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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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What does it mean?

replies: 3

Hi everyone, Honestly I almost don't believe that I deserve or have any right to feel the way I do, I'm so lucky compared to others yet I still find myself going through waves of feeling seriously down. I find myself feeling like a waste of space and useless, I can't seem to find a job and feel barely any motivation at university meaning I'm barely scarping through. I was going to graduate this year but because of my own stupid actions I think I'll have to stay when in reality its the last thing I want. There are some nights where I just cry for seemingly no reason, I've ignored my friends and don't want to do anything but the next couple days its like it never happened and I feel ok again. I think deep down I'm always down but it comes in waves of strength. Is this normal? what does it mean? I've had these feelings for a few years now but this is the first time I've spoken out about it. I just want to know if what I'm feeling means something.

Exhausted

replies: 2

So I seperated from my ex 3yrs ago and it's been very messy since, we have 5 children together ranging ages 3 -22 our oldest daughter sided with my ex and didn't talk to me for a year and blamed me for a lot, my twins who are 15 don't want nothing to do with there their father for the past 6 months they haven't been back in his house for over a year, they refuse their words is they don't trust him, their has been some emotional abuse and I have had them in counselling, but they decided 4 months ago they no longer want to attend Our 16 yr old son sees his dad the most, but when my son is there when I call him he declines the call, I have text him as well, a few weeks ago when my son was here, he told my son that he was going to bash his head in if he didn't come to his house and help him fix the truck, so 2 days later my son went back and since then my son has been very distant towards me. Should I be concerned, as he told his brother his trying to come home but his father is a control freak. I am feeling worried, and anxious, I have been told there is nothing I can do because of his age.

feeling lost

replies: 1

so i not quite sure how long this has been going on and nowthat ive recognized it as depression i feel as though its always been there well at least since i was 20 or so possibly younger... but over the past 18 months ive been dealing with cervical cancer whuch was operation after operation then resulted in a total hysterectomy leaving my ovaries though. through this process i found myself starting to drink heaps, stealing and being really reckless. Im 31 and have 3 beautiful children and a husband and we just built our first home. I thought once the hysterectomy was done i would start to feel better but i find myself sinking deeper into a dark hole. i feel like a bas parent i dont want to do anything i dont want to get up i feel like i could sleep forever but then i cant get to sleep i fell gulity because im always so tired and feel so sad all the time. i feel like am fat which is stupid i weigh 58kg at 170 cms.. i dont reply to my friends anymore or my family except my younger sister who i tend to put before myself i just dont know how to stop. i go to sleep every damn day telling myself tomorrow i get back to normal and then i fail again. How do i fix myself.

Worried about the future

replies: 2

My partner says I am foolish to worry about things I have no control over but they are the things I worry about the most because I cannot plan for them, deal with them. I am getting older, nearly 63 and I know my brain is no longer reliable. I used to have a plan that when my partner and my dog were gone and I was alone I would just check myself into an aged care home and muddle away until the end but now I realise that ending up in such a place would probably be an nightmare so I am left with the worry that I will end up alone. I am not scared of being lonely but of being in trouble with no one knowing I need help. I cannot make plans because I am too young it seems. You must be 65+ to make aged care plans. I am ill and I care for my partner and my dog. While they are alive I have a focus and I struggle to make sure everything is fine for them but I have this nameless dread hanging over my head about what happens when there is just me and I am not sure how well my brain will cope. I am already vague and I often say that the two of us make a great person but I have no idea what to do if it is just me. I have searched a lot but I can find no advice about coping with old age on your own in the country. I have chronic fatigue syndrome and the biggest problem I have faced is the loss of memory and brain function. I was once a logical intelligent person with great research skills and now I have a brain that is extremely erratic. I have no wish to end up in care because I have seen what these places are like but trying to manage on my own is rather scary. I have worked hard to regain independence but the other day I stepped out in front of a car I did not see and it frightened me that I missed this. I am not sure there is a safe place. Growing old is hard. Sharra

Just saying hi

replies: 2

Hi. I just joined today. I have had anxiety depression and PTSD for 38 years and I go okay for a while then off it goes again. I’m sure that’s familiar. Actually the anxiety never goes. Anyways, I’m from central coast nsw married with one child, lone... View more

