Welcome and Orientation

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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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Saying hello, is it safe ?

replies: 6

Hi I have just joined this site today. not sure if anyone can hear and ever reply a msg?? I want to find something as I am struggling. I hope it’s safe and secure here... don’t know what to write here. Maybe start a hello first ?

New mom, moved to rural town, lonely... scared I might be depressed

replies: 2

First post. Need advice. After marriage 3.5 years ago moved to regional city in Oz from big city in Canada. Left family, firiends and a good job I loved in my field to come to Oz to a city where my partner didn’t have friends or family. After a few months I managed to make some social connections through new job and activities to help me settle down. Last year fell pregnant and due to complications end-up on medical bed rest from 5 months onwards. ‘At that time partner decided that he needed to specialise, so applied for a training program. Just after I gave birth, he found out that he got into the training program, but it meant that we would be moving to a small rural town 7 hours away. He moved first and 6 months later I joined him with the baby. After 3 months here, I know I’m lonely...just scared I’m becoming depressed... we will be here according to my husband for at least 5 years... I haven’t left the house, except to do groceries, we are a 1 car family so it is difficult for me to explore as we live on the outskirts of town (public transit is not available where I live), suffering from insomnia (started when I realised we would be moving), I used to love to garden, but now I’m scared to go out, for fear of encountering snakes, don’t really feel like doing much around the house, taking care of the baby, cooking & chores seem to take all of my time. There are no jobs in my field in this town, so I won’t be able to make friends that way, I’ve searched the nearest playgroups ( as I need to socialise the baby) and they are too far away for me. I’ve come to realise that all of my social connections since the move have been via the internet. I put on a happy face, but when I’m alone I cry often. The only thing keeping me sane and content is the baby. Husband has a stressful job, often works 6- 7 days a week,and is only home for 2 hours before falling asleep. He isn’t much of a conversationalist... just too tired. I skype with my friends and family, so that I have some sort of conversation daily, but I feel helpless with regards to my situation. I’ve tried to talk to my husband, but he is focused on his stresses. ‘Looking for advice on how to make friends in rural Australia so that I can have some sort of connection.

Help

replies: 1

I’ve gone from having attacks once everyone blue moon to literally having them all day everyday for no reason at all. I’m taking medication and have been doing for 10 years. Would upping the dose help? I feel lost!. I’m a tradie and recently started a new job i don’t feel like I can speak to my boss about it. I’m so tired of feeling like this it’s exhausting! I’ve tried listening to relaxing music and medatation nothing works I freak on public transport aswell as I feel trapped!! Any one got any advice please thansk

Back in black

replies: 6

Hi all My first post here - guess I'm much the same as you all - just needing a little support and to know that others understand what I'm going through. Doing it a bit tough at the moment. Trying to work full time and hold down a pile of other responsibilities and obligations. Coming apart at the seams somewhat. Anyway, thank you for reading. I hope I can make some valuable contributions here also.

ALB

replies: 1

this is not easy for me, i need to find people who have ways of coping, so i can maybe find a certain way that might suit me, i have p,t,s,d, and suicidal depression,

OCD - Ignored it for a long time

replies: 1

Hi, im a 30 yr old guy happily married and father to 3 gorgeous girls. Im an old fashioned gent. So much so that i push of all my oddities and issues aside striving to be my idea of a perfect father and provider. For far too long now i have had this issue scurrying its way around my head filling it with self doubt and loathing. Not to mention the constant and monotonous checking of locks. Even though i know quite rightly that ive just done it!!!!! And the worst part for me were the occasional images that would pop up in my head of horrific things happenning to the ones i love, as if my mind is asking me "how would you feel, imagine how they feel?" The older im getting the more unspeakably harrowing these little snippits can be. Well for the first time in about 10years i finally spoke out. Last week we talked about my compulsion of picking my nails, the constant twitching and need to pick at the skin around my nails, one which is aweful to look at, looks deformed. For as long as i can remember ive been doing this without any thought. I have never put all of these oddities together. After researching i found that im not a monster, im not evil i have OCD. So this is my first step, reaching out to the world. It would be great to chat to other people with similar issues and advice.

New here & shy to post

replies: 1

Gday , I'm new here, I joined about a month ago and have been reading a lot on this site, it's been pretty helPaul, I have what might be a silly question?...... How do I go about changing my profile name / nickname thing? T.I.A

Newbie

replies: 2

To be completely honest, the need to register for this forum scared me, i thought once I finished school and got myself a couple new jobs i'd be instantly happier and the way i see it, I should be. I lost a lot of friends moving away from my old town but I also moved a lot closer to my long distance girlfriend (now a 40min drive as apposed to an hour boat ride plus hours on a bus). I managed to get 2 great jobs right up my ally and joined a gym that I was enjoying heaps before my depression and anxiety started crawling back. As you can probably tell, i'm a very busy person but my girlfriend and the few friends I stay in touch with fail to understand this. As a result, tension has been constantly building between my relationships and countless arguments spring from it too. I struggle to find time to fit everything into my schedule so I need help prioritising my time. I've signed up to find some help with coping from all the stress my life holds at the moment and hopefully form some new friendships with understanding individuals. I look forward to hearing from some of you, thanks for taking your time to help welcome me

ugly

replies: 10

Hello , Just got the courage to get on this site , i'm a 52 year old male and even though my life might seem ok to people i can't escape the thoughts in my head of feeling ugly and useless everyday

Hello everyone. I am new!

replies: 8

Hello everyone, I am new! I am not able to find sufficient support from the people around and my depression and anxiety has gone worse this week... I turn to this forum to find help and support. There seems to be lots of resources here. I should toto... View more

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Saying hello, is it safe ? replies: 6

New mom, moved to rural town, lonely... scared I might be depressed replies: 2

Help replies: 1

Back in black replies: 6

ALB replies: 1

OCD - Ignored it for a long time replies: 1

New here & shy to post replies: 1

Newbie replies: 2

ugly replies: 10

Hello everyone. I am new! replies: 8