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

Hi, im Dylan.

replies: 6

I wasnt sure if i should do this, but here i am, so i might as well give it my all. I am Dylan, a 39 year old guy from the northern tablelands of NSW. I have lived with anxiety and depression since i was 17, and i suppose i am here because i am always trying to find new ways of dealing with this condition. I am hoping to find a network of individuals who might understand what it is like to live with severe anxiety, so that maybe we can share solutions and techniques to getting relief from this condition. I am not sure what else to say at this moment, other than, i guess, if anyone has advice, or wants to talk about their anxiety, i am here to help in any way that i can. Thanks, Dylan.

Hi there

replies: 1

Hi I’m new here and very anxious to post but have ended up in the forums as I tried to use the online chat after my partner suggested it, and it wasn’t currently open. I need to talk to someone, anyone... I’m 37 and I have gone through a separation earlier this year. I also have a 2 year old son who currently comes home 2 nights a week with me and then the rest of the time he is with his dad. This is simply due to me working part time to keep afloat financially. I feel like my ex is manipulating me still but I don’t know how to even begin to ask for a bit more time with my son and it’s really hurting me a lot as I miss him. I am sure I have PTSD as my son was born at 24 weeks and was very unwell and in hospital a lot at first. It may have contributed to the downfall of my marriage, I’m not totally sure. I have a new partner now who is amazing but I’m now having issues communicating my feelings with him and it scares me. I have a long history of mentally abusive partners and I am scared I’ve shut down due to my past. Umm what else? I have a business which is failing due to the separation and it’s making me scared as I love it and don’t want it to fail. I literally have no idea what to do or who to talk to as I feel like this is just the tip if the iceberg with me. I also have a horribly unsupportive immediate family and no friends who I trust enough to talk to.

Introducing myself

replies: 4

I’m a 53 yo female, 6 years ago I was raped, last year I got the courage to finally report it, I’ve been diagnosed with ptsd, anxiety, adjustment disorder, I also crps (complex regional pain syndrome) from an unrelated injury, I have a great councillor, we are doing scheama therapy atm, I find it so hard to trust men, there are only a few men I feel safe with, the last year I have felt safe enough to start dating again, i thought I was doing ok, once I get close to a guy the anxiety creeps in, fight or flight mode takes over, Panic attacks, I’ve dated 2 guys, they both ran for the hills when I put up boundaries to protect myself, Both times I was open and honest with the guys, told them that I was raped, it’s really hard to find a guy who understands what trauma I went through, I’m wasnt asking for sympathy or validation, wasn’t asking to be rescued, just understanding and a safe place to land

Hi

replies: 3

Hey, I guess I might as well introduce myself. I'm trying to find somewhere where I can discuss my mental health issues in a safe, non judgemental environment but it's difficult. Having BPD with co-morbid ASPD means that the things I want to get support without being lectured about how dysfunctional my amoral approach to life is. It's tricky because minimising my traits means I can't be honest about the level of my psychopathy, but on the other hand being open about my thought processes etc means I am going to be banned. So, does anyone have suggestions of places where I can be honest without incurring the wrath of others? TIA

New guy on the block

replies: 3

Hey everyone, hope everyone is well. Not too sure what to put here but I’m guessing I’m in the right place with finally working out that I have a problem with excessive worry and doubt. Hopefully will be on the right path soon to get it sorted. Any q... View more

New here

replies: 4

After suffering anxiety and panic attacks for the last couple of months, my psychologist recommended a few other support websites for when he is unavailable and I chose this one.

New on here, feeling blue

replies: 2

Hi everyone, I'm new onto this forum and have only just registered with BB online. Cannot describe on here how I really feel, not sure what to say. Feel alone, hopeless, I don't feel like myself. I know there are things going on in my life that may have triggered this, but I've never felt like strange before. Will talk to someone on the online chat maybe, don't want to say too much here. need to talk though, with people who are not friends or family.

Newbie

replies: 3

Hello, first time on here. Don't know where to start really. I feel like I've hit rock bottom and am struggling to deal with so many issues and emotions at once. Firstly my daughter is recovering from major hip surgery (she's 5), she starts school next year and my partners job may be about to be made redundant. We live on a farm which means we will have to find somewhere else to live as well by the 7th January. I have no family close by and feel like l deal with everything on my own, also have a 2year old boy.

Newbie suffers from Bi Polar Type 2 question re: work

replies: 5

So anyone else on here suffer from bi polar type 2? If yes, what type of work do you do. Before having children I was a personal assistant, apart from being pregnant and that messing with my hormones. I was pretty good at it. Had good routines in play. Cue having children, thryoid problems. Now I haven't been in the workforse for 10 years. I have uni degree. I have completed a short term course recently but I became hypermanic. Then crashed into depression. My depression lates around 4 days. Then I can get out. So what type of work do other bi polar type 2 people do? I know I can't do night shift.

Never Give up

replies: 2

Hello every one, I am a health professional and public speaker, it is my pleasure to join beyond blue today, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all beyond blue staff and volunteers for the great work that they do and make difference in people's life, men's mental health is neglected for ages, it is good to see that people are now talking about men's mental health and organisations like beyond blue is playing an active role. '' This is a message to anyone and everyone who have suffered from a mental illness, who is suffering from a mental illness or who is at risk of having a mental health issue- Guys you are not alone and there is millions and millions who have this problem- But the good thing is that the illness can be cured, it might take few days, few weeks, few months and even years, but do not get disappointed and never-never-never give up, work your way up to where you want to be in life, you can do it, I can do it, anyone and everyone can do it, Lets join the club and beat mental health issues. Good luck " Thank you

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hi, im Dylan. replies: 6

Hi there replies: 1

Introducing myself replies: 4

Hi replies: 3

New guy on the block replies: 3

New here replies: 4

New on here, feeling blue replies: 2

Newbie replies: 3

Newbie suffers from Bi Polar Type 2 question re: work replies: 5

Never Give up replies: 2