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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Another newbie ..

replies: 4

Hi all,, as the title suggests I am indeed new to this forum. I’ve been unwell for around 15 or so years, only JUST grabbing the bull by the horns last October where I was diagnosed as having Major Depressive Disorder with some Borderline Personality traits. I’m currently taking medication prescribed by my Psychiatrist and I must say it has taken a load off. Also currently engaged in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) once a week. Has anyone else here been through DBT? Has it worked for you?? I’m pessimistic about me ever being better,, but hey, who knows?! Anyway, hope to hear back from people who identify with my diagnosis and would like to talk further ...... Cheers.

Im new.......

replies: 3

Hi everyone, Im new to this forum thing.. I have been suppering from depression and anxiety as part of other mental health issues since i was pre-teen.. im now in my late 20's. It has gotten somewhat better over the past couple of years and i quite often kid myself and everyone else about how well im doing.. Today, after a normal day, i just couldnt hold it together any longer. I cried and cried.. cant remember the last time i let myself do that.. so im here.. because i need support and dont know where else to go for it.... So im giving this forum thing a go. I need to tell my story even if no one reads it... i just need an outlet because it scares me to think what would happen if i continue to kid myself... so once i work out this forum thing i will share the bits i need to get off my chest and read the stories of others in hope of feeling a little less alone. Thanks for listening

I don't know how I've stood this long.

replies: 3

Hey, this is something I should have done years ago but. I've not had the most pleasant life. Ever since I was small I was in and out seeing psychs to have me diagnosed with autism, but that's honestly only minor compared to what else is wrong with me. On top of that I have lived with narcissistic parents and a sister who have verbally abused me all my life for the most minor things, and also physically too when I was a child and teen. I've been on meds all my life, and my mother seems to think I'm an uncontrollable beast without them. Lately I have thought back on my child psych who said she strongly thought I was bipolar too, but my mother vehemently denied it could be possible. Now I am not so sure. Thanks to her I was afraid to ask questions or delve into things lest I face a punishment. I still live with my parents now, who in their old age are getting even more abusive - throwing objects, hitting me, controlling my lifestyle such as turning off the internet when they're angry, and never believing anything I've had to say. Perhaps thats why this took so long. I feel so voiceless. Recently also I've been growing extremely tired and lethargic, and not sleeping for days. Recently I was punished for not going out with my support worker as I took night meds I originally stopped taking because they put me in deep sleep to try to get some sleep for the day, I woke at 7pm that night and extremely incoherent. And did they believe me? No. My internet was cut again. When I fall into depressive states and self harm, they often encourage me to hurt myself more. My mother also likes to cry wolf and say she is being abused whenever she is asked simple questions that she doesn't want to answer. And the cherry on top is that I am a transgender male, who, due to this toxic living situation, cannot come out and get the support I need. My mother has told me that basically she will accept me but only if I don't transition. And that is not what I want. I've had many thoughts of suicide over the years as well as silent, unnoticed attempts, how I am still alive today is some miracle. But not all miracles can last forever, and I may be at the end of my tether. Please, my walls are crumbling.

Alcohol and anxiety and depression

replies: 1

Hi I self medicate by drinking WAAAAY to much alcohol. And I wonder is this having an effect on my anxiety and depression? I think it does so I am trying to stop but am scared of the consequences as I am about to start a new job. I tried an AA meeting but they are more about hardened drinkers and I don’t think I am there yet. What advice can people give before it is too late ?

Lonliness

replies: 1

Hi All, I have recently moved to the city after a break up and living in the country. Despite the amount of people in the city, I am lonely. I have my beautiful children but they have their own lives. Has any of you had a similar situation? Thanks, B... View more

Jem42

replies: 17

Hello, I'm new to the site, and am feeling isolated at the moment, and thought this possibly was a good place to have a chat with people in the same position.

G'Day

replies: 3

Hi men, I was here a few years ago when all the discussion started about women joining the men's sheds. It all became too heavy back then so I left and quit the shed I was in. What was the outcome? Are girls now allowed to join sheds? I'm looking for somewhere that is a male only support network, is this it? If not where do we go? Sorry if any girls are here and reading this but some blokes just need a space of our own - seems there are thousands of women only support forums where men aren't allowed but very few for us? Anyway hoping this forum is just for blokes and we can open up on here. Cheers all.

Hello

replies: 1

Not sure what's wrong with me but it seems I'm making my family miserable, especially my husband. I feel empty or broken or like an open wound inside but I don't know how to fix myself.

How do I help

replies: 3

Hi there. I'm not sure what forum to join or where I should be looking for help. My best friend is at his wits end and is bottling everything up. He is so highly strung it's like he's a volcano about to erupt and I'm worried that he feels like he can't turn anywhere for help. He doesn't speak up about many things because when he does those closest to him turn things around as if it's his fault and he gets blamed so he's given up even trying to speak his mind and just lets everything slide. It's building up more and more inside him. He has tried to talk to psychologists but finds they don't help. Is there anything I can do or suggest to him that could help?

I'm new, not sure how this works

replies: 3

Hi, I'm new to this so thought I'd give it a try as per my doctor's advice. I'm 22 and in my 5th year of a double law degree, I have always suffered from stress. I've always been a 'worrier' however in the last 2 years I've seen a shift away from worrying. I feel very low all the time, I worry to a point that it is debilitating, about anything and everything. Strangely I am an incredibly outgoing person so I find it hard for others to understand my personal struggles. For the last year I've had trouble sleeping. Sometimes to the point of maybe 1 hr solid sleep a night for around a week during really stressful periods. This month I have cried daily, I feel as though I have accomplished nothing (most of my friends are in full time work, and I know logically this is due to my degree but I can't shake this feeling). I stay up almost all night watching the clock, ironically worrying about how bad my day will be as I haven't slept enough to the extent it keeps me up all night. I also meticulously track everything about my days to try and alleviate my symptoms (from exercise, to water intake, sleep, if i've made my bed, tidied my room, taken my vitamins, etc.). I finally had a snap and I went to see my doctor. I told her everything, how overwhelmed I feel, and she diagnosed me with anxiety and also prescribed me with some low-strength anti-depressants to hopefully help me sleep. I am really upset as I spoke to my mother about this (she already swayed me from seeing my doctor because 'everybody has trouble sleeping'). Her response was "That is very personal and antidepressants can be viewed negatively and misjudged. Nothing to be ashamed of but people are judgmental". This has made me even more stressed as I always have had incredibly close and supportive friends, and now she's made me anxious about people seeing me differently. Has anyone had similar experiences to this?

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Another newbie .. replies: 4

Im new....... replies: 3

I don't know how I've stood this long. replies: 3

Alcohol and anxiety and depression replies: 1

Lonliness replies: 1

Jem42 replies: 17

G'Day replies: 3

Hello replies: 1

How do I help replies: 3

I'm new, not sure how this works replies: 3