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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Finding CBT online sites

replies: 2

My psychiatrist has suggested I look into online CBT sites through Beyond Blue due to my current struggles but I don’t know where to start. Any suggestions based on positive outcomes?

New to this...

replies: 1

Hi there! I'm a 29 year old girl who has been dealing with anxiety and depression since the age of 17 (13 years.) I was medicated for 10 years but have just recently come off medication- as I don't want to be on it forever. The past few months have proven to be really challenging as I have been experiencing major fatigue and trying to cope without tablets. My mood has been very up and down- major mood swings but they are starting to settle down. It's proven to be quite hard on my family as I seem to snap a lot and I just can't help it. The guilt and worry also comes after my 'snapping' and am really hard on myself as I feel so bad that I have yelled at one of my family members. I seem to stay in my comfort zone and stick to the same things all the time. I just want to be carefree and content! However I do accept my anxiety- I know I can't fully get rid of it as it is a 'surviving mechanism' as my therapist says. I would just like my anxiety to be not so magnified and prominent. I am very hard on myself- I'm tired of myself most of the time. That all sounds very sad, I do have my good days!

New to this

replies: 1

Hi all felt like I needed to be around people that in a way understand where Iam coming from I am new to beyond blue but have knowing about it for a long time. I am a former addict 15 years on speed I’ve been clean now for 6 years but have only now started to deal with severe anxiety and depression issues I’ve been seeing a professional psychologist for the past14 months in this time I’ve gone through a marriage breakdown and many other things that come with being like this. some days are better than others but I feel like I need to share my story for myself and other people that might be going through the same thing.

New to this but been surviving since 14 . Depression, anxiety

replies: 2

Just started this, I thought it would be a good way to meet and discuss same topics. Besides my partner and some friends don’t talk about my illness. Keep it hidden at work. Brendon

Introduction

replies: 2

Hi my name is Carolyn and I am a End of Life Doula and a Funeral Celebrant. As I have experienced the lost of my mother in April 2017, I experienced all the emotions associated with it, hence my new career. Watching my father in different stages of g... View more

starting again, again, again

replies: 3

Hello I've just joined this website. I've been a single parent for 15 years - I've been living in Australia for 15 years and emmigrated with my ex-husband all those years ago because he wanted to. A few years in and I discovered he was having an affair and eventually he left. My children at the time were 2 and 5. Over the years I've handled the best I can but I have no family here and no old friends - and being Sydney, friendships have come and gone and few have stuck. I feel I've lost touch with all my old friends in the UK. We've only been to afford to go back twice. Now, with my kids 16 and 13, I've got more time to myself and realising how lonely I am. I'm dreading Xmas, as I always do. Dreading being on our own, again. I've just grown so cautious of people who are married because of the way I was judged and outcast in the past. I really want to be part of a group of friends I feel I can be myself with - but I just don't know how to make that happen. I'd love to be in a relationship, but even though I put myself out there, I can't seem to find any one suitable. Would love to hear of success stories from other single mums x

Needing some advice on a broken marriage

replies: 5

Hi, I am new to this forum and hopefully will find some advice and understanding. I have been feeling trapped in the past few years, where in my marriage my husband has lied to me on many accounts in terms of finances and also chatting up women online that are strangers. As a result he is in a large amount of debt and there is constant lying from his end and broken trust. I have confronted him on these things however he is in denial. He is on antidepressants and seeks conselling. The option of seperation is not ideal as we have a young child. Most days i feel stressed and overwhelmed with sadness and anxiety. I was looking to join or start a support group in my local area but dont know where to start. Need some advice also on how to start.

Introductioney

replies: 1

Hi! I'm currently a high school student up in Queensland, and have been looking for a forum to find other people to talk to about LGBT topics and share experiences, or just to chat about recent events, memes, etc. I've been experiencing gender dysphoria recently, for about 1 and 1/2 years, infact. I'm currently seeking help in the form of counsellors and hopefully some sort of official documentation to recognize my "transness". I am attempting to transition from male to female, and am looking for a place to express myself and talk with others.

Newbie

replies: 3

I want to learn more abt mental health so i can help myself and friends

Hello, I am new.

replies: 2

Just wanted to say hi

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

Finding CBT online sites replies: 2

New to this... replies: 1

New to this replies: 1

New to this but been surviving since 14 . Depression, anxiety replies: 2

Introduction replies: 2

starting again, again, again replies: 3

Needing some advice on a broken marriage replies: 5

Introductioney replies: 1

Newbie replies: 3

Hello, I am new. replies: 2