Welcome and Orientation

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Meet your community champions!

replies: 13

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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Feeling helpless

replies: 2

I don't know where to start really but I am a struggling mum my son is 18 and for the last 6 months he has changed he has had a horrible start to the year. Me and my husband support him all the time but he is so rude and disrespectful to us the reason for my post is that i lost it last night with him I was like a women gone mad and I am not proud of myself but I think I had just taken so much that it came it to head. Now I'm scared I have made him worse with his mental health. My feeling is I couldn't care less if I died tomorrow as I just can't cope with it anymore I'm not going to do anything stupid but I'm just so desperate to have my nice son back. We are waiting for a mental health plan for him and maybe I need to see someone too. Just had to write down how I feel feel like such a bad mother Thx for listening and reading x

Confidence = 0

replies: 2

Hi there, I have been living in an emotionally abusive marriage for 20 years, my husband is 20 years older than me and gets worse everyday, he is the ultimate 71 year old narcissist, lovely to everyone but me, puts me down to everyone so he looks like the victim, etc, etc. I am his 3rd wife. I have been called every name you can possibly imagine by him on a daily basis, evening is the worst time as he is a functioning alcoholic and after he has been drinking all day at the end of the day I cop it. No one knows this but me, I have tried reaching out to people but they just don't believe it of him. People say why don't you leave and I have the usual standard answer, I am not in a financial position to leave. I have an employment opportunity but I am becoming overwhelmed with feelings of lack, I just don't believe in myself any more and cant get past it, I am about to pull the plug on this employment opportunity, I not sure if I will be any good to anyone. I feel my soul is so dented, all I do lately is cry and its taking its toll on my health. Can you suggest anything to help me feel worthy ? I have prayed and prayed for a new beginning and to get away from this horrid person I am chained too, but no answers have come to light. I cant believe I survived the Black Saturday fires just to be left in this terrible trapped position, dosent make sense to me, I just don't know what to do...….. completely and utterly lost. Thanks for letting me tell you this.

Sleep disorder

replies: 1

Hi I suffer from sleep disorder due to work pressure and a shoulder injury,I have left the job that I was in and found a less stressful job on a farm But there is still some pressure there. So I take medication for anxiety,because the anxiety was keeping me awake for hours l started taking medication to get to sleep,I then found that it got less effective as time went on and now have been on it for a couple of years on and off more on than off. Since major shoulder surgery two weeks ago I found the medication to be less affective,and went to the doctor for more. As a resalt of that visit he gave me a different drug which is non addictive but now I lye awake till 3am or so sleep for a couple of hours and get up do my work around the house as I cannot work for 6 weeks,snap at my wife which make for a not so happy life around the home,and feel like killing every one else, my question is what can I do to stop feeling like this, how long does this lack of sleep stuff carry on for cause it's doing my head in to top it off cannot get into doctor for a couple of weeks.

When do you stop giving a crap?

replies: 4

Married 10 years, been together for 20. No kids, I have a good job that I do well at, I spend a lot of time at work - I feel good there, valued and like the crazy busy work load, BUT I’m starting to struggle with keeping my mind in check. My wife is, let’s just say a very vocal person. She loves to drink. She drinks a lot. She drinks till she can’t walk and passes out. I often find her lying on the floor outside or in the bathroom. When she starts to drink I try to avoid her as I will cop a mouthful of insults and swearing and lately she is starting to hit me. Also if we are with people she will degrade me and say things about me that is embarrassing. It’s like she wants people to know that I am some piece of crap. I hardly drink and don’t take drugs. I think I try and live a good balanced life, but when do you say enough is enough? We have talked about her alcohol and she blames me. She says I do nothing around the house and hardly cleans( we have a maid?!?). I have not ever cheated on my wife, but I’m always being ridiculed for it. I have begged her to stop the drinking and she just won’t. Last night was the worst. I woke up to a noise and saw her lying on the bathroom floor choking. I ran and picked her up, held her over the basin. She vomited toothpaste water. She was so drunk that she passed out whilst gargling mouthwash. I can’t deal with this anymore and nothing we talk about is ever seen through. Is it me? Am I to old school and believe that things will come right?!? If I leave her she will most probably die.

Introduction

replies: 2

Hey, My name is Greg, I'm a 30yo male from SA with a wife and 3 kids. Times have been hard here and there and instead of waiting weeks at a time for a psychologist appointment, I figure being here with like minded people may be a great option. A bit about me, I have been with my wife for over 10 years, been married for almost 8. We have 3 children a girl 7, another girl 6 and a boy almost 2. I have always been a bit of an angry person, hypocritical (don't always do everything right, criticize others but don't like to be criticized) have stress anxiety depression and anger issues. Undiagnosed I have been told I must have a split personality due to being an asshole one minute and over it and loving the next. My main problem is the anger, to the point where my wife has considered leaving me so she doesn't have to deal with it like she has for so long and so my kids don't grow up with the same attitude problems. I try to look at the positive of everything, but have a short fuse and go from 0 to 100 in a split second. I have many opinions, some may be helpful, some I might think are helpful, but may not be. Hoping while being here to have some input and try to help others, while obviously needing help for me to also get past my demons. Greg.

Hello there

replies: 1

Hi I'm new to this I've been depressed for a while now like 37 years and I feel like talking about it doesn't really help my does but it doesn't when you want to talk to your family and they don't want to talk to you really sucks so talking to a professional that was good and doesn't feel like it should and my family they're so close together but they're not with me and upsets me so I thought id introduce myself on her health an introduction my name is mit h by the way nice to meet everyone

First Post

replies: 6

Hello everyone, My GP told me about BeyondBlue about a year ago. Right now, I was having very painful depressive thoughts and I thought of visiting this site. Now I have no idea why have I created my ID but I hope the community here may help me in fighting with depression. I have been suffering from depression since 2016 which happened to be the worse year of my life and I had no idea how I got out of it alive. I don't know what to say further. Thank you so much for your time to read this post!

Hi all!

replies: 4

Hi, in spite of being a member since 2015, I haven't posted yet. I guess this is my first post. I'm currently a first year university student, studying occupational therapy. I've been having mental health problems since 2015. While growing up, I had strict parents and I wasn't able to confide in them. I also grew up with not much and not much love, too. My perspective of the world is complex, it's mainly about survival. I don't really bother to tell the people closest to me because I don't think I have anyone close. My friend suggested this site for me because I've been having bad days. I think the days have gotten worse since I went to uni. My sleep is interrupted. I feel this intense loneliness. I'm training to be a health professional but it's like I can't even take care of myself. Thanks for reading!

I am here..

replies: 1

Hooray !! First post, hello everyone

Appointment

replies: 3

I have an appointment with my psychologist. In the past when I have seen her, my anxiety has got up and triggers my OCD. I kept thinking that it’s going to happen again and I hate it so much.

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Feeling helpless replies: 2

Confidence = 0 replies: 2

Sleep disorder replies: 1

When do you stop giving a crap? replies: 4

Introduction replies: 2

Hello there replies: 1

First Post replies: 6

Hi all! replies: 4

I am here.. replies: 1

Appointment replies: 3