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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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Female "Functional" Alcoholism.

replies: 4

Good evening! I'd like to reach out to other females in late 20s / early 30s who struggle with alcoholism, but still manage to function (still have a career, family etc). I need support. And I'm sure others do too. 7 years ago I rarely drank, but I was depressed & anxious. For the first two years I unknowingly started self medicating with a "knock off drink to relax". Over those two years, a knock off drink turned into 2-5 drinks, 5-7 nights a week. I did seek help from my GP and a psych who recommended I start an anti-depressant. The anti-depressant helped, but I continued to drink. Essentially, one counter-acted the other and I thought I was "fine". 5 years on, I am still on the lowest dosage of my anti-depreesant, drinking everyday & 50 odd kilos heavier. I hate what I'm doing to myself, and have tried to stop drinking, and started dieting an uncountable amount of times. I know I should seek professional help. But I guess this is my first step: admitting it's a problem.

Pushing through the bad days

replies: 2

Hi! Ive been struggling all year with depression, but since my boyfriend dumped me it’s gotten so much worse. I find it hard to socialise with my friends because before depression I was a very happy, skilley positive person and it’s exhausting pretending I’m okay. I am finding it so hard to pick myself up and having self esteem. I want to know how to cope and also to feel like people understand what I’m going through

Just too sad

replies: 10

Hi, my husband has depression & has since we got together. We’ve been married 5.5 years. I love him as I have never loved another, he’s the love of my life. im walking away from the love of my life. He’s told me today that his condition is worse due to me. I’ve done what I can & yes, I react when he’s nasty. Low blow with me being the ‘cause’ & making him worse. I’m at my wits end & cant do it anymore. And will end up making him worse Think he will be happier on his own eventually. He’s happy around everyone else, not me. Thanks for reading. Just needed to get it off my chest.

New

replies: 3

Hi don't know what to do next completely lost. Just want to be part of something where I wont be judged

Not sure anymore

replies: 1

Hi I have been suffering anxiety all my life but it escalated 3 years ago when I had an anaphylactic reaction during a ct scan. Since then I am constantly afraid of anything health related from a bump I might find in my skin to my body mimicking a reaction or heart attack symptoms. Another thing that terrifies me is food poisoning and my kids getting stomach bugs. I am constantly googling symptoms and am struggling with day to day function. I used to drink to numb the fear but gave up alcohol 10 months ago which has made me feel these symptoms more. I have 4 children and have tried every antidepressant. I seem to have reactions to all. I am currently trying a new one and am not seeing any reduction in my anxiety. I have benzodiazepine medication but don’t want to get addicted. I am over being scared and want quality of life back. Any suggestions would be great. I can’t afford a councillor and I only have 2 sessions left for the year in my psychologist care plan which also terrifies me. I feel crazy!!! Thanks for reading.

Hello Friends

replies: 3

I am new to Beyond Blue, and to any forum like it, so forgive me if I get something wrong. As an introduction, because it seems only polite, I am a cold war kid who has never really been that stable. I have struggled and fought through addictions and paranoia, anxiety and depression as long as my memories go. Not to overstate my case, I am a healthy white middle class male with an education,.... perspective. I have two beautiful intellegent boys and a wife who is the most productive and creative person I have ever known and I love her dearly. seven or eight years ago I finally emerged from fifteen or more years a heroin addict. I emerged broken, and exhausted by what I thought was the battle of my life, naieve maybe to think that it would be downhill if I could get out. Of course "the ocean's just a desert with it's food underground and a perfect disguise above", to quote America. At least as a junkie my defect was obvious, it was never hard to find help. I find myself now in an even more desperate struggle to keep my head above water. So here is me waving to the lifeguards. I hope I can find a place in this community, Thanks friends

Hi, decided to start here.

