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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I'm new

replies: 14

Hi I am new to BB and to forums in general. I am currently experiencing great sadness as a result of what my doctor calls an overwhelming load of grief. I support my elderly parents (demanding father with Aspergers and mother with end stage dementia), and have an adult child who has a serious mental illness and keeps cutting off contact with me for months at a time. I have only seen her children a few times, for an hour or so each time. I have no friends, as I seem to always attract people who need help, then ditch me when their crisis is over. The lights in my life are my son's family who love me very much. I am particularly interested in seeing posts by people with adult children with mental illness who cut off communication repeatedly for no apparent reason. I am also interested in any posts about domestic violence, including how to get over the harm done to your children after the family court ignores their evidence and forces them to spend unsupervised time with sexually, physically and emotionally abusive father. Thank you for making these forums available.

New member - dealing with new diagnosis

replies: 2

Hello all. I'm new to the forum. I've recently been diagnosed with severe depression, generalised anxiety disorder, and OCD. I'm in my 30s and have only sought help recently, although I've had some of these issues for many years. Adjusting to this reality, figuring out medication, and getting used to therapy is such a big adjustment. I'm also looking at a hospital stay if my depression doesn't improve soon. Looking forward to becoming part of the community, hopefully getting some support from you all. Thanks for reading

Just introducing myself

replies: 1

After a very long time in denial about my childhood and the abuse I suffered I finally spoke about this for the very first time with my wife who is a psychologist. I would like to say that I found the courage to do so but in fact my aversion towards intimacy had left her feeling that I was no longer attracted to her and I could not let this ruin my marriage as well as my childhood and so I talked about it to her for the first time. It was very emotional. She cried, I cried and afterwards I felt as though I had finally turned a corner. It has been a long and strange journey for me to get to this point and I feel that I have gained a valuable insight that I can share with other survivors and I came here for some catharsis and to offer what little wisdom I have on this issue. It took almost 30 years to get to this point and I hope to give more help than I get as true healing comes from within. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

I feel selfish even posting here

replies: 3

Good evening everyone I didn’t even know where to start with dealing with what I feel is depression and severe anxiety issues. I’m struggling to adapt to city life, myself and my wife have spent several years living a remote lifestyle but city temptations such as drinking, gambling and losing control of my finances are all creeping into my life. I’m extremely good at hiding my feelings. I cry behind closed doors, I drink to hide pain I seriously don’t know where to turn or where to start. I have a family and friends that love me and I know will support me but I feel scared, selfish, hopeless. Help

"Doing Best to Stay Well"

replies: 10

Hello Beyond Blue People, Joined up again.

New to forums - Just diagnosed Bipolar 2

replies: 11

Hi Everyone, This is my first post so I thought I would say hello and see how this works. After a period of severe anxiety and 5 months on medication, I have just been diagnosed as suffering from Bipolar 2 disorder. On the one hand it has come as a bit of a shock but on the other it makes perfect sense and explains so many things about my life. I work in a very creative field and am also a very driven type of person so my symptoms,which I have covered for many years, have gone unnoticed. I am very curious to know if anyone else out there is more of an extrovert who suffers from anxiety or Bipolar. It surprises me that no-one ever asked of I was ok or noticed that anything was wrong even though I was, at times, in the depths of despair. Medication has given me some breathing space over the past few months so I feel more stable but I have been told that I will need to go on a mood stabiliser. Not sure what that means? Thanks for reading and I hope to hear back from anyone else in a similar situation. Joamy

I'm new

replies: 2

Hi all I'm new to this. I have been suffering from depression for many years. This year I now have anxiety and panic attacks. My fiance of 10 years broke up with me on New Years day, I then was bullied at work so left the job which was his family business, I now have a part time job which I hate. I have pressure from my elderly mum who I care for not to work and care for her. I am so confused and don't know what to do. I am alone. I am on medication.

Don’t know how to ask for help with anxiety

replies: 6

Hi, I’m new to bb. I struggle with anxiety at times, not everyday. I find it difficult to reach out for help/support as I am usually the support person. I work in healthcare and feel that I’m letting people down/being judged bc I should be able to cope with stressors and anxiety. Just writing this is a huge step for me. Not really coming to terms with it. I feel like I need to be the “strong “ one. I hide it and put on a facade

Morning glory

replies: 2

This is my very first ‘contribution’ to a thread! I’m a 73 year old grandmother - and retired health professional. There seem to be many days at the moment, where life appears bleak. A mix of anxiety & depression. I feel concern for the future - especially relating to my grandkids. I had felt that our lives would be filled with countless success stories - but instead, broken dreams & disillusionment.

Hey

replies: 3

Feeling like I don't belong anywhere

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

I'm new replies: 14

New member - dealing with new diagnosis replies: 2

Just introducing myself replies: 1

I feel selfish even posting here replies: 3

"Doing Best to Stay Well" replies: 10

New to forums - Just diagnosed Bipolar 2 replies: 11

I'm new replies: 2

Don’t know how to ask for help with anxiety replies: 6

Morning glory replies: 2

Hey replies: 3