Welcome and Orientation

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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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New to forums. Multiple addictions and depression

replies: 3

Hi. I have had many addictions throughout my life. Starting in my early teens I used drugs, alcohol, relationships and anything else I could think of, to make myself feel better than what I was feeling at any given time. After getting married and having children, My was was telling me that I was depressed. A marriage therapist said it was because of my drinking and chronic pot smoking. I went to rehab a few years later for the depression and the drug use. It was here that I learned about emotions for the first time. I had only ever felt good or bad. I couldn’t describe any other emotions. I went to hospital three times for a three week program each time. Each time I would get well enough to get sick again. I had 18 years without alcohol, but I relapsed on drugs every time. My addictions are varied and many. My depression has been my normal feeling since my teens and anything that makes me feel better is a potential problem. I wasn’t depressed from drug and alcohol abuse. I was an addict because I had depression. I am currently drinking and drugging and struggling with severe depression. I need help once again.

Depression/Anxiety and alcohol.

replies: 5

Hello. I have been living with depression/anxiety for 15 years now. We all know the symptoms and challenges that come with living with these diseases. I would like to know if anybody else is impacted by having a couple of beers. I have now got to a point where i can have 2 or 3 light beers and for the next 3 or 4 days i feel like crap. Depressed, crying and really unbalanced by the simple pleasure of drinking a couple of beers. Its not the medication as i stopped taking them a year ago after 14 years. Would love to hear from anyone else that may be affected.

Hello

replies: 2

Hi, just saying hello. This is my first time on a forum. I suffer aniexty and found out about beyond blue. So I thought I would give it a go. Looking forward to joining a community that understands.

No one can help me but me.

replies: 9

Hi everyone. I've recently come to the conclusion that no-one can help me but myself. I was diagnosed with depression about 10 years ago, however, I feel I've had it much longer. Now, though, something has changed. I feel so much worse. I have asked for help so many times, but just can't find it. I was referred to a Psychiatrist and that has left me even worse than before and now completely broke. That took every penny of my savings and has left me in debt. I feel that they have tossed me aside like rubbish beside the road. I feel that every time I ask for help, I just don't fit into the 'box' of people that can be helped. The lovely people I've spoken to at Lifeline, Beyond Blue and Community Mental Health have been fantastic, but their hands are pretty much tied. I'm sure they would love to be able to do more, but they just don't have the resources. So I either help myself, or I get worse. There is no help to get if I can't pay for it. I don't have the strength to keep asking for help.

HELLO I'm new here

replies: 2

Thought to try something, I feel very alone

Newby

replies: 3

Hi everyone, im new to this group, I suffer anxiety big time. I’m not sure I’m in the right place and feel quite vulnerable so will just ask a broad question firstly I have a very big problem with my daughter in law of 8 years hating me and it’s brea... View more

On-line support. Is it legitimate?

replies: 10

Hi all. My wife suffers from anxiety and depression to a debilitating extent and is desperate for help. Right now she seems to be at a bit of a low ebb. She found a web site 'healing-anxiety.com' and asked me what I thought. On the face of it it ticks all the boxes and certainly speaks to her. My concern is it's just a scam to get money out of vulnerable individuals, but it could also be a life saver? I can find no reviews at all and wondered if any of you guys had come across it in your quest to defeat this thing. Thank you.

New to the forums

replies: 9

Hello everyone, this is my first time posting here. Normally I'm quite good at handling my problems but now that I'm older (28) and some things have changed I am really struggling at the moment and thought joining and posting might help. Last Tuesday my boyfriend of a year broke up with me. It isn't the first time he has done this but unlike the other it wasn't out of the blue. The few weeks I knew that things were not great between us, fighting all the time, him choosing his friends over me, being less tolerant when I tried to communicate. But all the same it hasn't hurt any less than my other break ups and it doesn't help that he did it over message while I was at work after we had a fight that morning and took all his stuff from our apartment aside the essential furniture (bed, fridge, etc I moved in with him as I was still living with my family). I've asked him to block me on everything as I have this awful habit of going and looking at his social medias and trying to change his mind even though I know its not going to work. Anything related to the apartment goes through my mum. But yesterday as I was with her most of the day I got a hold of her phone and started messaging him. He said he doesn't love me anymore and never wants to see me again. It really hurt to read that. I think that's why part of me does this kind of thing as I am in denial. We will be vacating in the 21 days and my mum and sister are helping me look for a place. My sister lives on her own and I can't live with her as it will ruin our relationship which is already fragile and I can't with my mum as I don't want to ruin my relationship with my step dad (It was very strained while I was there). In the meanwhile I'm stuck at this apartment with all these reminders of what me and him shared and it just hurts so much. I can't stop crying and if I do it's only for a few minutes at a time and don't leave wherever I am sitting at the time. My mum and sister said I could stay at their places until I move but I would be further from my work which is a new job as well so I'm worried about finances and also I would have to keep coming back to feed my pets. I know people say to go out with friends but most of my friends are busy with their own lives or they are far away. It didn't help that my now ex went through messages and didn't like me talking to certain people. I'm just really struggling with loneliness and I'm so tired of crying. Thank you to whoever takes the time to read this.

New To BB

replies: 2

Thank you for allowing me to join, my name is Patricia I am married and we have a fur child. I have had issues my whole life starting snd seeking a community of people who understand.

First time here

replies: 6

Hi there, This is the first time I have posted here. I have anxiety,depression and chronic pain & find I feel better when I am able to express how I am feeling or what is worrying me. I have good professional support and understanding. I'm posting today as I am going through a period of high stress which is affecting my anxiety. My week has been quite emotionally draining and today I feel "unwell", I am extremely fatigued, my appetite decreases when I am like this & I feel nauseated, which I hate, my thinking and responses are slow and I'm just generally slow - can someone share with me, their experiences of this?. I try to exercise as I know it is good for mental health, but it is so hard to get going and what types of foods are good for mental health/easy healthy meals, I find it is quite easy to reach out for sugary/fatty foods & I want to change that. Does anyone know of some websites I can go to. I do practice mindfulness and stretch, but even today I have been a bit slack, but will so some after this, just so tired presently. Thank you for your assistance.

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

New to forums. Multiple addictions and depression replies: 3

Depression/Anxiety and alcohol. replies: 5

Hello replies: 2

No one can help me but me. replies: 9

HELLO I'm new here replies: 2

Newby replies: 3

On-line support. Is it legitimate? replies: 10

New to the forums replies: 9

New To BB replies: 2

First time here replies: 6