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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

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New to the forum

replies: 6

Hi All, I am new to this forum seeking some support. Having depression and anxiety has been very self crushing for the last 10+ years. Work is had as well as life. Any guidance, thanks.

Heya

replies: 2

Hey, My name is Carter. I have anxiety, depression, bulimia, autism, gender dysphoria, and lately a lot of suicidal ideation. I suck at introductions, but I just wanted to say hi and thanks for having me. See you around

Hello! Newbie here. When did you reach your limit of faking it?

replies: 3

Hi everyone! Just looking for someone who understands what i'm going through. I have Anxiety and i think i may have depression also but i have not been medically diagnosed with depression. Every day is a struggle. I'm too scared to do most things. I panic about almost everything. It's exhausting. But somehow i get out of bed in the morning. I don't want to let anyone down and make them upset by seeing me down but when is it enough? The 'happy' face i put on most of the time is exhausting. And i can only do it for so long before i start to get frustrated and crash. Sometimes i don't want to be the one who cares so much or the one who makes everyone laugh or the one who has to fix everything. Sometimes i just want to be me and lay in bed and not think about anything. I go through these stages where I'm happy and motivated and so energetic and i get a job and accomplish so much for a few months and then i crash. I get so down and stop everything because i can't deal with it. I stop working and studying and it's almost like everything around me doesn't exist, like i'm an outsider in this world and i'm just watching everything pass me by with no connection at all. And then a few months later im back to being happy and energetic. It's all so exhausting.

Anxiety, depression and PTSD

replies: 1

Husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2016, died at home February last year. I found the grief extremely difficult. My husband bought a German Shepherd puppy 3 months after he was diagnosed for companionship and protection for me (we'd always had Shepherds throughout our marriage, so were well versed with raising them). My wonderful husband also bought him so I would focus on loving him, caring for him, etc knowing it would give me something to get up for in the mornings, rather than fall in a heap. After my husband died, our Shepherd became very aggressive towards anyone other than family members. I tried 3 different trainers, which actually made his aggression worse. He even bit friends who used to come over. Apparently he was a "fear biter" and had some major anxiety problems. I had him booked into the dog psychologist, but at the cost of $990 for a consult, I had to wait to get the money, which wasn't going to happen until the house was sold (had to sell as a requirement of the bank to satisfy the mortgage). After house was sold, it was impossible to find rented accommodation for a large German Shepherd and two cats. I ended up having to stay in a small caravan with the Shepherd, in an extremely busy, noisy, dog friendly caravan park, all of which were extremely stressful for the Shepherd, after having to give the cats to the council to try and re-house. We were in the caravan park for over a month waiting for the settlement money from the house to come through, to be able to get a rental that would accept a large dog. The Shepherd was becoming more and more anxious and distressed living in a small caravan and became even more aggressive and fearful. He then lost it and turned on me (something I thought he would never do). So I took him to the vet and they advised he would have to be put down. Then my anxiety, depression and PTSD blew out of control. I spent the past couple of months with the Shepherd going everywhere together, as I couldn't leave him in the caravan. I had a complete breakdown and am now finding it a lot more difficult to cope than when my husband initially died. Can't look at dogs, hear barking, go to parks, paddocks, forests, or drive the car, without completely breaking down. I couldn't eat, sleep and felt I had nothing left. I had lost everything that I loved. I then had a major 8 minute seizure, resulting in being fearful to go outside at all in case I have another seizure. Most days are really bad. Am struggling.

Medication support

replies: 2

Hello My anxiety started to get worse after a short stay in hospital several weeks ago. Hospitals send me into a meltdown. Because of prior hospital visits have been traumatic with procedures going wrong.I have started seeing a phycologist. My GP suggested I start taking medication. Each day the nausea headaches and feeling very warm at night were getting worse each day.I stopped taking them after 7 days as I was feeling very unwell.Has anyone else had this experience. Now my anxiety has become worse because of it. I have read that medication can take up to three weeks to leave your body. Because of my set back I feel at square one again nervous to leave the house.Any advice Thankyou

Hello. Thank you for having me here

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Hi I'm Ellie. I'm a Mum of one. I have always struggled with anxiety and depression, however it is getting worse. I have been sick for the past 4 years now and alas they finally found the cause which is great but I have to have both of my breasts removed. It's all I can think about. I can't sleep even on medication. I don't work at the moment due to my illness. I have been trying to exercise and do self help but it doesn't seem to be helping. And I guess I joined here because I don't feel like anyone I talk to at home is benefitting me in any way. I feel lucky because there are people worse off than me but the anxiety and depression just won't leave. Sorry, it's so gloomy. That's just my life and how it is I guess. Thank you listening to me. I appreciate your time!!

