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

Struggling in the mornings

replies: 8

Hi I’m new here, not so new to this dreaded depression though. Not sure why I get this but I can’t seem to get out of this black hole in the mornings. All I do is cry and drag myself around the house to do the odd job. I just increased my medication so hopefully it’ll kick in soon. I have everything to live for, beautiful kids, lovely family and two gorgeous dogs but do you think I can drag myself out of this blackness? What the hell is wrong with me!!! Sorry to be a whinger, but really struggling.

Feeling homesick at home

replies: 2

Just battling. Feel alone so that's why I joined the BB group. Feels like depression gets worse with age. This bout of depression just won't lift. Guess I am reaching out...

Hi all

replies: 2

Hi all I'm new here, I've been diagnosed with HA, CPTSD and depression. I have great days and then not so great days (much like today). I've joined as I really need some support. Thank you.

Hey Everyone, I'm new here.

replies: 3

Hey. I'm new to the website. Not sure what to say really. Looking forward to talking to everyone here.

Just saying g'day

replies: 11

Hello I'm Dave and I'm new here, It's taken alot of time and courage for me to get to this point. I've made it to 30 years of age and never reached out to anyone so this is slightly uncomfortable for me. After reading about other people's struggles a... View more

New life as a single mum and not dealing with it aswell as I thought.

replies: 4

Hi so I'm new here., I'm 29 years old. A few months back I broke it off with the father of my 2 boys who are 1 year old and almost 3 years old. About a month before that happened I was diagnosed with Bipola Type II. I was put on mood stabilizers antidepressants a bit later on. Their dad was diagnosed with PTSD as a result of his upbringing so I guess you could say it was tough for both of us trying to adjust to life on new medication. But then again it made me realise alot about how our relationship hadnt been workinf for a long time without realizing it. Anyway kids and I moved into our new place. I couldnt be happier, medication was working out well. But their dad rather then being the dad he would atleast try to be left it for long and longer stretches of time before hed see the kids, made a point he generally didnt care about spending time with them and just turned out to be down right difficult in the end for no reason what so ever. I never did any wrong by him except for the fact I didnt want us to be together anymore as a family because I was sick of our toddler seeing us fight. Anyway so I thought I had this new lease on life with a new beginning and was buzzing for the first month being in the house.. then I realised I was actually feeling really damn lonely. My mum and I are really close and shes my number one support.. we spend alot of time out of town at her place which is great to get out of the house.. but the problem is shes abit of a drinker. Well while going out there I started drinking more and more with her, when wed get tipsy wed both get dinner ready for the kids, get them ready for bed and have them in bed at their regular bed time so I didnt see a problem. Well after a big drink the next day the hang over would hit and I'd be riddled in guilt.. it just didnt feel right or fair that I might end up doing the same thing to my kids that my mum did to me growing up always being around it and having to deal with her hangover the next day. For my bipola I'm on antidepressants aswell as mood stabilizers.. and I swear one of them just makes me down the drinks really bloody quickly. Well today really hit me, I was in tears for a good hour just saying to myself this is it. I'm done. I cant do this to myself anymore. I rang my mum and confessed I have a problem.. All I need to do is concentrate on getting a good sleep and being positive for the kids because the meds are great it's the alcohol that's ruining everything.

Hi

replies: 2

Hi everyone. Thinking I might need a little help. I am a mum with 3 teenagers and am newly separated. Thought I would be happier but I am just miserable. I can’t get up on weekends and dread them coming. Not sure why! I feel a sense of loss and hopelessness, silly I know because so many people love and support me. I am teary all the time but I am also the best pretender in the world and seem out going and happy when I can actually get out of bed. My kids are fabulous and want to help but they are teens and have their own crap going on. What is wrong with me? I feel like I’m going totally crazy. I just want to get up and move and keep pretending but I can’t get up 🤪

I’m tired of trying and pushing myself hard

replies: 4

Hi, I’m new here. I am unsure if I am just exhausted or upset or depressed. I have not seen a doctor. I feel like I am so tired of being busy with work kids and house work that no matter what I do or how hard I work, things are not getting better. I have high aspirations for my kids and myself and I work very hard to get them. However, I feel that I’m pushing myself hard but I am not getting anywhere. My responsibilities are draining me and i am starting to feel weak and upset that I’m thinking my hard work is not enough. Perhaps a bit more luck may help make things easier for me. I know I need to stay strong for my kids. I need to feel better and get going.

Welcome to my Anxiety-Depression recovery story

replies: 2

Greetings everyone! I’ve been suffering from depression and anxiety for all of my teenage years and until now (20 years old, studying at uni), self-medicating with alcohol and avoiding getting any help. Some time back, I completely lost control of myself, so I even struggle to picture a couple of months of my life, like you do with dreams from which you only remember a couple of memories. Then, I almost got hospitalised. I’ve been able to talk my way out of it. But it was followed by another couple of foggy months of my life, where I started visiting a psychologist and was finally diagnosed with social anxiety, and depression growing on top of it. Things got significantly better then. I’ve had my ups and downs. But the downs were not as crippling as they were before. A couple of weeks were truly magnificent, but then it was followed by sort of boredom and emptiness, which I was feeling in most of my good days any way, so I could not complain about it. One night, one dream, and I woke up feeling broken. Such a familiar sensation. I felt it not that long ago, for some hours of questioning if my recovery was going to last. But the doubt was quickly leaving and letting me enjoy my life again. I felt like I might have actually healed, like all the painful thoughts have left me. But now I know I didn’t, I know I will have to meet them again and again. Almost a week this painful melancholia coexists with me, taking all my energy away. These paragraphs must be the longest I forced myself to concentrate this week. I got an appointment with a psychologist coming up, almost perfect timing, so, hopefully I will have some advice how to prevent another semester from turning into an academic disaster. And if you got anything, that would be nice. Thanks for attention

Anxiety and my relationships are suffering

replies: 1

I am reaching out for support because ive just come back from leave at work and have taken two mental health days already ... there is a problem I keep avoiding. I feel like I’m pushing away everyone. I am 21 and live with my brother who has severe depression (sometimes catatonic) and mother who is very detached from me. I don’t really contact my father because he is absuive and was never involved in my life. I have a really supportive boyfriend but I am terrified to burden him with my feelings of worthlessness and anxiety because he is so normal. I am avoiding his family because he lives in the family home and for a while I lived there, but they are very critical, fixed in their beliefs and intrusive, I am a private person and it makes me anxious to be around them. he begs me to come visit him at home but I feel extremely unwelcome by his parents and brother’s girlfriend. I worry I will say something to offend them if I try to respond to their criticism. I have been working full time with a second job just to avoid interaction with anyone in the house, his family, and avoid social events. I never see friends because of work and anxiety. Last night I couldn’t sleep and called in sick for work at 3am. I’m feeling more and more unsafe everyday. I wish I could live with my boyfriend again but he is still studying, so we are waiting to move out when he finishes school... I see strengths in myself and enjoy working and have goals. But I feel like I cannot make lasting relationships and especially find the biggest stress in my life is his family, because I don’t want to hurt him by avoiding them but it drains the life out of me when I see them!!! I think they hate me and my own family as well

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Struggling in the mornings replies: 8

Feeling homesick at home replies: 2

Hi all replies: 2

Hey Everyone, I'm new here. replies: 3

Just saying g'day replies: 11

New life as a single mum and not dealing with it aswell as I thought. replies: 4

Hi replies: 2

I’m tired of trying and pushing myself hard replies: 4

Welcome to my Anxiety-Depression recovery story replies: 2

Anxiety and my relationships are suffering replies: 1