Welcome and Orientation

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Meet your community champions!

replies: 12

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 beyond blue

replies: 1

Hello forum members, 46 year old male , happily married with a 3 year old girl and 5 year old boy. Have been suffering anxiety and depression since I was 41 due to a home invasion burglary/ attack. This left me with some visual scars but they seem to... View more

Anxiety

replies: 3

Hi, I’m Kelly. I have horrible anxiety where I vomit and feel I cannot breathe at times. Lately it has been awful! I have tried everything natural to keep calm. I would like to let people know you are not on your own with anxiety or depression! It is... View more

Finally joined!

replies: 4

Hi . I have taken a long time to even consider joining . myriad of excuses main ones being that no one would understand and way too self conscious. I am not sure where to go from here. I will read posts I suppose and go from there?

Introduction to just me, Ian

replies: 2

Hi, obviously from subject title my name is Ian, male and approx 43yo, although who keeps track after 40 hey. I live with my partner in an apartment. For all my life I have lived as the older brother, strong friend to people I know or just meet, workmate and been very highly successful in a management career. Four years ago though the tower all came down when I suffered what I now know as major depression and anxiety, something I knew others suffered from but not me, and since then I have been fighting ever since ... i) to even understand my mental illness and ii) how to move on. I remember being stuck overseas for a work trip not able to come home, I remember my 40th birthday party not even knowing I could show my face, I remember not being able to start my new dream job I had accepted, I remember my long term partner walking away my fault, I remember all the attempts at treatment afterwards, hurting friends or family who felt I wasn't trying hard enough also true, I remember feeling so lost I didn't have feelings anymore or like anything, the pain each morning in my heart my body my head, eventually so negative I didn't know whether I could keep going on ... but somehow Ia still here, still trying to understand, work out new path for me and help others with my experiences learnt so far ... I hope to be your friend and learn from you too, one minute one hour one day and month at a time

Depression/anxiety/PTSD

replies: 2

Hi I have just signed up tonite . And just wanted to say hello ..

Upset and Angry

replies: 3

Hi, in new to this and don’t know really where to start but I am obviously here for a reason. i have always throughout my whole life been a very chilled and relaxed person until ver recently. I unexpectedly lost my brother who was only 29- I don’t have a close family and growing up my brother and I were closest in age so stuck together had a similar group of friends and had the same humour. My brother followed a path that lead him to drugs, Kai etc but I never judged him and loved him. I remember receiving the phone called that he had died- I did not cry at all I just fell nothing and carried on my day as normal and went to work the following day. i don’t have a close family but mum and my sister are very close. I found that in the 2 weeks leading up to the funeralum, dad and my sisters spent a lot time together- I was never invited. I just kept thinking it may have been because I had no reaction to my brothers death and they all did which made it awkward. After telling my partner that my brother had died his first response was “ oh we knew that was going to happen” and kept telling me that - your family isn’t that close but the reality My brother and I were the two youngest were close and we both knew more about each other and spoke all the time. I never mentioned much about him to my partner as he did not really get along or like him. The day of his funeral came and again I still did not cry but guess what my partner did so I was there to make sure he was ok. its been about 10 weeks and I just find that I get really any and frustrated at stuff and snap all the time. The last few week I have just completely cut people out of my life as I feel like I’m going to explode. Sometimes I walk at night around the streets to help calm down- I find that I want to cry but I don’t cry however I feel like I can’t breath. what is wrong with me???

Lost Alone and used

replies: 3

I am a 62 year old lady that has spent my whole life doing for my family, but last year I had my family want the house we owned together for themselves, they bought me out and I had to move to an area away from everyone, that was because of cost. So now I have no one around, no job, and go days to weeks not speaking to anyone, although they text sometimes. It really didn’t take long for all their promises to be broken. All my life I have been told how special I am, then I watch them treat the other parents better..they say that they know I understand ..I just agree because why argue.

Newbie. HI

replies: 2

Hi everyone. I am new to this whole forum world, so its all a bit scary. I am a Lived Experience Peer Support Worker for a project that specialises in Personality Disorders. I have been in this role for about a month but previously done Peer Support Work for many years. I suppose I am here just to branch out, maybe have a place to vent or gather any info I can or pass on any skills or knowledge that may be on use. I am a mum of 3, love horse riding, motor bike riding, camping, anything outdoors really that's remote and off grid I'd love to hear if there are any other Peer Support Workers that have a lived experience of BPD? Cheers,

Hi all

replies: 10

Hi everyone and happy Wednesday! I'm in my mid 20's and on placement at beyondblue for my masters in psychology. I grew up in Queensland and moved to Melbourne several years ago to pursue my dreams of studying psychology at university. In my spare time I enjoy reading and spending time with loved ones. I also really enjoy travelling (my favourite place so far has been Egypt!). I feel really honoured to have been given the opportunity to contribute to some of the forums here - thank you for having me here. I'm passionate about helping people and hope I can provide some support where possible. - Marie (:

Where Have I Gone Wrong In Life

replies: 8

I don't know where to start. Im 47, introvert, lost my job in Feb, have heart issues and incredibly lonely. I haven't been in a relationship for over 5 years now and miss being with a women in an intermate relationship. I don't do one night stands as I need that emotional connection as well. I've tried every online dating site but the constant rejections are too overwhelming. People tell me to join a club etc but there's nothing that really motivates me. I see a shrink on a regular basis but unless they hand out girlfriends is there a point going there to discuss the same thing. If i had the choice on whether to wake up tomorrow it would be a big fat zero.

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

new to beyond blue replies: 1

Anxiety replies: 3

Finally joined! replies: 4

Introduction to just me, Ian replies: 2

Depression/anxiety/PTSD replies: 2

Upset and Angry replies: 3

Lost Alone and used replies: 3

Newbie. HI replies: 2

Hi all replies: 10

Where Have I Gone Wrong In Life replies: 8