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Cyclone Alfred - Mental Health Support

replies: 1

Hey everyone, We acknowledge that many of our Forums members here are currently facing the impacts of Cyclone Alfred and might be feeling uncertain, afraid and overwhelmed. We wanted to create a separate post here to come together during what may be a distressing time for many of us to support one another. Recognising that the impacts of a natural disaster can occur both before, during and after, we have prepared some resources which we hope can be helpful: From the Queensland Government, Useful information to help you get ready for a cyclone:Home | Get Ready Queensland Emotional Preparedness: Prepare your mind | Australian Red Cross Three-steps-to-emotionally-prepare-for-the-disaster-season.pdf What now? Coping after the event: Coping after a crisis | Australian Red Cross Maintaining wellbeing in the face of long-term stress | Australian Red Cross Emergency preparedness guide | Australian Red Cross As always, if you wish to speak to a counsellor, the Beyond Blue Support Service is available via phone 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via beyondblue.org.au/get-support for online chat. Stay safe, everyone, and take good care of yourself during what can be a deeply challenging time. Kind regards 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 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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New to posting on forums

replies: 8

Hi, I finally took the plunge and decided to join. I tend to avoid forums due to my social anxiety, but I figured that I really need some support from people who are living through similar experiences. Social anxiety and depression are my main issues, and these leave me fairly isolated from the outside world. I am fortunate enough to have a kind, accepting partner, however it is difficult for him to understand what I go through every day. His life seems so simple in comparison to mine. Anyway, I plan to take this forum thing slowly, but I wanted to make a start today, and am committed to getting involved with some of the discussions over time. I am hopeful that I can find some genuine people here who I can relate to.

Is there such a thing as a mood journal?

replies: 6

Hi there! Trying to be positive but my confidence is taking a hit every day. I sometimes feel that I can do/say nothing right and feel that I am always the one that apologises or making the concessions. My mum always brings up the "I can never ask you/I am unsure/scared to ask you/its the tone/i am not the only one who notices" etc etc so I feel I am in the wrong again/a bad person and that I seem to get negative comments all the time. Dont worry we get along but when things to get tense, I feel that I am always in the wrong. Is there any where that I can write a mood journal or something like that where I can express confidentially what I am thinking/feeling? I feel this might benefit me. I am going through a tough time at the moment, with not much work (I work only casual 10-15 hours a week) and my confidence in all things is taking a hit each day. Together with the above, I feel that I am not good enough. One thing is my health - I am cancer free 4 years which is a bonus I suppose. I guess the general stereotype of depression/mental health is still taboo in a lot of areas and I am thinking that I may need to get some help - at least the first step is going to my GP. Is there a test or questionnaire out there that can determine the level of help i may need? Cheers for the advice. RH

new. ocd. bpd. fluid hypersexual.

replies: 1

hi.

Having trouble to keep on going, I’ve fallen behind and can’t catch up

replies: 3

Hey my name is tim I’m a 40 year old male from Perth. This is my first time reaching out on here. I separated from my wife about 20 months ago. We have 3 beautiful kids and a mortgage that we once shared. I have found a new partner who is amazing and supportive. Since I separated from my wife I’ve had a really hard time keeping up with life. I’ve found it hard to hold down a job and hence have fallen way behind on credit card repayments, bills and even my mortgage. I’ve developed huge social anxieties, to the point where I can’t even reach out to financial services that I owe money to, to ask for help. I am afraid I’ll lose the house I built for my family. My current partner is supportive and hard working and I feel I’m not living up to my side of the deal. I was in a lot of debt when we first got together and now I’ve fallen way behind. I have several default notices but I can’t bring myself to get these sorted out. I can’t make a simple phone call. I can’t ask for help. I feel I’ve let every one down and I’m not worthy of the love I receive from family and friends. Are there any others out there that have experienced the same situation? I’ve heard that there tends to be a cycle that makes go through after a divorce. I’m having a hard time breaking the cycle and moving onto the next stage of my life.

Newbie.

replies: 1

I’ve just joined tonight after much thought. I have suffered some really poor behaviour for years in my profession and it now extends deep into my personal life preventing me from forming relationships with others and socialising. I stopped taking medication over 12 months ago as I feel the issues are something I need to work through and leave. I’m reaching out to connect with people who may relate

If you could have one thing in the world, what would it be?

replies: 8

Hey, just wanted to start a little chat forum and find out a bit about each other. If i could have one thing in the world out of anything, i'd want a new pc

I'm looking for help with depression, social anxiety and gender dysphoria. Any ideas that might help?

replies: 7

I'm a trans girl with gender dysphoria, social anxiety disorder, and depression. I'm just looking for ways to help myself when I'm feeling any of those things. I do feel those things a lot of the time, so I need suggestions that I can do whenever and... View more

I'm new here and just wamt to talk

replies: 2

Hi guys, I never thought I'd be seeking help like this. It does scare me a little. So lately things haven't been too great for me. I'm 11.5 years married with 3 wonderful kids, and I'd do anytgung for them all. My wife has reconnected with an old friend of hers which happens to be a guy, they have shared a past, they have dated. This obviously got me concerned and jealous, I have talked to my wife and she has been completely open.about everything. I trust her and thats how it is. My issue is I haven't been the greatest husband over the years. After the kids were bofn, I lost my happiness and my eife says my smile went too. She has stuck by me, and will continue to do so. I have only just started to open up to her about everything, and she is supporting me 100% with my new journey to fix me. I guess I.just want to talk, I will be seeking help as I don't want this to get worse and divide my wife and I. The sense from my wife and I is Postnatal depression, but until I talk to someone, it's just an assumption. Just looking for a friend I guess. People to talk to. Thanks for listening everyone.

not feeling like me

replies: 1

Hey I'm new here today i havent been feeling like myself... i feel like everything is against me... i don't want to be attention seeking i just need a friend to talk to just anyone...

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

Cyclone Alfred - Mental Health Support replies: 1

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

New to posting on forums replies: 8

Is there such a thing as a mood journal? replies: 6

new. ocd. bpd. fluid hypersexual. replies: 1

Having trouble to keep on going, I’ve fallen behind and can’t catch up replies: 3

Newbie. replies: 1

If you could have one thing in the world, what would it be? replies: 8

I'm looking for help with depression, social anxiety and gender dysphoria. Any ideas that might help? replies: 7

I'm new here and just wamt to talk replies: 2

not feeling like me replies: 1

First post , hoping to help replies: 3