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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New here - I just need a few things to start going right

replies: 1

I have been struggling since the suicide of my partner in late 2016. We had just moved to a rural town >2000km away from our families. I have stayed on in the town since purely because I can’t afford to move. I struggled to keep my life together and had a few run inns with the law in the months following his passing. A lot has happened in the last two and a bit years. I met someone and it seemed to be going well and I was planing to move towns so we could be closer. However the relationship fell apart shortly after I lost my job. I have been struggling to pay the bills, and find work. I feel completely alone, which I should be use to, but after having had another partner, it is hard not having anyone to talk to or help out. I can’t even remember how I got through the lonely ness last time, except that I had a job. I feel like I have spent the last two years struggling and could finally see some light but now I am in the same situation. I’m alone, jobless, in trouble with the law and with no friends and no one to talk to except the guy who just broke up with me. I just need a few things to start going right so that I can get moving again. If I get one of the positions I have applied for then atleast I will be busy and I can pay some bills.

Here for the first time

replies: 2

Hi all, never done this before but struggling atm and thought maybe a chat will help

New Supporter Joins In :)

replies: 4

Hi guys, I used to be part of a worldwide suicide support form where I helped countless people of all ages with various life issues. I’ve decided to join an Australian support forum to support my local aussies Do note that I’ve never used my display name on this forum anywhere else before, I’m doing this with a new name to remain annonomous. I first got into helping people a few years after making it as a successful YouTuber with over 100,000 subs (I won’t be mentioning the channel name on this forum). I opened up discord servers, and so on allowing my community (mostly children) to talk to me and ask questions about my videos and so on, but a lot of them came to me for support instead, and little did I know that I’d stop over 4 children from ending their life just by taking to them and being there to support them when nobody else was. Right now I’m saving up enough money so that I can build a passive income that earns me enough money to live off so that I can foster or adopt children (mainly boys) across Australia without requiring a job (as my passive income from investments will support me). I want to give those children the full attention they deserve without any other stresses or distractions. That’s my dream and life goal. I won’t have be able to devote a great deal of time to the forum at the moment due to work and so on, however, you’ll see me around whenever I have time to help out. I look forward to changing lives for the better

Hi

replies: 3

First time here after looking up this website several times. I have long been suffering from depression. Ranging from low mood to severe where every step i took, felt like was pushing a very heavy door. I now know that a major reason for this is chronic pain from the compressed discs in my neck and lower back. These diagnoses only started coming since 1.5 years ago. Although i am much better off now, then before, it is hard to enjoy things. I also have had panic attacks, but these are less now, since my last phsycologist helped me to control them. I'm married with 3 children and for years been grumpy dad. But since the diagnoses of late, they are more supportive and understanding of my low days or stress. Since 6 months i have been on medication to help me sleep at night and to improve general mood. Even though the dose was recently increased, the mood hasn't really improved. It does improve when i take an strong painkiller, but I don't want to take those every day.

Newbie

replies: 12

Hi just new to the site and not sure how forum works I have anxitey and clinical depression also had gastric sleeve surgery in 2015 I feel like i can not stand up for myself anymore and allow grown children to walk over me

Hello- I'm new here.

replies: 1

I am 15 and I'm new here looking for some support around Anxiety and Depression, but also relationships(including friendships). I don't know what else to say, but that's basically a run down.

Hi All, new member here

replies: 2

Hi all, I am a 40+ yo male, and have a good family situation with children at school, and have a good occupation and no financial worries. In late 2018 I was diagnosed with anxiety & depression by the family GP. The depression/anxiety issues had been quietly noted by the GP on previous visits, and my wife and manager at work had separately noted issues/changes. Looking back, I can see signs of it from early 2018. Some of the issues are related to anxiety, and others to depression. I believe a main factor is due to the fact that my father was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in late 2016, and passed away mid 2018. An added complication is the fact that I worked for my father in a small family business – I still work there, and there is now little stress at work, although it did once have it’s major challenges mentally. Having a parent pass away naturally brings a period of grief, but I believe I turned a corner with respect to that late last year, and do not consider it a current stress. Regarding the anxiety, it is random and illogical. Being with friends is usually fine, but at other times I cannot handle it. Sometimes being in a crowd is fine, other times I have to move out and have some “space”. Sometimes, small things that were not an issue before, become insurmountable obstacles. These “things” change with time, and are clearly illogical, even to me. It is often hard to listen to anything negative, be it world news, or any other issues, and sometimes have to step out of the conversation. Regarding the depression. Sometimes this takes the form of “down” periods, which could be anywhere from seconds to weeks, which I find very strange. The longer time periods I understand, but often every couple of minutes I feel very “down” for just a few seconds, and then the cycle repeats itself. I don’t get this, perhaps they are “mood swings” or similar. Often in these few seconds I feel like crying, it’s really strange. During longer down periods, the kids have asked why I was just sitting out on a stool under the back verandah doing nothing. My shoulders feel like they just want to sink through the floor. My wife is quietly very supportive, and knows how I am feeling without asking. She quietly sorts the kids out during these times if they are being difficult. She is an absolute champion. Anyway… the Beyond Blue site is a good one, and a good source of info and help. I appreciate those who have put effort in to it, it has helped. Regards, SB

Recovery

replies: 1

Recovery what does that mean? This is something I have been asking myself the last 6 months especially. Three days a week I work as an intentional peer worker, which means i share my lived experience with the intention of creating hope and possibility in the community. For me my role gives hope to others, and for me that is so rewarding. This has helped my own recovery enormously, I'm not saying it has been easy or that I still don't have bad days I do. What i am saying is if you are following your passions and living by your values this helps so much with recovery. So for me recovery is living by your values, while still following your passions.

Anxiety controlling life

replies: 2

Hi all, I live in Perth & I'm in my mid-20s. Anxiety has been controlling my life as of late. I've missed almost a month of work, and although my work has been really patient with me, I can tell they're getting fed up. My partner is supportive but is becoming frustrated, something I can understand. I know what I need to do and I know I need to 'push through' the anxiety as best as I can, but I keep giving in and taking the easy way out. I'm so frustrated with myself. I used to be able to manage my anxiety but now it's like it's taking over my life and I just keep letting everyone down. I'm terrified I'll lose my job and it's our main source of income. I know I'm being hard on myself but I feel like I can do better, I'm just not trying hard enough. The silly part is that's not something I'd ever say or think about someone else in the same situation. I honestly feel like I'm my own worst enemy. How do you handle it when you're the one making life hard for yourself?

Joeypos

replies: 3

Hello i have been diagnosed with depression and have been taking medication long term.(8+years It works for me. Yet another article has come to light about long term use, it makes me very anxious to think about not taking medication have tried before... View more

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

New here - I just need a few things to start going right replies: 1

Here for the first time replies: 2

New Supporter Joins In :) replies: 4

Hi replies: 3

Newbie replies: 12

Hello- I'm new here. replies: 1

Hi All, new member here replies: 2

Recovery replies: 1

Anxiety controlling life replies: 2

Joeypos replies: 3