replies: 6

I am Rebecca, and I need help. I have battled mental health issues for almost a decade, starting in early adolescent years. Depression and anxiety are my worst two.. I has been really bad in the early stages and received medical help at hospitals, from counsellors privately and at school, tried a few medications, and overall never had much improvement. I have short bursts of happiness but they are hard to get and keep. I got to a point where I could barely get out of bed, I would barely eat then binge causing a tonne of weight gain. I also went through a hard breakup, I am now back with the same man after a couple year break where we wanted me to try and 'find myself' and have the space I thought I needed. I have seen some improvement now with him but I realise this means my good moods are dependent on him. Recently I started my first full-time job, re-enrolled into University and started a sport. I overloaded myself to try and distract myself from mental issues but it made them worse, I have bottled things up and have recently lashed out a lot having large anxiety attacks and incredibly negative harmful thoughts. My partner isn't sure how to support me but wants to be with me and help me to get professional help. We have joined a gym to try and help with my mood and get me back to a body I am confident in, we also are working on improving our diet and cutting out bad foods and alcohol. I have such a negative and worried that if I go down the path of seeking help I will waste time and money and still see no improvements. What should I do to start my journey to recovery? Some tips would be wonderful because I am sick of wasting my younger years feeling beyond blue...

Hi. I’ve stumbled my way here...

replies: 1

I don’t know what made me come here. Maybe it was the need to be heard... or the need to be understood. I have always been highly strung and a little bit OCD- growing up I remember being the kid at school with the perfect pencils and the pristine books, nothing out of place. I never did anything wrong. Then, when I hit my early 20s and I was carefree! I loved to dance and have a good time and travel! Boy was I living life. But that’s also the time I started to notice little changes. I remember these changes seeping slowly into my life. The small things I had started doing that never used to bother me before. The getting anxious about a boyfriend not calling back, having a meltdown if the house wasn’t clean, over the top worry if my dog got sick, losing myself during a breakup. It was like anxiety was creeping into my life. I was hyper aware of my emotions and that was just the beginning. From there, things turned bad. In my chosen career I saw some things and went through a lot of emotional trauma, more than I think I should have been faced with. Some dark stuff. This heightened everything I was feeling. I started obsessing. These obsessive thoughts ranged from the simple: like a dress I NEEDED to have, to the intense: believing I was dying of some disease. Then the hand washing started. When I’m particularly stressed or uncomfortable, I wash my hands. I first realised this when my mother pointed it out one day after I’d gone to the kitchen sink for the third time in about ten minutes. The look of concern on her face told me everything. Something wasn’t right. To this day the hand washing has continued although now I use a bottle of hand sanitiser. Most days I rack up about 20 squirts in the period of a work shift. And it doesn’t stop there. I’ve been told I have OCD thought patterns particularly concerning my health. I’m always adamant I have some sort of deathly disease. A dark mole- melanoma, a sore underarm- breast cancer. Most of my health concerns gravitate around me dying of cancer. Ridiculous, right? Also very selfish. I am ACUTELY aware of how crazy I sound but when I am in “the moment”, nothing can make me believe otherwise. The anxiety is almost always there now. You know the truly shit thing? I spend my time worried sick over duing yet all of this is taking me away from truly living. It’s a catch 22. I guess I wanted to write to find some common ground. I haven’t found anyone yet that understands me. I don’t even understand.

It’s my fault

replies: 2

I feel down, miserable, and hopeless, I feel so alone

Eating disorder

replies: 2

I put my daughter in hospital again yesterday for her eating disorder as I have just had an operation and can't cope with her negative behaviour. I feel that I am having a nervous breakdown I haven't been able to get out of bed for weeks and was in a... View more

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Female "Functional" Alcoholism. replies: 4

Pushing through the bad days replies: 2

Just too sad replies: 10

New replies: 3

Not sure anymore replies: 1

Hello Friends replies: 3

Hi, decided to start here. replies: 6

Hi. I’ve stumbled my way here... replies: 1

It’s my fault replies: 2

Eating disorder replies: 2