Welcome and Orientation

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Sorted by:

Start a discussion

Hi there, drought stress and business worries anyone? A side of self doubt?

replies: 5

Hi there you kind and beautiful listeners. I'm sad, stressed and a little drunk. After a long and awful story I have found myself with an amazing opportunity (or crazy bout of confidence) to start a consultancy business in agriculture....but at a time when my average potential client has zero income and >$1000/day livestock feed bill. I need courage, to either stick it out (my 'in the black' requirements are small but my loss of perspective and lapse into panic is daily) or to forget it, go back to working for someone else and look forward to retirement like a normal person. After writing this I feel guilty. I'm talented and educated with opportunities and determination but I feel useless. My support network live in another state and wouldn't get it anyway. I feel like a burden to the ones that would get it. There's also the sensation that nothing will relieve me from this stress and that its unfair to ask. I have suffered anxiety and some depression for most of my life but usually feel capable and self-reliant with only short bouts every 6 months or so. I hope it rains, I hope this town doesn't die, I hope I can hang on, I hope I can help the others get through and I hope I can return the favor to my small support group. It would be nice to speak with anyone from the land or in a business startup position (or been there). I need to know I'm not the only one. Sincere thanks to anyone who reads this. K

I Cry

replies: 5

I Cry for the boy we have lost I Cry for the man you could have been I Cry for the abuse you suffered I Cry for the blame you think is ours I Cry for the pain we feel I Cry for the conversations we no longer have I Cry when the words you say cut like a knife I Cry when you cause my heart to shatter I Cry in silence so you don't see I Cry most because I can't make you better I Cry because I have failed as your mum I Cry because I love you so much I Cry because I can hate you so much too I Cry for the boy we have lost

Help!

replies: 1

I have always had anxiety, on med's but for the last 2 months I have been waking every morning and vomiting. I went to a different Doctor as I cant even get out of bed now, can't do the day to day things that need doing, have no family to help me, the doctor said to just take more med's which I have been for about two weeks now and there is no difference I'm still being sick non stop, how long does it take for the xtra meds to work??? I'm at the point I can't take it any longer

ptsd and adjustment disorder

replies: 1

Hi there. A little background: In 1998- a friend suicided, 2001 - my best furry friend of 17 years was put down by a neighbour and my best mates brothers suicided, 2002 - a friend was murdered, 2008 - one of my sisters died of cancer, 2010 - involved in a major car accident - believed son had died in crash for nearly 6 hrs until hospital staff brought him to see me - and sustained a cracked sternum and developed PTSD, Dec 2012 - mother died just before Christmas, Feb 2013 - 21yr old nephew suicides, Sep 2016 - resigned from job of 10yrs after 2 yrs of bullying by manager, 2016/2017 - unemployed for 5 mnths, April 2017 - knocked off motorbike on way to work to new job, shattered left shoulder (impacted spiral fracture of humurus), fractured left ankle and shattered right pinky finger (hospital decided to repair pinky with screws rather than amputate, I found out after surgery) and PTSD triggered again. I have been informed by my specialists earlier this year that I now have a permanent impairment of my shoulder. I lost something very important to me since the bike accident - my independence. I was fiercely independent. My childhood was pretty crap too lol My dad died when I was 8yrs old and I was left with a mentally abusive mother and brother (who both hated me) and 4 other siblings who didn't see the abuse so don't believe it happened, to this day. I haven't thought about a lot of the earlier childhood stuff as I have worked through a lot of it with EMDR and support from a great network of people, including my brilliant son. I have been stressed recently trying to achieve certification in swim teaching, and have realised that being around the kids is triggering my childhood stuff. I really want to be a swim teacher, but am not sure how to resolve / work through this old stuff and move forward. I also believe that the permanent impairment from my shoulder injury is triggering my PTSD as well and I have been crying for about a week, at just everything. I was watching the new star trek movies again recently, and don't understand why the displays of loyalty, friendship and comeraderie made me bawl like a child. The crying is occurring while I am watching anything on TV with even the slightest bit of anything heartwarming. My support network has frayed a bit as some don't understand why i'm not recovered from my shoulder injury, or what PTSD is and why I am still affected by it. Does anyone have any suggestions how to move forward?

Hello from a newbie!

replies: 2

Hello all, Glad to have found this forum, just thought of dropping a couple of quick lines to introduce myself. I'm a 35 yo first time mum to a gorgeous 9 week old boy. He has had a couple of health issues after birth which is when I started to blame myself for failing him as I had a tough pregnancy and had to deliver him preterm. As with any newborn the challenges and the lack of sleep is driving my partner and I apart, we constantly fight and cant agree on anything - specially in regards to the "how to's for our son". My partner thinks because he is working too, he is stressed more than I am, what he fails to understand is the stress of looking after a newborn 24x7 and doing all the household work.I had a very successful career and currently on maternity leave. Though I enjoy every minute of the time spent with my son, all the do's and dont's and expectations from my partner is stressing me out. There are times when I feel like I'm worthless and not needed neither for my partner nor my son. All this depression is quite new to me and I'm having a hard time in convincing myself that this could hopefully just be a phase.

