Welcome and Orientation

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Sorted by:

Start a discussion

Mr magoo

replies: 7

Hi everyone I just joined and am not very good at computer stuff so bear with me.I get depression and anxiety.It sucks.I think talking to other people will help

Introduction

replies: 7

I am male, 20 years old. I have been friendless and socially isolated for the past five or so years, which has made me feel rather depressed. I have been unable to get a job, besides an unpaid volunteer one.

Its my 20th birthday today

replies: 4

Hi all,It’s my 20th birthday today. Spent the entire day crying. I’ve been reflecting on my life and everything I’ve done so far, but honestly, I can’t think of anything I truly feel proud of. Even today, I don’t have any close friends to share these feelings with or anyone I genuinely want to spend the day with. At home, birthdays have never really felt special, there’s usually low effort around them and the same thing each year, and when I ‘compare’ it to how my friends celebrate, it stings a little more. I know I sound ungrateful or even bratty for saying that. feel grateful for the things I do have. I am grateful for my family, for the opportunities I’ve had, and for the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It’s just I dont know why I feel really down. I think I just expected that by 20, I’d feel more settled, somewhat more sure of myself, more surrounded by people who get me. Instead I feel so lost and unworthy.

slipprey slope

replies: 3

I went to work on friday,feeling like i really didn't want to be there.Thats not unusual but when you are not well its worse.I called my wife at smoko and told her how i felt,she was great.I didn't want to go home because i think once i start it's too easy to just go home when things are getting to me.Anyway i got through the day and probably was happier i stayed.Felt like i had a win.The boys had beers after work but i usually don't because drinking alcohol is something that im avoiding for all sorts of reasons.Maybe the day will come when i have to knock off work early or have the odd day off but at this stage i'm ok.

Introduction

replies: 1

Hi, this is my first time posting to this forum. I am 21 and have endured a brain injury and psychosis. I've had to take medication, which has put me in a depressive state (slurred words, ability to function, etc). Luckily, I'm working with doctors and psychiatrists to get out of this hole that I'm currently in. Right now, I'm working hard to stay active. I like to do activities such as play golf and swim. This type of activity is not as heavily intensive, though I want to build myself up so that I feel 100% confident when doing these activities. Having depressive thoughts is like drowning. I feel like not enough people have an understanding of what it's like to have mental health issues and that sucks. That's the reality of the situation and the only thing that you can really do is move forward and try to stay positive, but be realistic at the same time, which is quite difficult to do. In my opinion, people with mental health issues require people with a deep logical understanding, emotional feeling and honest characteristics. Having people around you with these characteristics helps a lot.

Defined by who I am becoming, not by my past

replies: 4

Hello,Having only just joined this group, I am still finding my way online.My preference has always been face-to-face interactions because they help me feel more connected to others. But here goes Growing up as a teenager in the 80s, without social media’s pressures, shaped this preference. The constant comparisons and judgments that happen online today can really intensify mental health challenges.Even so, my childhood was dysfunctional, marked by family violence and ongoing abuse from my parents, which had lingering effects on how I relate to others as an adult. 26 years ago, I broke my silence of abuse and finally spoke out about my experiences, beginning a healing process that has felt like being on a roller coaster, full of highs and lows. This is because growing up, I became hypervigilant to signs of danger to protect myself from abuse, making it hard to relax or trust my judgment.As an adult, I still scan for rejection or criticism and am still learning not to overthink and overanalyse texts or people's words and actions, even pauses or changes in tone from others, which leaves me emotionally drained and disconnected from my own feelings and needs. I have come to terms with the fact that recovery is not something that happens overnight or makes me forget the past. Healing is not a straight line.For example, for me, it hasn’t been Struggle- Start therapy- Feel better and put it in the past. Personally, it goes like this for me..Struggle - go to therapy - learn a little more about myself - feel better - get triggered by something - feel low - forget what I learnt - struggle - therapy - sit with emotions - learn a little more - feel better- encounter a difficulty - struggle - avoid emotions - practice what I have learnt- feel good- until something triggers me once more. Now, I see this as an ongoing learning cycle. There will be both good times and tough times, but I accept this is my lifelong path toward healing and, most importantly, personal growth.Whenever I face something daunting, I've learned to let my emotions surface rather than bottle them up. I reach out to someone trustworthy, engage in therapy, or do something I enjoy. Later, I reflect and treat every experience as an opportunity for learning and growth. Rather than criticising myself when I stumble, I strive to be gentler and more compassionate with myself, and I’m grateful for the person I am becoming; someone who extends that kindness and gentleness to those around me. I remind myself that it’s okay not to feel okay sometimes; the key is not to stay stuck there. I make sure I have tools and support ready for those challenging days. Joining this forum is a daunting but new experience and I am eager to connect with others facing similar challenges so we can support one another.We are all worth the effort and worthy.We don’t have to be defined by what we have been through butWhat we are shaping ourselves to be.Survivors!

Alone at 57...

replies: 2

Hi. I'm 57. Married for 25 years. Two adult boys. Had a job since I was 20... except for being unemployed for eighteen months during COVID, after being made redundant from my job of 31 years.Always had trouble keeping friends. From high school onwards. It was a few years before the redundancy I realised all the 'friends' I had made really weren't. After being let go, suddenly there was radio silence. No returned calls, no replies to emails. Looking back, it had always been like that, using work to make acquaintances. I was an alcoholic for 10 years, it allowed me to forget. I don't drink anymore, it's been nearly five years. But the sadness and loneliness gets to me now. Unbearable at times. Sometimes I think I've had enough. When you don't have family you're close to, when your wife can't help, you wallow in your own mind. How do I change this lonely life?

House captain Rejection

replies: 3

This happened over a month ago, but I still feel salty and heartbroken about not getting house captain. What can I do to move on from it?

Suddenly feel insufferably lonely

replies: 57

this is how I feel right now, not sure if this is the best place to post this... these kinds of intrusive thoughts are scary, they are not the facts but they are linked to reality. Because I'm really lonely.

Lonely and Depressed

replies: 2

Hi new to this forum, I’m 56 male happily married with two adult children but no friends. 7 years ago we moved interstate and since then I haven’t been able to find new friends. I feel I’m putting a lot of pressure on my wife as she is all I have. I have lost both parents and have no family to speak to. My mental health has suffered in the last few years and was recently diagnosed by my GP as having depression and anxiety. I feel when people try to talk to me at work I just put up these barriers and want nothing to do with them. My physical health has declined in recent months with back problems, bowel and erectile dysfunction which doesn’t help my mental health. I just don’t know what to do

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Mr magoo replies: 7

Introduction replies: 7

Its my 20th birthday today replies: 4

slipprey slope replies: 3

Introduction replies: 1

Defined by who I am becoming, not by my past replies: 4

Alone at 57... replies: 2

House captain Rejection replies: 3

Suddenly feel insufferably lonely replies: 57

Lonely and Depressed replies: 2