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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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Overcoming Mental Health

replies: 1

Hi all, I was diagnosed with Anxiety, Post-trauma, depression and borderline personality disorder last year (2018) I have tried number of hospital admissions and mental health help but not much is working. I have decided today that I would like overc... View more

depression?

replies: 1

hello, i'm quite new to all this, but my name is caitlyn. recently i've had stress with ex-friends, but have altogether been feeling really low for a few months now. i'm not myself and my self-esteem has plummeted, and there are days where i feel like doing self harm, but i never bring myself to do it. i feel like i might have depression, but i'm not sure as it hasn't been diagnosed. then again, i don't know if i have it. i'm not sure if it's just a sadness that will pass or a long term issue. sometimes i feel happy, but then some nights i break down for no reason and some days i feel numb. my mental health hasn't been great altogether, and i've considered seeking help but i also feel like i'm not prepared or ready for anything like that. i am confused on where to go next. thank you for taking your time to read this, it means a lot x

Bipolar Mum

replies: 7

I am not really sure where to start, or even if this is the best place to ask for help. I am a widowed mother of a 40 year old son and a 38 year old daughter. Since my husband passed in 2011 my son has been diagnosed with BPD and after many false starts and many many crisis he has finally found a great phycologist who has helped him immensely. He now lives a reasonable happy and healthy life. You would think that after all I went through supporting and helping my son to finally find his way back to a healthy life that my daughter's diagnosis of Bipolar about 12 months or so ago would be easy to deal with.....but it's not! I need to find a way to help and support her through this illness but just cannot grasp the details of her illness and needs enough to be able to support her. She has a 13 year old with special needs and an amazingly self sufficient and mature 15 year old. I step in whenever I can to help care for the boys as much as I can. I try to support my daughter in every way I can but I just don't know what to do for the best. Her episodes seem to be getting more frequent and more severe, she is not receiving any specialist help just seeing her GP and a counsellor (I am not sure what quals she has) I don't think her medication is working and she says the GP just brushes her concerns aside (I think it is possibly her negative outlook that makes her say this) I have offered to go to the DR with her to try to help her talk to him and maybe gain some understanding myself but she doesn't want that. I do understand the privacy issues but if I am the one picking up the pieces when she falls apart I feel I should have some input into helping her gain the best treatment. When she is like this she is very aggressive verbally and can be very cruel. I have struggled badly with grief for the last 8 years and now manage to cope quite well most of the time, but having absolutely no support myself I really struggle with being overly sympathetic at times. I step in to care for her, her sons and their home and pets when she is down but am really starting to struggle with this on a continuous basis. I need to find a way to advise her of the correct way to get the help she needs. We live in a regional area and access to a lot of medical services is limited and difficult to say the least. Sorry for the long post. Any suggestions?

Looking for advice about bullying in the workplace.

replies: 10

Hello, This is my 1st ever post. I am in my mid 30's and a long time sufferer of anxiety. Sometimes severe, but sometimes manageable. Anyway, I work for a organisation that consists of a lot of belittling, bullying, and inconsistencies from the management down. We also have relentlessly high workloads,etc as well.I have found this has severely affected my anxiety, and I ended up very sick due to internalising stress. I know the simple answer is just to leave, and it isn't worth my mental health, however, due to life and family circumstances, I am unable to do this yet. I am wondering if anyone else has been in this situation, and has some advice on what I can do for myself to get through it, as I know I can't change the workplace. thanks in advance.

Decided to finally join BeyondBlue.

replies: 1

Hello there! I finally decided to reach out on beyondblue, see if that helps with what i'm dealing with lately. I'd love to find somebody with Similar problems. I've always had problems with my mental health as long as i can remember, but these last few years it's gotten much worse due to crappy life experiences that have had unfortunately have happened to me. I'd love some help and insight on grief and mental health. Thanks!

Fibromyalgia, Hyperalgesia and Allodynia

replies: 1

Hi, 2015 I ruptured my ACL playing soccer. I underwent a reconstruction 3mths later which led to severe complications and ended up on 24 tablets a day due to my Saphenous and Femoral nerve being damaged and 3 Neuromas formed. I went to many different specialties to try to fix the problem and finally after 3 years found a genuine surgeon in another state who took me on, A plastic and Neuro surgeon amputated my Saphenous nerve beside my knee which permanently numbed my leg but also relieved 80% of the excruciating burning feeling and weakness I had. As a consequence of my body being under stress, chronic fatigue and influence of prescription medication I developed Fybromialgia, Hyperalgesia and Allodynia, my stomach doesn’t absorb most nutrients anymore and I was unable to work or live a normal life. I started having unusual problems such as a vibrating feeling in my leg and stomach which felt like my mobile phone was in my leg on silent and it was ringing. Turned out I was low on B12 I started to receive injections 3 or so a week apart and then once every 2 mths and symptoms went away but still chronic fatigue and pain 8-10. After doing some more research on Fibromyalgia I asked my Gp if I could try a coarse of injections once a week for 6 weeks and found my fatigue went and my pain as well. I got a blood test done to check levels and was up to 1500 my life is almost back to how I was before the injury and diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, I do 5 very easy physio exercises every night on the floor and also as much as I love it found coffee to be one of the main culprits for muscle pain and since keep away from it. As I have read there is no known cure or medication for Fibromyalgia and very little known studies into effective treatments, for me I have found these 3 steps a lifesaver. Allodynia and Hyperalgesia I’m still trying to get through and keeping strong the feeling of having a blue bottle in my leg isn’t cool but luckily it changes to numbness or feeling like sticky tape is on my leg. I feel this all day everyday but after having it for 3.5 years I’m kind of used to it and keep as busy as I can. 7 mths since my operation I’m hoping the nerve pain and Hyperalgesia and Allodynia settle and hope my storey helps someone

