sure are anxiety related. Lots to unpack from my 52 years. Numb face and arm crying etc. Doctor puts it down to Psychosomatic issues. I hold down a full time job and adult children and friends.After a few years of saying “no” I took an SSRI for three mornings. I felt so unwell and depressed the third day I stopped taking them. Thoughts?

I’m new here & want to connect with others

replies: 2

I suffer from depression, anxiety, BPD & PTSD. I’ve never found admissions to Psychiatric facilities helpful. I need to learn how to cope better with emotions & have a management plan, so I don’t fall down the dark hole, continually. I’ve made changes to diet, who I hang with, stay away from negativity, be my greatest fan & do daily things that bring me joy. I’m sure I’ll find more that will help me. Thank you for reading my story.

Confused In Life

replies: 9

Hello Guys, I am relatively new here but I just wanted to share some of my own experiences and ask a few questions. My parents took a business to run ever since we came here to Australia (2012) and since then I haven't felt as happy or loved. I know they are running the business because of our family situation and we need the income it provides but this has led them to not spend time with me or my sibling except my sibling was old enough to take care of himself to some point. It's been 11 years but we have only spent time together as a family twice. I mean I know my parents are working day and night for us but sometimes I just wish they could spend more time with us. Not only this but my relationship with my friends didn't go so well in high school that I had to change from my from a 4-year friend group. Although this has gotten better with my new friends, there are constant problems. I also like this person and they said they think they like me and I felt properly loved but it's just so frustrating because the person who likes me can't act the same in front of me as they do with their friends. They don't talk much at all and don't give me the chance to get to know them. I did say I will wait but I don't know what to do. What would you do? Anyways, right now I am in yr 12 and I am going to sit my HSC but I have no interest in the world around me. I don't know what to do in life. I have my exams in less than 6 months but I am failing half my subjects. The pressure from my brown parents is getting to me. They are setting expectations that are too much for me. At times they are pressuring me into telling me what course I want to study and then the next moment they say "It doesn't matter as long as you get a good ATAR". But what defines a GOOD ATAR? There is so much more I want to say but it's going to get boring so I will stop now...

Hi all

replies: 3

I've been struggling with stress and depression for a while now. Just looking for support and ways to get out.

Unfair treatment at work

replies: 6

Hi! Since 3rd/1 I've been working as trainee childhood educator at a daycare. At 17/1 I got called by my area manager that a parent raised complaints about 3 incidents that supposedly happened and i've since been advised that I am being invesitgated. I'm writing to this forum because I always felt stressed, anxious, constant worry about doing my job because the inconsistency of the rules compare with what other educators doing on the floor. I do not feel safe going to work and do my job, I felt like any allegations can be thrown at me at will to create problem for me at work and the company doesn't implement any measurement to prefent that happening. I felt like I've been personally attacked, targeted, discriminated and unprotected at work as I did not receive the appropriate training or support leading up the incidents. The supposed parent that raised the allegations is my workmate that's notoriously known to make problems with other educators (we educators have our lil ones as well goes to the centre where we work).

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Need help understanding Misophonia replies: 9

Here to listen & help replies: 16

i thHi there replies: 2

lost and trying to find my way back replies: 7

HELLO replies: 2

Kylie replies: 2

I’m new here & want to connect with others replies: 2

Confused In Life replies: 9

Hi all replies: 3

Unfair treatment at work replies: 6