Forgotten Australian Group

replies: 3

Hi, new here. Is there a group in Gippsland Victoria that supports Forgotten Australians?:)

Fear of driving

replies: 2

Hi! So I'm a learner driver, and currently I have 3 hours and 45 minutes in my log book.... over the course of about 10 months. I started out driving being really optimistic, but on my first drive with my dad, I broke down crying after pulling out on an intersection without looking. I knew it was going to be difficult, but as soon as I get in the car, I have this shaky feeling and I start getting adrenaline and all that. I know how to drive, and I'm not that bad at it, considering I've only had 3h 45m. I really don't want to blame my dad, but he has been driving since he was 6 years old and doesn't understand the fear that I have. He doesn't understand when I tell him to only take us on the back roads. Instead, he took me to the middle of town. And he also yells at me while I'm driving which just makes me feel anxious and overwhelmed. I keep thinking that maybe if I keep doing it, I'll get better, but it just seems to get worse and worse. My friends and family think I'm just being a drama queen. Even thinking about driving makes me feel anxious. I really want to get my P's, but I just can't stomach the idea of having to drive 120 hours. Anything I can do to help this anxiousness?

Report Harassment or Keep on the Down Low?

replies: 3

Hi, New to this internet posting stuff. I've been on the (not-so) "merry go round" for 30 years now, had 4 major breakdowns, various issues, depression & anxiety the mainstays. While I go from one incident to another, I'm currently having a major issue with my clothes not fitting. Sounds minor. But I've always had it and it's really taking it's toll now. The result is I get ridiculed and laughed at by young and old, large & thin, everyone. I walk around with my head down so I do not see their reactions. I wear earphones so I don't hear their "suggestions". I avoid shopping centres because my life depends on it. Once I'm home, I'm scared to leave my lounge-room. If I could stop working, I would but that's just not financially practical, or a reality. Just seen my GP who's given me time off work as I had a really, bad day yesterday, singular interactions most of the day then in the afternoon, a whole section of my department (20 odd) returning from a meeting they had, sniggering while we all waited for the elevator. My defenses, they took a battering. My GP is appalled at the treatment and my medical certificate is somewhat tersely worded to that affect. However - I'm at odds at submitting the certificate, formalising my issues with management and my Union, bringing it all out into the open. It's obviously already out there but not through my doing. I'm afraid of the consequences. The target on my head. The stigma of reporting it. I already know the answer to the equation of reprimand many or let me go. I don't believe my reporting it will stop it. Quite the opposite. I believe it will get worse. I've been called "a princess" in the past for voicing my concerns. (I'm a bloke by the way.) Government Dept. One of those that has all the policy's about how we treat and respect one another, how we act, and how we approach such instances, all talk. I believe the policy's only support small instances. Minor party infringements. I'm leaning towards keeping it all down low, bluffing my way through some time off, wasting more money on clothes that don't fit or get "sold" to me, I'll even go back to the "tailor" to try for the tenth time. I'm not young anymore. I'm worn down physically & mentally. I guess the reason I'm posting is I'm bouncing my idea of not formalising it. Riding it out for another few years. Edging closer to the retirement that I have nothing for.

New member - Never done this before

replies: 1

Hi all, I've never been apart of a forum before, but I hate talking out loud, so perhaps this way I can let out some of the things I need to say without actually saying them! Anyway, i'm a mum of one with a fiance. I don't know if I have depression, or anxiety, or anything else really. I don't know if my current lifestyle is all that's wrong with me, or if there is an underlying issue. I've battled depression most of my life, but a change in lifestyle, mindset and association seemed to fix it and i turned it all around. Once I found my fiance and we got pregnant I thought that I would never see the signs of sadness again.. but they are back. I feel disconnected from everyone. I don't go out. I don't answer my phone. I cry when my fiance goes out with his mates. I feel like i've got no control over anything. I hate this feeling.

Loneliness

replies: 3

I have just joined, I suffer from anxiety, depression and loneliness. do any of you have suggestions ?

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

What does it mean? replies: 3

Exhausted replies: 2

feeling lost replies: 1

Worried about the future replies: 2

Just saying hi replies: 2

Forgotten Australian Group replies: 3

Fear of driving replies: 2

Report Harassment or Keep on the Down Low? replies: 3

New member - Never done this before replies: 1

Loneliness replies: 3