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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Stuck on the "Merry Go Round"

replies: 2

Hi new to the forum, my first post. "Stuck on the Merry Go Round," unable to get off. Always tired, fatigued, dizzy, head aces, and feeling nausea, I have no trouble sleeping. I doze off most of the day. At work, while driving my car, in the train. When I finally get home I drop into bed. I only have time for around 4 to 5 hours sleep. each night. (Adds up to only around 20 odd hours a week). Then a little like "Ground Hog Day" I start again for the next day doing the same old. I always look forward to my week ends I hibernate, a marathon sleep from late Friday night, and usually wake up Sunday lunch time. It does not make up for my lack of sleep during the week. However like a real bad hangover, I still feel fatigued and dizzy coming out of it.(not quite refreshed) Ready to start again Monday morning. Into my third week. Feeling both very depressed, and anxious at the same time. My health has started to drop ( I worry about my diabetes. insulin dependant and my asthma control ) If I don't manage to crash my car while traveling to work, I am sure I will have a full on break down instead.(Mental), Developing poor self esteem in my self. Feeling worthless.My mind has gone into lock down, procrastinating as to what I can do next. It feels like being in "Shell shock". You would think the answer would be simple...... Jump off the "Merry Go Round". At my Age being over 60 it may not be easy to find another job? My sudden spiral into my depression started with my employer moving me. Very suddenly from a work site closer to my home. I live country Victoria - Gippsland. Now to a different work site over 150 Km's away in the Melbourne CBD. The difference. Is time travel, and extra working hours. My previous site I worked 8 hours, with only 1 hour trip (or 2 hours a day, which is just OK) In a Car. With my sudden change. I now do 12 hours Shifts (No lunch or tea breaks allowed) Compulsory over time. I travel from country in my car, catch a suburban train to the city, tram, walk. 3 hours. (or 6 hours each day). Each day I have to get up at 3 am to start my day. Arrive home around 21:40. Why I am in such shock? My employer gave me no notice of my sudden move, or any reason? I was advised I could be sacked if I did not do the move or overtime requested. I Just cannot believe this is happing to me? My employer shows no empathy to my situation. Has any one else have had this happen to them? With their employer? If so what did they do? Any one have any ideas?

chronic pain and depression

replies: 4

i cannot get relief from pain and cannot deal with it after 25 years. kate

20yr bored lonely frustrated virgin

replies: 5

Hello I'm bored and lonely and the future scares me. I am diagnosed with mild Autism and am currently isolated in a small town. I've always been shy and awkward which has made it hard for me to connect with other people. I used to have a tight group of friends in Primary School but we somehow drifted apart the first year of High School, I haven't really had a real friend since grade 9. Somewhere along the line, I became a more reclusive person and stopped communicating as much as I used to. I tried hanging out with other groups but for whatever reason, We wouldn't end up friends. I used to be a class clown which would give me attention but that's all they would want from me. Looking back now, I get depressed and angry with myself, they say that HighSchool is normally a time full of memories but to me it's just a blur. I'm bored and lonely w

Anyone else feel like this?

replies: 3

Hi all. Obviously, this is my first post here and really, my first post in a public space talking about my mental health problems. I have been dealing with them for some time. Most of the time, I feel I have them under control and deal with life stuff pretty well. Other times, I do not deal with it that well and close up, sit in my room and stick to myself. I do not drink alcohol and I do not do drugs of any type. I just thought that I should clear that up first. In fact, I am a believer in strength in the mind and take a significant amount of philosophical influence from Buddhism. But hey, I guess sometimes even Buddhism is not enough! More often than not, I do not even really know what is bothering me. When I feel down, I just feel anxious, confused and unmotivated. My one child and my work is what keeps me going and what I always focus on when I do have bad days. But lately, things have been getting on top of me again and I guess that is why I have turned to the BB forums for help. Actually, not really help. But just to talk perhaps to a few people that experience the same feelings that I do.

