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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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Saying hello!

replies: 2

New to this. Im 39 and mum to a 7 year old son. Separated from my ex almost 12 months ago and had been doing ok, regularly seeing a mental health care professional. Just these last few days, I've been feeling very low. Trying to work out patenting agreements and property settlement and my ex is dragging things out and picking at small things. Work is too much at the moment as I deal with clients all day. Smiling and being polite is hard. I don't want to pretend anymore when all I want to do is sleep and be left alone. I know I'm in a slump but don't know how to get out of it. I dont feel like talking to anyone as such, even though I'm here. Maybe I just need to let this pass?

Does it end?

replies: 5

Not sure how to start this type of thing like “hey” or “hi” but, non the less, g’day, I’m a 29 yr old male, father of two and have suffered with Anxiety/depression since I was 15. I’ve dealt with things pretty well up until the last 18 months or so, I find myself loosing my appetite, never tired, always angry and short fused. I hate people. Can’t stand leaving the house at the moment, and when I do need to leave I wind myself up the much I end up vomiting. I see a therapist regularly but I’ve noticed that my medications aren’t working they way they used too. I’m pushing my family away, and have taken a step back from my children. I’m scared that if I can’t change something, I’m going to snap.

A mess

replies: 5

I'm so embarrassed. I drank and drove to the supermarket with my daughter. I was over the limit. What kind of mum does that make me. I can't even think why I did that nothing happened luckily. Rightfully so she hates me and so does my husband. I do e... View more

Introduction!

replies: 4

Hello, I'm new here and am looking forward to hearing from you. I'm a currently completing my degree in the mental health field and have worked in a variety of community settings in the past. I live regionally but travel to Melbourne every week and am also a mother of three lovely (cheeky) children. I look forward to reading peoples experiences and getting to know their journey. I hope I can be part of maintaining these forums as a safe place to express your concerns and provide advice and validation where needed. Thank you to those who have already posted and replied and I look forward to my time in the forum community. Alana_H

Thankyou.

replies: 4

I just really wanted to extend a thanks to all the people who work here helping others. I have struggled in the past, and more recently as well, and coming here has been a lifesaver for me, and it means a lot to me to know that there is a support network i can turn to when things get dark. I appreciate greatly the time you guys and girls put in helping others, you are angels in your own way, and you have touched my life at a time when i thought it wasn't possible to find hope. You make a great difference to me and I'm sure to many others as well, and i just wanted you all to know that what you do is profound and important, and greatly appreciated. Dylan.

Do I feel emotions or do I just don't understand them?

replies: 5

This is a bit of a rant, sorry. This is probably not the most important thing somebody will post about, however I've been struggling with this for so long and it's kinda gotten harder to deal with. Sometimes I care about nothing. When I say nothing, I mean nothing. I've found myself start to drift away from certain things. I talk less to my friends, a lot of my conversations consist of small talk and the inkling to just get out of there. I fill my time up with assessments as I can avoid people, I hop from interest to another quickly without a care and dread seeing people often. I've recently discovered I care about NOBODY. Metaphorically I would take a bullet for nobody, I don't really feel emotions towards people except negative ones often. I don't know if its selfishness, or if it's the inability to create bonds with people. I think it would be the latter as I often find myself feeling empty or hollow. I have no hobbies. I dread spending time with my friends. I don't care about my family. I don't care about my animals. I don't have a connection to my emotions either, god this is really hard to write an explain. I'm not very good at explaining emotions and I often feel like I'm faking them. Like I know when I'm supposed to be happy, I know when I'm supposed to feel sad. So I pretend to feel this way. I recently had a family member pass away and I told my self over and over again, 'we didn't see them often, it's normal I'm not sad, it's normal I'm the only one in the room that doesn't have a good memory shared with them to talk about' but soon I realized that that's not how I should be feeling. Sorry for the rant, and sorry if I posted this in an inappropriate place as I only signed up a few minutes ago but is it normal to feel like I don't understand myself and my own emotions? Is it normal to not be able to identify or explain them?

Help please - want to find people to help with my ex husbands infidelity with best friend and neighbour past 4 years but all denial and narcassistic!

replies: 1

Hi there, please in need of some help to find the correct threads. Would like to see forums on infidelity and be able to share my story in a safe place. Very lonely journey as no one really understands the grief journey unless travelled themselves. T... View more

This is an excerpt from my 19 self during my bipolar. Did you ever write anything like this?

replies: 1

It was called “the book you I’ll ever need”. This is not a home just a temporary house. Home is what you want it to be, a place of ease and comfort that lovingly welcomes you regardless of your circumstances. Most of my garden is not mine when an unidentifiable seed is casually planted with my struggling plants that grow in pots. I am powerless. Cannot drive, ride a bike, I can only all and when I get approached they are confused on how to take me one. Instead of sugar in my cup it is salt. I am sick of the lies, backstabbing, gossiping, betrayal and ill-advised advice. NO. I do not have a Jon or any govt. welfare benefit - they are loose cannot say mad and crazy they make me feel. Not worth a breath. I am tired of waking up each day. I am scared of myself. I feel like I can keep doing things like when I was 17 years old and younger consumed by the darkness felling emotionally alone. I had no real stable relationships because I i still had to keep fighting for that tines, minuscule drop of attention. This is what hurts me and I see it and live in it, stop doubting me: I will prove you wrong even if I _ _ _ Just to prove you wrong because you never had the the guts to believe in me - not once. Not once. If you did you would not feel that I am all talk and no walk. Stoping trying you are just, correct and right there is nothing to prove - not to me anyway. I believe you, I am listening and trying as best as I can to understand you. I mean it. i am going to end it at here I’m not sure if anyone would like to read the rest I just wonder if I could write about how I feel now...it shocks me what up e written e.g. “Not everyone knows where and when and what they want to do, seem, learn and live happily with. People are still figuring it out. e,g if you have dreams and you want them, what is stopping you ? Reach for it! Listen to your heart, mind and soul. If you can convince youself.... you are bound to find someone see that straight away J .

First post

replies: 3

Hi, this is the first time I have ever been on any kind of forum. I decided to join because I did a Google search about anxiety over a new job and found some really helpful and relevant comments. How do I get back to that forum, I'm not sure what it was called. I have Bi-Polar, OCD, and very bad anxiety, but generally pretty high functioning. Really struggling to keep my anxiety under control in a new job though and looking to hear from the experiences of others and share experiences.

Hi

replies: 2

Hello My name is Dave, I'm 34, married with two kids. I have had depression and anxiety since I was an early teen and diagnosed with Bipolar disorder at the age of 24. I have had extreme highs and lows that thanks to correct medication has been less frequent. However I still have my bad days with periods of downs that bleed into many aspects of my life. I'd love to share my experiences over the journey and hopefully find and provide support. Thanks

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Saying hello! replies: 2

Does it end? replies: 5

A mess replies: 5

Introduction! replies: 4

Thankyou. replies: 4

Do I feel emotions or do I just don't understand them? replies: 5

Help please - want to find people to help with my ex husbands infidelity with best friend and neighbour past 4 years but all denial and narcassistic! replies: 1

This is an excerpt from my 19 self during my bipolar. Did you ever write anything like this? replies: 1

First post replies: 3

Hi replies: 2