Feeling like a burden to my friend

replies: 1

Hello all, I’m currently in Austraila with my friend (we are both English.) I’ve had social anxiety for the majority of my teens (I’m now 20) but only beginning to really understand it, I always just thought I was shy but over the last year or so it has progressed into something much bigger than that. I hate meeting new people and whenever somebody looks or talks to me I go incredibly red. It is humiliating, and the more I think and worry about theses situations the worse it gets. I wish in any social situation nobody would look at me or talk to me, I could be an observer of a conversation but never have to contribute. My friend is very outgoing and friendly and I don’t want to feel like I’m holding her back due to my anxiety. I am in a constant state of worry I’m going to annoy her or she hates me, or I’m going to say or do something stupid to offend her (or other people too) and it’s really starting to get me down. Every time she looks at me funny I’m so nervous I’ve done something wrong, and I can’t help feeling like a massive burden to her. I’ve tried talking to her about my anxiety a little bit but I don’t think she understands the extent of how I’m feeling (and whether trying to talk to her about it is annoying in itself) She says things like “everybody feels anxious” Which makes me feel like the way I’m feeling is being over dramatic or something I can just get over. I don’t think she means to do it it’s just, unless u have social anxiety it’s impossible to understand how someone with it feels. Thanks everyone for reading and if anybody has any advice for me it would be much appreciated

Only just beginning to understand CPTSD

replies: 1

Hi, I’m really glad to have found this forum. I have never been on an online forum before. i have not yet been formally diagnosed, but my VOC psychologist showed me a poster of symptoms and they fit to a T. It kind of makes me more frightened and upset. i have been the victim of institutional abuse as a foster carer with FACS. Also groomed and controlled by a child sexual predator. (My kids were not exposed thank god) I have endured two years of neglect and abuse from FACS, and maternal alienation by my blaming and controlling ex-husband. I now only see my children four times a year in supervised contact visits. i have moved to a remote area and am deliberately isolated. I cannot work or get income support (can’t deal with government departments) I am living off money from the sale of my house. I tried several jobs but found myself freezing in mid conversation, bursting into tears, or being unable to function because of lack of sleep. I have totally unreasonable blow-ups and panic attacks. I am on antiD meds and take CBD oils to help sleep. I am considering a meditation retreat but I am scared of the spiralling thoughts and terrifying flash-backs. Let’s face it - I’m scared of most things these days! I feel very inadequate, vulnerable and underconfident. I am terrified this will never improve. I’m hoping to find some ideas for coping and surviving, or treatment options. Currently I am only doing Yoga and talking therapies. Thanks for being here. Franc

Day one again

replies: 3

Hey, this is hard to write as it’s acknowledging, how helpless I feel to change. Alcohol has really messed things up for me, I have to stop or I will lose everything. I’m really struggling today and I don’t think the person I love the most in the entire world gets the point i’m at. I’m going to my first meeting tonight and I feel so weak and to be honest hate myself I know this doesn’t help, but i feel like i’ve Really broken things this time. I don’t want to feel like this anymore. It would be nice to get some thoughts from people further on in their recovery. Thanks

Hi Everyone.

replies: 2

Hi I am a 63yr old woman working night duty every weekend. My choice. Suffer GAD and some depression but my main problem is loneliness. I have no real friends, I have work collegues and aquatainces but no close friend. I have 2 sons both busy with their own life. I only have a cat as company. I do belong to 2 groups and go to local pool twice a week but no one close enough to have adecent conversation with. Relationships have been a disaster since my divorce 9 yrs ago. Prefer to be single. So if you are up for a chat that is fine with me. Happy with life in general just the sheer loneliness that is the bug in my life. Robyn.

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

Overcoming Mental Health replies: 1

depression? replies: 1

Bipolar Mum replies: 7

Looking for advice about bullying in the workplace. replies: 10

Decided to finally join BeyondBlue. replies: 1

Fibromyalgia, Hyperalgesia and Allodynia replies: 1

Feeling like a burden to my friend replies: 1

Only just beginning to understand CPTSD replies: 1

Day one again replies: 3

Hi Everyone. replies: 2