Hey there.

replies: 1

I'm Lynda and I'm not sure what to say here. I've got Epilepsy and am on a small 'cocktail' of medications which have some side effects, which include depression and anxiety - but I've been dealing with these things pretty well; until lately when I lost a long-time, childhood friend to suicide. My life just hasn't been right since May. I'm a writer and I'm unable to write anything decent - nothing past 2000 words - not even a poem. I'm also a painter/artist, but painting isn't a struggle. The last time I had anything like this was in high school and in my 20's. I've just turned 45 and don't want to have to force myself to go out, to socialise to be around people and pretend everything is okay when it's not.

Hello Friends

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Hi everyone Ill introduce myself by saying ive been a nervous wreck pretty much my whole life. I was diagnosed with OCD and anxiety at 12 and late high school depression hit me pretty hard which caused attendance issues, the attendance rate got to a point of no return so i signed out. Finally after years of doing nothing about it i want to actually do something and i believe this is the place to start and make some friends. Cheers guys

Psychosomatic Disorders

replies: 3

Firstly I read the article here of some years ago on this website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/treatments-health-professionals-and-therapies/mind-body-medicine-and-mood-disorders#qdLUv3HzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A From personal experience over a very long period of time I would say the article is quite accurate. In the 70s I went for banks of tests for pain around the kidney area, neck pain, headaches etc. All negative, and obviously stress related. In the current millennium it's my feet -- always only one foot that becomes so painful that I can't walk without some assistance. I've had all the medical checks, which are always negative. Amusingly, an X-ray once totally cured the afflicted foot instantly; in fact I walked out of the facility without any assistance. This, of course, was that either consciously or sub consciously I knew the X-ray would render nothing, and my cerebral network seemed to agree. The symptom didn't return for years. But it's back right now -- and yes I have been trying to repress anxiety and anger over everything from corporate bureaucracy to the stress of driving on roads now dominated by aggressive and reckless drivers, to problems that impact on my family -- and even my own boredom and lack of motivation. I suppose the annoyance is that long ago I visited a very good psychiatrist -- a professor who specialised in hypnotherapy. He taught me self-hypnosis. This is extremely useful for my insomnia, and I've reduced all the procedures to simply imagining a void -- no conscious thoughts -- and next thing I'm off to sleep. But I can't seem to get it to work for the foot. Does anybody know any physical or cognitive exercises that can convince by brain to tell my foot that there's nothing wrong with it -- or do I have to go and get another X-ray?

Always being run down

replies: 1

My first hello here and just a small excert into my life. Hello everyone, my question when does hurt end? I burried mum yesterday went to work today, tried to console someone that i had not talked to in years and I was rejected at the funeral. I called a family member to tell them mum passed away, placed 2 ads in the paper, arranged the funeral, moved mums stuff on my own from the retirement home, tried as a son to pick the best cloths for mum to wear etc, organized everything all details, did the booklets myself etc and I forgot to tell them the funeral details. Tonight I coped it for not telling them the details. Then add to this I coped a situation from my partner and when we argue, I am always told how inferior as a son I seemed to be, or my children are causing this or that. I am trying my best, but lately after all my mixed life has been through, I'm tired of crying. My entire life has been hurt in one way or another. Just wondering is this just what life really is all about? I'm tired I've being told to suck it up.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

New to the forum replies: 6

Heya replies: 2

Hello! Newbie here. When did you reach your limit of faking it? replies: 3

Anxiety, depression and PTSD replies: 1

Medication support replies: 2

Hello. Thank you for having me here replies: 2

Hey there. replies: 1

Hello Friends replies: 5

Psychosomatic Disorders replies: 3

Always being run down replies: 1