Welcome and Orientation

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Meet your community champions!

replies: 13

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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First post

replies: 2

Hello everyone, I am new here. I am 18 and bisexual and have been dealing with lots of stuff currently that consistently make it difficult for me to maintain my mental health. I am taking a gap year and am feeling an immense social pressure to get a job, even though the remoteness of my local area make it hard to do so. My friends all have jobs and I feel lesser than them. My parents are in quite a volatile relationship, and through their constant fighting I have been experiencing heavy anxiety and intermittent panic attacks for the last 2 years. All of these factors are intertwined and are so complicated, but I don't want to drone on for too long. I have stumbled upon these forums and tons of people here are so positive and uplifting so I thought I might post something and give it a shot. If you've read this, thank you. I hope you're having a lovely day. -E

Newcomer ready to discuss my journey and my intent to heal

replies: 2

Hi all! I've been lurking since pre Xmas because that is an all time painful period for me. Thankyou all for posting and keeping me linked even in a non participant way. I have been suffering various anxiety related issues, bouts of severe depression, confusion and grief due to a successive series of traumatic events that seemed to accumulate with no relief in between. I was taken into a group of domestic violence recipients, but soon voluntarily left the group because I did not want to reinforce the "victim" mentality. I was soon thrown to the wolves in the Justice system where I was humiliated and revictimised. The domestic violence centre initiated a personal care worker during this time as they had warned me worse was to come based on my exes profile. I didnt believe them. I thought my gift was my freedom, but that was far from the truth. My child has been at Headspace for years, and not much result. I am seeking help from other sources now. Any ideas on healing from trauma. Drugs are not an option.

New here

replies: 12

Hi everyone. My first post, though not new to the world of crippling depression, anxiety and agoraphobia. Though I’ve spent most of my life undiagnosed and dealing with it as best I can. In recent years it’s become almost unbearable and we’re it not for my three children, I doubt I would be here today. I agree with those on here that for some people nothing particularly seems to help (yes I see many professionals and am on medication and try everything I can to try to feel better) - but I now have to accept that it will always be there and that most days will be a battle to simply keep putting one foot in front of the other. I am curious as to what things keep others from giving up?

hi

replies: 3

hi i’m new here and this is stressful hi

introducing myself

replies: 2

Hi my name is bubbles18 .I have depression and anxiety it has affected me in many ways including my work , home life. And also with my family. I have six children,ranging in ages from 25 to 5 years old.two have move out and started there next chapter... View more

Butterflies in the stomach

replies: 5

Hello all, my name is Peter. I've joined the forums in order to find some information or advice on how others cope with or perhaps have found a way to deal with the dreaded butterflies (Adrenalin). Cheers.

If life was a game i would have reset or turned off the console already.

replies: 2

Not sure what to write, so will just summarise my interpratation of the problem. Four years ago at the age of 26, I moved to Australia with my partner, with high hopes for the future, but all those hope and the advantages I once had have burnt away. Now with the oasis of plans, ideas and hope I once had a barren desert, I have no idea what to do any more, with each passing day of feel increasingly closer to a point of no return. If life was a game i would have reset or turned off the console a while ago; now I feel like im waiting for life to do it for me. From being natural fiercely independent when I moved here; having grown up always feeling a little isolated, growing up; bi, dyslexic and a little on the autistic spectrum, all of which forced me to be reliant on myself as communicating my need to others always seemed the harder of the two options. I now feel I’ve completely lost who I once was. Having not been able to secure a job for the past 4 years, I feel like my once promising career prospects are now in tatters. As my personal savings burnt away I became entirely dependent on my partner, (who although I’m entirely grateful for having in my life) I now feel both trapped with, and internally humiliated by the position I’ve let my self-end up in, especially when hanging out with friends, as when people by drinks or other things that cost money my only option is to look towards him for ‘permission’. I now dread the idea of hanging out with other people and actively avoid it where I can. I feel completely ashamed of how my life has turned out; despite having privilege and opportunity others did not, I’ve somehow made an entire mess of my life. I both long to be numb to reality on a daily basis by getting absorbed into inane or pointlessly stressful activate (nothing terrible or too self-destructive, just nothing that helps though), or getting completely lost in overly dramatic or dangerous games that put my relationship and other things at risk; just to provide some contrast to the aching sense that everything is messed and I no long no how to fix it. I’m not entirely sure what I’m hoping for by posting this here, but as every other ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ goes dark…. my think is ‘why not give this ago’. Kind Regards to all that read this post, Scott

New to sharing about myself

replies: 2

I've hidden my struggles for so long, I don't know how to share. I never share. I even attempt to keep my face and posture calm all this time. Anything I say may sound self-pitying. I realise much of my anxiety is not based in reality but it fuels my struggles with depression and hopelessness. I have reached a significant low now and can't see my way out. What I should be doing is editing my thesis. Instead I just spend hours staring aimlessly out the window. Even the process of writing this short paragraph down makes me feel sick. It feels terribly pointless.

Anxious the sign of the past

replies: 1

I do know what it is like to be anxious and unknown, unstable. I am 31 and female, a single mother and sometimes help can seem abroad. It is hard to ask for help in a certain circumstance and sometimes we do not 'want not need' the advise although if... View more

Introduction

replies: 3

Good morning; I'm a newbie to this forum. I have been reading a lot of your threads, from the carers of family or friends with depression. I have found those experiences very resourceful and beneficial to my own experiences as a wife and mother of a family with depression, anxiety disorders, sensory disorders, intellectual disability and autism. I am a positive, organised, proactive wife/mother/student however; sometimes I need reassurance and support amongst yourselves who, understand the on-going exhaustion of caring. Thankyou for sharing your challenges and triumphs. I hope I will be able to contribute as well. Kind regards Chelsea.S

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

First post replies: 2

Newcomer ready to discuss my journey and my intent to heal replies: 2

New here replies: 12

hi replies: 3

introducing myself replies: 2

Butterflies in the stomach replies: 5

If life was a game i would have reset or turned off the console already. replies: 2

New to sharing about myself replies: 2

Anxious the sign of the past replies: 1

Introduction replies: 3