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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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I thought I had beaten depression

replies: 2

Hi All, I really appreciate anyone taking the time to read this, just the idea that someone is listening is comforting. I had a battle with depression a few years ago and thought I was over it, I hadn't felt this sadness and anxiety until now. I had lost a number of family members to a natural disasters overseas, but the deaths that hit me hardest were the 3, 5 and 7 year old nephews who I had helped raise and saw as younger brothers. I was 21 at the time and the day I got the news was the week of their birthdays, I had kept their presents ever since. I felt so sad, anxious and unsure, it was easily the worst time of my life, but with the support of the one councillor I felt comfortable with, and some medication I got through it. Last week my house was broken into and I lost everything, but I only cared about those presents. I am having those negative thoughts again about myself simply not being good enough. I am feeling the survivor's guilt again and I am scared, it almost ruined me last time and I don't know where to turn too. I have a loving family and extremely close friends but I don't think they can understand and I like to keep my things private. I know they will help but I feel like a burden, I can't help it. I find the local councillors unreliable and very patronising so I can't turn to them, hence why I am on here. Maybe I need to vent, I just don't know. I feel really okay with my friends in a social environment, but the second I am alone those thoughts come back, why should I live and they not, why am I so lucky? I should stress I am not suicidal in the slightest but the guilt is messing with me and I don't know who to turn to, so I thought I'd see the community here. Thanks for listening.

First timer - Stuck in a rut

replies: 2

Hi, I have had anxiety / depression for about 2 years now, associated with a difficult relationship with my boss. I have been on medication since being diagnosed, and although this helps me keep going to work, I am still very up and down in my emotional life. At the moment I am feeling quite anxious / angry / despondent, but mostly feel that I am stuck in a rut - getting no joy out of life and just going through the motions. I have stopped looking after myself in terms of exercise and eating, and although I usually get a bit slack in winter, I can't be bothered doing anything to change my thinking or approach to life. I have a supportive family and colleagues and a couple of friends, but I have a nagging suspicion that the way I choose to be for these people is part of the issue, and that I am not really being my try self - but I don't know what that is anymore. I have also had some counselling (CBT) and although I can identify some of the ways I think "erroneously" it does not change my reality very much. I am scared about trying to get a new job as I am in my late 50's and want to retire in a year (as agreed with my wife). But I think I have some concerns about not working too, as I love the challenge of my work - I just want to do less of it, and work for someone who respects / appreciates me. I see that others on the forum have similar issues, so I know I am not alone. Currently I am just trying to pace myself and hope that things will get better as the weather warms up and a few of the current work / life stressful issues are solved. So I guess I am looking for ideas on how to start to get better again. Thanks.

1st timer-where do i begin?

replies: 1

HI. Unsure if I should be here and don't know how it works really. Feeling overwhelmed/worthless on a daily level. Married man 15+ yrs (2nd time), 2 kids, seem stuck in a rut. I seem to always see the negative in everything before the positive. I guess I'm a moody stubborn old fart. Things have not been going well lately at home and work. I feel embarrassed and ashamed at things happening to me recently. I am smart enough to realise I have depression but and most likely OCD but can't bring myself to go see my GP or seek any help. I have used work counselling previously but the generic responses I got did not help my personal circumstances in terms of daily changes. I'm financially crippled due to child support of kids from 1st broken marriage and have NO friends at all. I am very socially withdrawn and only know work colleagues. Each day seems a struggle but I don't see things changing. I'm at a loss what to do.

The same old story

replies: 2

Hi everyone, I just want to see if anyone has been in a similar situation to me, and has overcome it in some way. I hope this isn't too long so someone actually reads it. For as long as I can remember, I have been depressed. I never really tried to seek help, as I didn't really understand my problem till about my early 20's. I am now 30. I have been on and off medication, I usually just stop taking it because I don't know if it's working or not. However I am currently on medication, but I will probably stop taking it soon. My childhood was fine, not really that remarkable in any way, no traumatic experiences. I had friends in school, and while I did not try in any way (I've never studied), I completed year 12 with pretty good results. I went on to work at Aus Post for 10 years, which I resigned last year. I was making roughly 100k a year (I managed to rise up the ranks very quickly), but I was so unhappy, so I left my girlfriend and my job at the same time and moved away. After school, I moved into Sydney to live with a friend. I also began working out (I was really skinny) and really buffed up. I worked out religiously for about 3 years, then I stopped. As time went on I slowly lost nearly all my friends (they lived far away). I do find it hard to make new friends, because I am a terrible friend. I make no effort to contact or organise anything, but when people are in my company they seem to like me. This lasted for about 2 years, then I fell out with my final remaining friend because of something I beat myself up every day for, which I won't go into. I have no goals, no ambition or drive to do anything. After I quit my job, I thought I would try university. I arbitrarily picked a subject I hoped I would become more interested in, but I always find it hard to be interested in anything. I am really struggling with university, as I have no drive to study. Just today I missed my first practical, and tutorial (I can only miss 2, and this is week 2) because my sleep pattern has turned to shit, and I'm awake all night. I cannot get assistance from the government for Uni fees, so I had to pay all my fees up front, which was the last of my savings from my job. I cried when I looked at my bank account and all my savings were gone. This was really embarrassing as my girlfriend was here. I am lucky in some ways, as I know I'm not a bad looking bloke because I've somehow maintained a bit of my muscle. When people are in my company, they seem to like me.

Hi

replies: 10

Hi Just a brief introduction of myself. I'm a quiet, nature loving, very introverted, mother, wife and grandmother, who stays physically healthy, but is currently having, very mentally debilitating, relationship issues.

