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Sophie_M 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 Be... View more

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.

Aaronsis 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 th... View more

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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Guest_8790 New person
  • replies: 8

Hello I am new here. I am not sure where to start but first off my name is rustic because I am old and feel stupid. I have had major depression anxiety and a form if agoraphobia for years. I am on meds so tho k I should be ok but every now and then d... View more

Hello I am new here. I am not sure where to start but first off my name is rustic because I am old and feel stupid. I have had major depression anxiety and a form if agoraphobia for years. I am on meds so tho k I should be ok but every now and then do and say stupid things and end up putting people off side. I am sick of my inner critic tell g me I am stupid and saying wrong words. how can I stop my stupid thoughts from happening. I am sorry if I don't make sense.

Wayno70 Looking for guidance, people to talk to,
  • replies: 2

Hi all Im new to the site, even though I looked at it for a long time. I have been struggling deeply with my life and what it is I am meant for for a long time. Whether it is my work, my finances, my wife being sick, it just all gets to me and drifts... View more

Hi all Im new to the site, even though I looked at it for a long time. I have been struggling deeply with my life and what it is I am meant for for a long time. Whether it is my work, my finances, my wife being sick, it just all gets to me and drifts my anxiety and depression in and out of control. Somedays I struggle so badly, then some not so bad. It can hit in and instant and I find it hard to come back. I have tried not to blame others for my misfortunes, I try to except responsibility for all my actions, All my mind wants to do is run...

Hope4Us Anxiety & depression - I’m in such a dark place right now!
  • replies: 5

This is my first time to this forum. Im totally lost right now and don’t have anywhere to turn. I suffer from anxiety and depression but have been travelling ok until the last week or so. I’m now so down I can’t get out of bed to go to work which is ... View more

This is my first time to this forum. Im totally lost right now and don’t have anywhere to turn. I suffer from anxiety and depression but have been travelling ok until the last week or so. I’m now so down I can’t get out of bed to go to work which is making me stress more.

Jay-Li-Bee Hello, reintroducing myself after life got in the way.
  • replies: 1

Like the title says, some events in the past and present have led me away from getting some support, until much recently. While some things have changed for the better at the moment, there are currently too many downs that are weighing on my mind tha... View more

Like the title says, some events in the past and present have led me away from getting some support, until much recently. While some things have changed for the better at the moment, there are currently too many downs that are weighing on my mind that make it hard to appreciate that as well as stay motivated to keep improving. And it doesn't help that I know "future me" is gonna regret this and berate me for doing this but with my current state of mind at the moment, I just want some help without bothering my friends. Nonetheless it is nice to meet you all. Hopefully anyways, hahaha.

Lauren_C Always thinking about the worst scenarios
  • replies: 9

Hi there, I’ve just joined this chat thread because I felt I needed an outlet. I’ve always felt I was a bit of an anxious person growing up, but it seemed to always be energy that I could use to be proactive and achieve things. A couple of years ago,... View more

Hi there, I’ve just joined this chat thread because I felt I needed an outlet. I’ve always felt I was a bit of an anxious person growing up, but it seemed to always be energy that I could use to be proactive and achieve things. A couple of years ago, I had a great life - until all of a sudden my fiancé suffered a nervous break down and left me very suddenly. It was unfounded and I never received answers. I was in complete shock because of it, but managed to get myself back on my feet with a lot of therapy. Immediately after that experience, I started rationalising that anything bad could happen (given I was so blind sighted to my fiancé leaving). For instance, I convinced myself that I could be terminally unwell. I could easily recall on the emotion of ‘shock’ that I felt during this time - so I started attributing that feeling to ‘worse case scenarios’. To summarise: The truth is, if there’s is any percentage (even 1% chance) of something bad happening... I envision it. And it’s like I try to mentally prepare myself for it to happen. To feel ‘more prepared’. I am mentally axhausted and I just wish that I had more control over my mind.

Chris4 Agrophobia chris
  • replies: 6

I’m new, just logged in, cna you please direct me to the forum where I may find support for agrophobia, thanks , appreciated, Chris

I’m new, just logged in, cna you please direct me to the forum where I may find support for agrophobia, thanks , appreciated, Chris

Rambini Health anxiety and heart palpitations.
  • replies: 1

Hey guys, So I have been suffering from anxiety for a few years now. I have had a couple episodes of heart palpitations that would make my heart race off like a rocket which is very scary at times. Now, I’m at different stage and a whole load of stre... View more

Hey guys, So I have been suffering from anxiety for a few years now. I have had a couple episodes of heart palpitations that would make my heart race off like a rocket which is very scary at times. Now, I’m at different stage and a whole load of stress because of my father ill health (bloody cancer). I’m experiencing the sensation of where my heart skips a beat/ fluttering. At night, I’ve even lost sleep a couple of times because the skipped heart beat wake me up and it lead to tachycardia. I haven’t had the skipped heart beats before and it’s quite recent. I want to know what have people done to reduce them from happening again or stop them. I’m open for any advice and many thanks in advance.

delio New - health anxiety, cancer survivor
  • replies: 4

Hi, just joined the forums. I have been having significant health anxiety over the past few months. I've always been somewhat hypochondriac, but then almost 3 years ago my worst fears came true and I was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 33. ... View more

Hi, just joined the forums. I have been having significant health anxiety over the past few months. I've always been somewhat hypochondriac, but then almost 3 years ago my worst fears came true and I was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 33. Thankfully I'm in remission, but since then have suffered from two life-threatening complications from the cancer treatment (pulmonary embolisms), the last one 3 months ago. I was mentally doing pretty well up until that last one, thinking everything was behind me, but finding myself back in hospital really rattled me. Since then I've been going through a revolving door of doctors and specialists as I'm now paranoid every little symptom I experience is something deadly. I spend half my day googling symptoms. I just had a gastroscopy last week due to a constant lump in the throat sensation. I was convinced it was throat cancer. After nothing was found, the gastroenterologist (who was the same person who diagnosed me with bowel cancer in 2016) sat me down and gently explained the common symptoms of anxiety, which include a sensation of a lump in the throat, and suggested I talk to someone. Right now I am feeling short of breath, which I am trying to tell myself is just another symptom of anxiety. I am going to speak to my GP tomorrow about the shortness of breath and about professional counselling, but I am hoping to connect with some other people on this forum who are suffering from anxiety and hopefully learn how to overcome this and be able to think about my health more rationally. Thanks for listening!

mr magoo better today
  • replies: 4

got rained off work today,every cloud has a silver lining.Sometimes it's hard to see but i take a win when i can get it and thinking about it there is often alot more positive things going on than we realise.Best wishes to everyone on this forum Mark View more

got rained off work today,every cloud has a silver lining.Sometimes it's hard to see but i take a win when i can get it and thinking about it there is often alot more positive things going on than we realise.Best wishes to everyone on this forum Mark

Lozenger Newbie looking for like minded people to chat with
  • replies: 2

Hi, so long story short I have battled hard with depression, anxiety and panic attacks for as long as I can remember. I have been on various antidepressants for around 13 years, I am now feeling like I am strong enough to ditch the medication that I ... View more

Hi, so long story short I have battled hard with depression, anxiety and panic attacks for as long as I can remember. I have been on various antidepressants for around 13 years, I am now feeling like I am strong enough to ditch the medication that I feel is making me feel worse and begin to fight this demon head on with a clear mind not blocked by the medication. Yesterday I saw my doctor and I have started to wean off medication. To say I’m scared of what I will face is an understatement, but I’m ready, dedicated and determined! Is anyone else starting the same journey? Would love to chat! Thanks for your time