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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Don’t know where I’m at! Sometimes writing helps me.

replies: 7

A cruel joke A struggle, screaming in silence, waiting to be heard Tortured by his very soul Crippled,emotionally stifled On the brink, walking a laser beam focused on disappointment. Blinded by despair, outstretched arms ignored, amongst a crowd no one around. Encased in his own dimension,a facade of humour and strength, the lived lie barely contained. Understanding his own psyche is his prison. He doesn’t know what he wants, A touch Understanding An end Relief

Struggling with everything after wife asked me to leave home

replies: 2

Hi there, my first post here. About 2 weeks ago my wife asked me to leave. After a month after our daughter told us she had been inappropriately touched by my own father about 5 years ago. I had struggled to be there for her emotionally and fell into heavy drinking after work. My wife went out with friends one night and I was home alone but couldn't help myself but annoy her witb texts and phone calls. I was just feeling alone and lost. She then got fed up and next day said it was over and I should leave home. Our daughter had decided to live with her biological father and step mother a week or so beforehand also which turned our lives upside down. I am now a week or so living with my brother and his fiance. But struggling to cope without my wife to. Thanks for any guidance through this difficult time.

Intro

replies: 1

Hi this a random person who is alone and wanted someone to listen give me a great positivity in my negative life

Let's be honest: Does this forum help you or do you at times feel alienated?

replies: 11

Hi this is my question, while I love that this website caters for all those who are in need of support... I feel somewhat more lonelier than before I asked this question. I cannot explain it, maybe it is because I have to wait for responses or because this similar to reddit where things need to be checked over before posting. Trutthfully I feel lonelier using this website and lonelier, I usually call a hotline when I cry. When I ring a hotline, all I hear is music and as my mood flutuates i feel even more lonelier. It's not all the time that i feel this - I feel this when i feel i am at my most vulnerable moment. The music depresses me or the voice over depresses me... The music is not comforting and the advertisement or did you know facts aren't helping ... it's like i become desperate to hear a human voice after all that waiting. This is a good resource and it sort of helps but not as much as I have desire for it to be. Let me know your thoughts Kind Regards Jennifer

Where best to find support for parents / carers of teenagers with anxiety and depression?

replies: 4

Hi there. I'm hoping to find a group that supports parents / carers of adolescents with anxiety and depression: problems getting to school, friendship, feelings of self-worth, anger towards and blaming parents, inability to sleep, and the list is endless. Especially when the parent / carer is struggling with work-related bullying and related stress / depression. Thanks for being there.

Very confused about life at the moment

replies: 2

Hey, new here, I don’t want to talk to anyone about what’s going on in my head as I don’t want to admit that there maybe something not lining up. i have an AMAZING supportive husband, 4 kids, GP of 39 years today (it’s my birthday). Both my parents are heavily medicated depression and anxiety sufferers, also alcoholics and my mum now has a good addiction too. These 2 people I can not talk about this too. i am not sure that feeling flat, unsure, un productive, angry, nervous EMOTIONAL a bit of the time is ok. It’s only a day here or there during the week. But I am worried it’s taking over... I don’t want it too. I do everything in my power to help it, but it’s just there. i am not sure what I am looking for. The beyond blue test told me I need to see my gp, but I think, did I answer that looking for that answer? Or was my answers legit. How did people say, I just need a little support here?

Hi I'm new to the forum

replies: 5

Hello I'm new to the forum. I decided to join the group because I have been managing my anxiety for over 40 years and have come to realise I can't do this alone. Will read a few posts and get a feel for the forum

All I want in my life is a friend.