Cycle of sadness to depression to anxiety to panic

replies: 1

So. I don't know if I will stick round the forum or BeyondBlue page for long, because I feel like opening up my emotions to how I feel will lead me to a total meltdown but I also feel like I need to talk to someone. Feels like I am bringing down my partner by telling him how dismal my outlook is at the moment. Nothing is really wrong. I guess adjusting has been hard for me. I don't like my job and we just spent two months overseas travelling which was great. We don't live together so I'm feeling really low about my rat race 9-5 routine and never seeing my partner only on weekends. Understand that I'm not one of those partners who doesn't have a life outside their partner either. I have more than a few hobbies arts and crafts and dancing and drawing and sewing. Half of our weekend time together is doing our own thing just at the same house. i also have more friends than I know what to do with but only a couple of real friends. I work in finance and I really find it the most boring thing in the whole world. I don't know whether to tale a break and find a more 'fun' job I am passionate about or to just bore myself for the next two years and take my long service leave. Plus my money is really good. Like I can rent my own house alone good. And go overseas every year if I wanted to. My job is flexible too but the time I am here (40 hours a week) I just am so un-engaged I hallucinate people sayign things and almost fall asleep in my seat. The doctor has given me a script to see a psychologist (psychiatrist?) one of those to screen me for attention deficit which to be completely transparent, made total sense to my partner my parents and my brother and sister. They've said I was ADHD for years. My friends are all really into partying and going out and I'm kind of not really into that anymore. Binge drinking and other stuff, I am really not keen. I've been trying to figure out how to take this next step from I guess young adult to proper adult but i don't know how to. I always promised myself I wouldn't grow up and that I would always have fun but life isn't fun anymore. People always think I am happy because I always have a buzzing energy but inside I feel like I'm falling off a cliff. But it isn't every day. Some days I am over the moon at life and happy (maybe 2/3 days a week some nights after work even at lunch sometimes the sun is high and I am ecstatic to be alive) the rest of the time I occasionally wish I was dead. I'm just trying to find happy me again?

Social anxiety in the workplace and group settings

replies: 3

Hi everyone, My name is Ben, I've just turned 28, and I've hit a point where I'm struggling to figure out where to go in life. I feel I have a large mix of underlying issues that I'm not exactly sure of or how to fix, and I don’t know how many other people are struggling with the same issues that I have. I’ve had issues with social anxiety for as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled to make and hold on to friendships – I only have one friend I keep in regular contact with, as well as intimate relationships where I’ve only had the one girlfriend which lasted about 18 months. I’m in the process of questioning whether I’ve made the correct career choice as well, as there seems to be pressures on being social in the modern workplace. I’ve also been experiencing depression for the past couple of years, and my motivation for doing particular things, such as doing physical activities, tasks around the house, cooking, and the things I used to like, has been steadily dwindling. While I am good at what I do for work, I believe my introverted and quiet demeanour damages my reputation, and over time I feel as if I become less and less noticeable. This is the same in social events regardless of whether it is work or otherwise, I always get anxious when I’m surrounded by people I don’t know. I can have a one on one conversation with someone without no problem, but as soon as more than one person comes into the mix I tend to shut down and remain silent. I don’t know when to politely interrupt or join in the conversation for fear that it would be rude, and all this time I’m trying to gauge what the body language and thoughts of the people around me are. I’ve thought about changing careers but I’m not sure where I should move into, I’ve even thought about moving to another country to start a new life. I’ve always read in many places that it is ok to be yourself and be different, but I am yet to see or accept that is perfectly ok. I feel as though I’m so much of a contradiction that I am definitely alone in this area. I’m just not sure what to do next that would help me change things for the better, I’d greatly appreciate any help or advice that you may have.

Life is overwhelming

replies: 1

Hello guys. Not sure where to start life is not easy, I try to find the light everyday but then im back to square one. I cry for our mother (earth) daily. Watching our species destroy our planet breaks my heart and soul. I feel so overwhelmed and out of control of my life and the planets future. Does anyone know much about environmental depression? I have low self worth, i have always been mainly judged on my appearances as if thats all i am. I have gotten so caught up as my identity as being "pretty" I have nothing else to show for myself and has led to the utter most self loath and shame. My father walked out the door when i was born, didnt want anything to do with me, 25 years later i still havent met him and we live in the same city. I know this has also had a massive impact in my self worth/love. I feel just writing this is selfish and i should just suck it up because my problems arnt as important as others. Thanks for listening

Lonely

replies: 2

I,ve moved to a new area and am feeling lonely. Not sure what to do about it. Any suggestions?

Welcome to me, LavenderTea.

replies: 17

Hello one and all! I'm new to the BeyondBlue forums, so I thought I'd start by introducing myself so you can get to know me a little bit. I'm 24, female, and do actually drink lavender tea. My favourite things to do in my spare time include reading fiction novels, and going hiking. I'm currently completing my Master of Professional Psychology which is just a fancy way of saying that I want to help people when I finally start working. I'm going to be around on the forums on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, and will be trying my best to listen and support you, as most of you do for one another already. So that's me... HI!

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

I thought I had beaten depression replies: 2

First timer - Stuck in a rut replies: 2

1st timer-where do i begin? replies: 1

The same old story replies: 2

Hi replies: 10

Cycle of sadness to depression to anxiety to panic replies: 1

Social anxiety in the workplace and group settings replies: 3

Life is overwhelming replies: 1

Lonely replies: 2

Welcome to me, LavenderTea. replies: 17