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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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Beginning the mental health journey

replies: 2

Hi, I am Lisa. I am a 40 something year old mum of Ms 12 and Mr 15. We have begun our Mental health journey with My15 with sincere gratitude to his school and those he confides in. As a mum I'm finding loads of help in many forms for the patient, but very little for the parent/guardian. We have our first meeting with CAMHS next Tuesday so I'm hopeful that will give me some guidance, but in the meantime i struggle to start a conversation with him. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself, I will peruse the threads for tips for us. Thank you for making this platform easily accessible.

Just signed up

replies: 2

Hello everyone, Im 29, male and just moved to Melbourne. My best friend is really struggling with multiple setbacks and I want to do everything I can to be there for her, so hopefully I can get a few ideas and go from there. Warm regards, JB

Newbie

replies: 2

Hi i can’t talk to anyone about some things so this is a way to help myself. I am stuck right now and feel pretty bad. Can’t sleep, and feel like I’m a bad person and I am constantly stuffing up.

Struggling with anxiety and depression

replies: 2

Hi everyone. I am a woman with adult children currently struggling with anxiety and depression. I feel very unsure of myself and my ability to cope with the situation I currently find myself in. I have had these conditions before, and was able to get better but this time around am only on medication prescribed by my gp. In the past I have been under the care of a psychiatrist and psychologist but have moved to the country and these options are not available to me here. Does anyone know of any strategies I could use to help me stop catastrophising and worrying about the future. I am not sleeping well either, and find this very draining. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

hi I guess

replies: 1

So I'm 14 and living in a combined family with my dad, stepmum and her kids. I'm physically larger than them (they're all underweight) and I feel isolated and like nobody in that house really cares. I'm called offensive words when I stuff up and I'm treated differently to my stepsiblings. My dad says he's teaching me to function, but I'm always doing something wrong and I just feel like such a failure all the time. I only moved into this environment two years ago and I'm finding it very hard to adjust. My dad constantly tells me he's "done" with me and my behaviour, even though I always try to be respectful and polite, and it came to a climax on Monday when he told me to pack my bags. I'm safe at the moment, and living with an old family friend, but I have to go back at the end of this week due to my schooling. I'm trying to be the perfect child that they want but it's difficult, especially with the inconsistencies in treatment between my stepsiblings and I. I've gone along with whatever they've said for over two years now, but recently, as they tighten the restraints because of perceived "disrespect" eg, I forget to lock a door, take too long cleaning, don't clean something properly, I'm finding it harder and harder to meekly obey, and I admit I've lost my temper a few times recently, which doesn't help my case. I'm lost as to how to proceed and any advice is welcome and greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

Just new and here to say hi and ask a few qs ☺

replies: 1

Hey I'm Z (Atleast thats what people call me when they cant say my name ) I grew up in a very religious setting and being gay this wasnt the easiest for me, ive lost alot of family and friends and recently went through a "breakup" ( we are still very close we just have to find ourselves first) anyways ive been extremely lonely but im finally out of that really dark space but i just want to know how yall keep yourselves busy/ entertained (on a low budget tho cause i own an anxious cat who pees everywhere and costs me a bunch) I kinda just lurk in these forums cause im too scared to post but i really want to improve myself

I just want out

replies: 1

Hello, my name is Abbi. I’m 17 years old and I have finally reached a point where I don’t want to deal with life anymore. I have struggled with mental health issues a bit in the past but I was able to overcome them and put it behind me. However, this year has been incredibly difficult with keeping the dark thoughts at bay. I am unable to sleep without a constant noise playing (like a fan) as I find it distracts my mind. I struggle to get out of bed in the morning. I can’t focus in school. For all I my life I have been governed by my parents as I am under 18. I hate not being able to have control over my own life and have decisions made for me. I am not trying to be rebellious or anything like that, I just simply want to be in charge of my own life. Something that I love to do is drive. It is the only time when I feel in control. Unfortunately, my parents don’t understand just how much it means to me and will take away the opportunity when it just happens to be at the time I need it most. It is incredibly difficult for me to sit in the car with my sister driving, especially because she is a new driver and is very irresponsible and speeds all the time. Yet that is what I am forced to do and I don’t have any input whatsoever. Everybody thinks I’m okay because I put on a happy facade and smile through the pain. I don’t want to tell anyone about what I’m dealing with for fear they won’t take me seriously. Anyway, I’m sorry for this vent but I just needed to tell someone...even if it’s only on a website

I have no friends and I don’t have the confidence to make new ones.

replies: 2

I have a circle of issues, mainly to do with self confidence but I feel like everyone is happy, except me ? I’m unsure of how to deal with certain situations. My family are amazing but no one goes through this mental block.. most days I feel like the... View more

Nevermind, I guess

replies: 4

I'm awake for what feels like every single night stuck in the feeling of guilt of not being good enough and being a failure at everything. I have 2 kids, husband, a roof over our heads and food on the table but I just feel like a complete failure. I quit my job to be with my kids while they're still very young (4&2) and study for a better career part time. I feel I have nobody to blame but myself for feeling as though I'm not good enough to even be their mother. Since always I've felt as though I've had no friends, I feel forgotten by family everyday and nobody visits me or my children which I feel as though it's because I am their mum so people are avoiding because of me. I hate leaving the house, I feel as though everyone is looking at me and judging my every move and behavior. I feel as though my husband is embarassed to be seen with me in public with the kids and would much rather me not around. I don't go outside of my house when I have the kids by myself. I just feel like they are being ruined by me. They deserve better, a happier mum and wife, one that can give them everything that I can't. I hate asking for help or trying to reach out because it feels like I am a burden just being alive and I just think.. Well nevermind, it's all good, it doesn't matter, I'll get over, I guess. I just don't want to let anymore people down in my life.

Talking to my manger gives me anxiety

replies: 2

I have been working in a company for last 2 years. Despite going through depression I used to enjoy work and I loved my team. It felt like work was the only good thing happening in my life. Everything was going fine until they decided to make my supervisor and my manager redundant. And there was a new manager on board. All my workmates started to leave the company and m left with a completely new team. I don’t have a luxury to leave this job cause its very difficult to find another job with my short term visa status. I hate my job. I just look for a n excuse not to go to work so much so that I’ve almost run out of all my sick leaves. This new manager is very hard to approach and he is not at all a people person. He even makes us feel like we’re not important. I get negative vibes whenever he is around. I don’t know if it is because I’ve heard so much negative about him or whatever. I just don’t like being around him. It makes me feel so uncomfortable. Now my problem is i want to go to visit my parents back home for 6 weeks and I don’t know how to approach him. Just thinking about it makes me feel so stressed and anxious. It is embarrassing to discuss about this stress with anyone. Everytime I think about telling him, I have sleepless night.

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Beginning the mental health journey replies: 2

Just signed up replies: 2

Newbie replies: 2

Struggling with anxiety and depression replies: 2

hi I guess replies: 1

Just new and here to say hi and ask a few qs ☺ replies: 1

I just want out replies: 1

I have no friends and I don’t have the confidence to make new ones. replies: 2

Nevermind, I guess replies: 4

Talking to my manger gives me anxiety replies: 2