Newbie

replies: 3

Hi everyone Just joined so thought I would say hello. 33yo female Suffer from anxiety and (I think) more recently depression. 2 years ago had a major episode of anxiety and every since then have been in a weird limbo with it. Lost a lot (pretty much all) of my friends due to isolating myself etc during that time. I was never able to salvage the friendships. On here hoping to find some people who “get” it. Thanks for reading xx

Hello!

replies: 2

Hi everyone! I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm currently a student at uni studying computer science. I love to read, play video games, and look through programming tutorials. I was diagnosed with severe depression last year. I thought I was getting better until 2 weeks ago, when my boyfriend and I broke up. It brought back all of my insecurities and issues with abandonment, so the past couple of weeks have been rough. I've been feeling extremely lonely, hopeless, and anxious. I can't contribute anything to anyone I love, so what's the point of me being alive? I'm very afraid to leave the house everyday and be among people. I feel like I took 5 steps backwards in my recovery these last couple of weeks, which just makes me feel even worse. I usually bottle up all of my emotions but this time, I wanted to communicate them somehow. Thank you everyone for reading in advance!

Hello, first post, ASD, C-PTSD, OCD, addiction

replies: 1

This is my first post. Hello and good wishes to all. I'm a middle aged white male, diagnosed with High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD/"Aspergers"), and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD) with OCD tendencies, due largely to a childhood full of repeated traumatic abuse of all manner and kind, including physical, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse from primary care-givers. Also neglect, abandonment, poverty and generally witnessing a lot of sex, violence, death, crime and drug and alcohol abuse from an early age. As a young child I frequently wondered if my real parents had been abducted or switched. One of the worst parts was just keeping it all secret and never having anyone I could fully trust for support. I never spoke about anything to anyone until I was living independently as an adult, and even then I kept a lot to myself until after my mum died. As an adult I've managed to find some stability, after years of failed employment, and a failed marriage which I left due to too much drama and arguing. Despite years of self medicating, I did manage to complete an arts degree. Now I work mainly on my art as a self therapy and I live alone. I see a clinical psychologist fairly regularly, I'm not sure it's making much difference now, but it's probably not doing me any harm. Why I'm posting here is not clear to me, I'm not prepared to disclose online too much detail about my life, so I don't know if I can be of that much help to others but I am curious about this online community Kind regards,

Evil Comes in Many Forms

replies: 1

Evil comes in many forms. Terrorism, hate, malicious intent … The worst of all evils however, operates under the radar. Its an insidious, dark, covert, and disgusting form of evil. This form of evil is a coward. It does not present itself, but rather indirectly manifests, using innocent souls as a medium of malicious exchange. This evil is mental illness. Mental illness prisons the child inside us, duck tapes their mouth shut and takes charge of our behaviour. It hurts our closest loved ones. It hurts them to the point of relationship severance, which serves as a self-fulling prophecy for the evil lies whispered in our ears: we’re not good enough, we’re bad, we’re ill suited for love. It kills us, it is a cancer, a poison, a poison with symptoms un recognised and diagnosis further ambiguous, a cure non-existent. It turns mothers against sons, sons into isolation. Isolation is my vacation, temporary escape from frivolous vexation. Breathing space, from the evil that’s left my mothers souls forsaken. I love you, but you do not exist. Goodbye Sylvia, the Mother I’ll forever miss.

Needing a little helping hand

replies: 3

I've been in recovery for almost 3yrs after a nervous breakdown that cost me my job. I haven't worked since. Since I left my last job in the midst of a depression/anxiety diagnosis and wasn't doing my best work I also left without any work references. No, I didn't get sacked, I quit but no-one there wants to be a reference for me despite having a good working record there for 7yrs. So....my question is. What's the best way to handle this? I'm sending out resumes getting interviews and have good interview feedback and even job offers. But the lack of references means that I just can't get a job in the current climate. I don't even have any personal references due to having lived as a recluse outside of work for the past decade. Any tips, advice and stuff? recruiters won't touch me, I can't pick up casual work and can't get a temporary assignment or even a job well below my skills and experience. I need some help with this as I'm desperate to work again and feel productive. I have a corporate background and experience, in technical and non-technical jobs. But the baseline for corporate work is 2 references min from direct managers in the past 5yrs. Which pretty much only covers my last job.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hi there, drought stress and business worries anyone? A side of self doubt? replies: 5

I Cry replies: 5

Help! replies: 1

ptsd and adjustment disorder replies: 1

Hello from a newbie! replies: 2

Newbie replies: 3

Hello! replies: 2

Hello, first post, ASD, C-PTSD, OCD, addiction replies: 1

Evil Comes in Many Forms replies: 1

Needing a little helping hand replies: 3