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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Hi Im new and I feel like a failure

replies: 14

Hi Im new to this forum. Ive been bottling things up for a few years now and I feel like I need to speak up. Ive recently turned 40 and I have a partner and two young kids. My problem is my inability to get a full time job and the subsequent depression and lack of confidence and self esteem as a result. Im looking in my career field and while I have worked full time and part time and casually I just cant seem to break through. I feel a failure as I cant provide for my family or contribute adequately even though my partner works almost full time. I feel like my partner resents me and I feel like I have ruined her life. My father in law also thinks im lazy and this is why I dont have a ft job and this is why. I dont know where to turn to or what to do. Im starting to get paranoid there is something wrong about me which is why I dont get work. Im starting to think some really dark thoughts and I find myself becoming detached from my family.

I don't know what's wrong with me

replies: 2

I've been struggling to put my feelings into words, so forgive me if this is all just fluff. I've noticed that as I've gotten older, I've become a lot less driven in regards to my school work. When i was younger, I was excited to do work and I did it as quickly and as well as possible, but now, in uni, I find it hard to sit and focus and finish my work satisfied. I'm always left feeling bored and empty, and this has bled into my interactions with others. I've increasingly ignored my friends from high school, whom I do love, and I don't feel joy from my interactions anymore - in fact, I feel like my participation ruins the mood, to a certain extent. I don't want to fail uni, but I don't feel motivated to do anything anymore. I don't want to lose my friends, but I don't feel motivated to talk to them anymore - and it's not their fault. I just want to enjoy life, but I'm finding it really hard to. Is there something wrong with me, or is it all in my head?

friendly ghost

replies: 3

Following a number of mini strokes I am depressed. My gait has been affected (limping), I have poor balance, impaired memory and comprehension. I am about to turn 75 and feel as though I have wasted my life.

Venting

replies: 4

I just need somewhere to vent I suppose. I have been a single mum and broke for the past 5 years. I am doing everything I can think of to change my financial status. I’m working, I go to school to try and get a better paying job, But I really haven’t gotten anywhere yet. I am struggling to maintain energy and motivation to keep going and most days all I want to do is stay in bed and away from everyone and everything. Yet at the same time I feel so incredibly lonely. I have a few friends but I feel like I don’t connect with them and any conversations we have are all about them and I’m just there to listen. It’s like I’m not even there really. I’ve tried dating but it seems that now I’m a single mum it’s like I’m used goods. I just feel so stuck and alone and I just don’t know what the point is in living anymore. I wouldn’t say that I’m suicidal or anything though. I’m terrified of dying and I love my kids and wouldn’t ever do that to them but at the same time what is the point.

Hello

replies: 3

Hello everyone, I joined beyond blue to connect with other people suffering from the same types of things as me. I'm 19, and I suffer from symptoms and characteristics that would include the diagnosis of anxiety, depression and OCD and possibly ADHD. I'm currently living in a sort of limbo, with no motivation to do the things that I would have in the past enjoyed (due to Depression) and have no friends or social life at all. I joined to hopefully be able to talk to others. Thanks

New here and to anti D's.

replies: 1

I've been depressed and anxious for as long as I can remember but I've never really sought out help until now. My memory in general is very patchy. I have been to the odd councilor but nothing long term. I've recently started teaching and the job has really brought things to a head. I called the department of educations free councilor the other morning because I felt like I wasn't coping and wasn't sure how to turn up to work. They managed to calm me down and recommended going to a GP to get on a mental health plan. I have done so and was prescribed anti depressants. They really seemed to work immediately but its been a week now and the old feelings are coming back. I've spent this weekend sleeping and in bed, avoiding and worrying about the work piling up on my desk. I'm wondering if the week of feeling more on top of things was a placebo effect or the results of finally being open about how I was feeling. The GP said that if the dose I wasn't on stopped being effective then I could just decide myself to increase it. I'm worried about the long term effects/dependency? of increasing my dose.

Hello to all

replies: 3

Hi All, I am 57, a mother, wife, worker, daughter, etc, etc. I am the one everyone relies on. I am great at caring for others but not so good at caring for myself. I started taking medication for depression last year, after my husband's prolonged illness- I usually cope with stress but this tipped me over and I had to admit that I needed help. The medication has really helped and I am considering increasing the dose a little, as I can feel the depression influencing my thoughts and actions again. Everyone is different, heh. Jen

Saying hi

replies: 6

Hi I'm new to the forums, just looking for somewhere to vent and find support. I have been have a long term sufferer of anxiety/panic disorder and depression.. Since age 18 and I'm now 47. I try my best to help myself with meds & therapy, but it never goes away.. I don't deal well with more than 1 thing at a time and I have a lot of factors in my life causing me massive stress right now. I'm always looking for new strategies, new ways to just get by.. Thanks for listening.

Depression and Schizophrenia

replies: 2

Hi my name is Angelique. I have Depression and Schizophrenia. Lately I’ve just felt like sleeping all the time and am having trouble getting myself and my daughter ready in the mornings. I can’t seem to motivate myself to keep on top of all the house work. I just want to sleep. Then I feel guilty for sleeping too much when my daughter is in day care. My arms ache when I hang out the laundry or when I have to wash my hair. Little tasks seem to take a lot of energy. I'm on antidepressants and antipsychotics. Since starting the antipsychotics I have felt like sleeping more.

Off the wagon and kicking myself BAD

replies: 3

I am inconsolable, I drank last night and let my partner down, I hate myself today, I only got through 7 days....

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hi Im new and I feel like a failure replies: 14

I don't know what's wrong with me replies: 2

friendly ghost replies: 3

Venting replies: 4

Hello replies: 3

New here and to anti D's. replies: 1

Hello to all replies: 3

Saying hi replies: 6

Depression and Schizophrenia replies: 2

Off the wagon and kicking myself BAD replies: 3