A place to start

replies: 3

Hi there this is my first time on any forum and I am so grateful to find a place to speak. My 26 year old son has a multitude of complex mental illnesses all insuffiuciently treated and made worse by his initial use of illicit drugs and now alcohol. He has been diagnosed with bi polar and suffers very deep depression as part of this. His anxiety and paranoia have become so inhibiting now that it makes it really hard for others to engage with him even when they want to. He is also deeply confused/unsettled by his sexuality. He currently identifies as bisexual however says that means he feels excluded from straight and gay communities. I am very worried that now he is blaming people in general, he says he hates people. Yet with all of this he has an almost heightened awareness of who he is and at times tries really hard to get himself out and about. He is pretty good with his medication however will not consistently see a health professional. He has an ok relationship with our GP. I just feel so out of my depth on how I can help him. He talks to me probably more than anyone else and I am so not qualified to help him in what are some seriously complicated things. My biggest fears are that he will do something to himself or someone else, but also I can't bear the thought of him having to live like this for the rest of his life, he is literally a tortured soul. My beautiful strong intelligent and creative son has become a complete other person. I know I cant get him back and I have moved on from that. I am desperate for him to find a space where he can feel good about himself, safe and able to live a good life. We both need help now - he obviously needs better mental health care and I need help to manage my fears and to know how I can best be there for him. I just don't know where to go from here. I hope this might be a place where we can start.

Cass

replies: 5

Hi this is my first time I think a forum is so useful for passing on experience to others as we all have a wealth of knowledge and can learn from others as we are all on a journey that has ups and downs and be there for others with respect, hope and ... View more

Anxiety and being a mum

replies: 3

2 years ago when I was 9 weeks pregnant we lost our house to a house fire which began a whirlwind of stress ( moving with animals, insurance, first pregnancy, now legal battle with insurance, traumatic birth, daughter sick when born etc) my daughter is now 11 months old and we are planning on moving back to our old home. I believe I suffered post natal depression ( undiagnosed) but as my daughter was colicky, she wouldn't sleep for the first 6months ( which heightened the depression due to lakkcnif sleep) and still struggles to nap at times. I find I am getting anxious and stressed at every nap time and not sure if this has just manifested form everything that has happened and continuing to happen. My daughter is happy, healthy and beautiful but I just can’t seem to allow anything to mess with our daily schedule in fear of her missing a nap and not having the oppprtunity to nap as I stress that she will start waking at night and this won’t allow me to sleep and rest. Any advice or anyone who has experienced something similar.

Hello Im new here

replies: 28

Hello ive been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and ptsd, and im feeling really alone even when around other people. im in my early 20s and I hope to meet some others who might feel the same way as me.

Introducing myself

replies: 3

Hi all, My name is Max, i am supporter and advocate towards raising awareness for mental health. As a person who has been living with anxiety for many years i feel the time is right for me to get involved in the community to volunteer my time to assist in any way i can. Communication and my nurturing personality are two of my strong points. Im hopeful i can assist with this great organisation. I am more looking forward to being more involved with Beyond Blue.

New and trying to make sense of things that don't

replies: 7

Hi, I'm Zoe, and I guess I'm new here. Well, I guess I don't really guess. I'm just having some troubles at the moment and somehow found these forums while venting some questions into google. So I'm here now. Anywho, so I'm 17 and nearly at the end of school. I've literally got 5 weeks to go until I finish. I've finished all my QCS, I've finished pretty much all my major exams, and now all I've got is some small school tasks to tide me over until graduation. I've got my formal on Friday, and I've got everything sorted for next year. So it really doesn't make any sense now that I'm struggling so much with school. We came back from holidays at the beginning of last week, and then on the first day I bit my lip so much my entire face swelled up (I'm not a regular lip biter, so this was quite out of character). That allowed me to avoid school on Tuesday as I had to go see my GP (the swelling freaked Mum out a little), and then I was back on Wednesday where I had several panic attacks and my anxiety levels are through the roof. I'm not even getting into assignments here. Just being here is freaking me out to the point where I'm not sure I can make it through the day. I missed Thursday and Friday last week (Thursday due to an event, but Friday due to mostly avoidance), and today I've been hiding in the bathrooms for as long as I can because I'm really not coping and I hate people seeing me cry at school. I've literally got to put up with this place for 5 more weeks, and it's terrifying to think that I might not finish over something this stupid. I've had my ups and downs with mental health over the years (Saw a psych for 2 years through headspace although haven't seen them since the beginning of the year, been on and off medication), but this level of anxiety in a spot where I should be having none is freaking me out. Does anyone have any advice? Zoe

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Stuck on the "Merry Go Round" replies: 2

chronic pain and depression replies: 4

20yr bored lonely frustrated virgin replies: 5

Anyone else feel like this? replies: 3

A place to start replies: 3

Cass replies: 5

Anxiety and being a mum replies: 3

Hello Im new here replies: 28

Introducing myself replies: 3

New and trying to make sense of things that don't replies: 7