replies: 11

Hi everyone and thanks for clicking my thread. Ok so I'm new to typing out something like this so bare with me on this thanks. Hi my name is Jake and I'm 23 years old turning 24 on October 9th. I joined this forum today because I want to make friends it's been a long time dream of mine the thing is I'm very picky. All my life I have tried to make friends been around social workers growing up they kept putting me into the wrong groups of people which was making my life a living hell as you see I've been bullied at everything I have tried at and where I live when I was young I used to be bashed and because of that I've locked myself inside of my house ALL my life as outside I do not feel comfortable. The reason I want friends now is because my mother passed away last year from lung cancer and a brain tumor and since then I've been forced to live alone with nobody to talk to and it's been 1 whole year now and it's starting to make me feel very weird about myself. I'm not used to talking to nobody I had my mother for this she kept me happy now... All I feel is sadness / loneliness and depression. I don't even have online friends I have nobody what so ever. I've attempted to try and get help from Headspace over this but they have pushed me away. I suffer with a bit of autism and ADHD and I think because of that nobody wants to be my friend heck I've never even experienced love either. I just don't know how much more longer I can continue living like this. See I can't do anything because 1 - I don't drive / 2 - I'm not familiar with Transport / 3 - I'm always broke because of Shopping and Bills so I can't even get a taxi and 4 - I suffer with back pain so I find it hard to walk and I got this back pain from locking myself away from the outside world. I've never hurt nobody and I've never treated anyone like garbage. Nobody wants to even give me a chance. A couple of days ago I attempted to try and make friends. The first person who was nice towards me said "No" and the other person I asked blocked me. I couldn't stop crying. All I want in my life is someone who understands me and can cheer me up. I'm not much of a good looking guy nor do I dress decent doesn't mean I should deal with having no friends. ... By the way is this the right section I post this in? If not sorry. Thanks for reading.

Hi, I'm new here. I have suffered with anxiety issues for the past 25 years. Looking for people to talk to

replies: 1

Hi Everyone, I'm 34 years old, and for the past 25 years I cannot remember a day that has gone by where I have not had a panic attack. My fear is choking or not being able to breathe, bizarrely enough I have never actually stopped breathing or choked on something. Which makes it a really odd one. I have over the years seen psychologists, psychiatrists and my local GP. All have helped to some degree. I have been on many different medications to help along the way. I started on a new medication a few months back a particular medication wasn't doing it's job, but lately I'm starting to feel that on this new medication all of my fears are coming back more. I'm starting to avoid situations that make me anxious and am generally withdrawing from life. I have a full time job, a wife and 2 amazing daughters (2 & 6 years old) who are honestly my entire world. But lately my panic attacks are taking over my life. I can barely drive to and from work without the fear of something happening. My life is stressful as is everyones, I run my own family business and when things are hectic, my panic attacks to increase. Lately I've had a sensation something is stuck in my throat. My logical part of my brain tells me there isn't, but I just can't get it out of my head. I'm hoping someone else out there experiences the same issues I do!

Greetings!!

replies: 5

Greetings, You may call me Barone. I've been familiar with Beyond Blue and the work it has done for quite awhile but I'd never thought I'd be in a position where I would be posting on an internet forum about depression. My main issue I feel is being unemployed for a length of time now, where I feel I am simply going around in ever-increasing circles with job hunting activities. I like to think I'm fairly intelligent, I also like to think I am able to recognize potential signs of me 'sliding down hill'. Generally I'm quite good at covering the fact that I feel like this, I certainly don't have anyone I can talk to who would understand how I feel. Lately I'm frustrated. Really frustrated with my lack of success in securing gainful employment. I'm frustrated where everyone around me seems to be moving on with their lives and I'm stuck. Lack of money, lack of job interviews, lack of steady work....you probably heard the story before but for me it's new, unexplored territory. Anyway, end of gripe

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Don’t know where I’m at! Sometimes writing helps me. replies: 7

Struggling with everything after wife asked me to leave home replies: 2

Intro replies: 1

Let's be honest: Does this forum help you or do you at times feel alienated? replies: 11

Where best to find support for parents / carers of teenagers with anxiety and depression? replies: 4

Very confused about life at the moment replies: 2

Hi I'm new to the forum replies: 5

All I want in my life is a friend. replies: 11

Hi, I'm new here. I have suffered with anxiety issues for the past 25 years. Looking for people to talk to replies: 1

Greetings!! replies: 5