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Meet your community champions!

replies: 12

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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Sad/depressed, no social life

replies: 10

Hello This is my first post, not sure if my circumstances count as a legitimate issue but their here anyway. Lately, I've been feeling really bad, around like 2 or 3 times a week when at home I just feel pretty bad, I'm not at stranger feeling this way but I use to only feel this way like once every 6 months to one year. I see my friends going out a lot to town every week, most of them live together or are constantly hanging out together and I'm just sat at home not doing anything or working, but always by myself, not getting invited or anything but they still contact me on snapchat and stuff but I doubt that really constitutes as being social, sometimes I see them but I have nothing to talk about with them unless we're drinking then its just dumb. I go to uni by just sit by myself, I think its because the uni I go to is kind of far from where I went to school and so I don't really know anyone, but its still pretty sad just sitting alone all day, tried to make some friends but didn't really work out, and its not like I'm weird or anything because they still greet me a chant a bit but there's no friendship really. Don't really have much of a relationship with my family, if I did I probably wouldn't be on here, its nothing like domestically violent or anything its more just I don't relate or feel comfortable with them or talking to them. just kind of struggling to make friends and I think I'm feeling depressed or just sad, not really sure. another issue is that I see everyone getting into relationships and stuff, I'm over 18 and never been in one, never had a sexual or any type of experience with the opposite gender, I think I'm not repulsive so it's got to be a personality thing I don't know, like I feel pretty normal personality wise, I'm not ecstatic or confident or anything but yeah i don't know. Basically just always now feeling lonely, nervous, sad/depressed(only a couple times a week, not always) Point of this was to just get some answers from people on here, sorry for the crap structure, if I was feeling better it may have looked nicer, still, if anyone has advice or answer, or something to add that would be cool

first timer here

replies: 11

My seemingly perfect son seems to be unraveling and I missed all the signs. He is only 18 and seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. He has always been a quiet lad so I didnt notice when depression crept in. He didnt do as well as he had hoped last year at school so didnt go study, tried ( and is still trying ) to find work but most of the jobs require previous experience. In the past 4 months after turning 18 he has been drinking not all the time, but when he does its till he blacks out and cant remember. Scary. He lost his licence for dui and this past week landed in trouble again for damaging property while drunk.... but has no memory of it. I am so out of my depth, I dont know how to help him. He has today gone to see someone and is going to go for alcohol and depression counseling which I am so grateful for, but how do I help. In this drinking culture we live in how do I help? All his mates are turning 18 and now they get to head out to the clubs, drinking is all new and exciting for them.

Our family has been affected by someone who has narcissist traits.

replies: 5

HI everyone, my wife has been working with a guy who we now know was love bombing her. He was all over her at 3 different work parties and she has told him that she's married and that he should be happy with his girlfriend. Since this rejection which was done in a nice way he has been splitting and treating her terrible. All she wanted with him was friendship and not anything romantic but he kept pushing it by text etc. He has all the traits of both borderline personality disorder and narcissist personality disorder. The thing is that my wife believes that his bad treatment of her is all her fault and that she must have done something to make him change. I won't go into all the things he is doing in this post but it involves splitting, gas lighting, triangulation leeching supply etc. Is there any councilling services in the north of adelaide that can help us..?

Newbie

replies: 2

Hi i am struggling with depression and anxiety i had a car crash 2 years ago and that has left me in able to work i have tried tms and now doing ect i has been a long painful time i have chronic back pain and i am feeling like ther is no end to this i see no hope of a future job and just don’t know what to do i am on lots of anti depressants and i feel they are just masking the pain i am on lots of pain killers to i have lost many friend as I don’t go out a lot due to the anxiety and panic attacks i am hopping some one mite be able to help thanks

New to Beyond Blue but not new to life

replies: 6

Hi all, My introduction Thought I should join to gain more insight into life, I am nearly 50, I live with a alcoholic abusive girlfriend for going on 6 years and have a permanent employment in a industry that favours a younger generation. While I still see simple beauty in life, from nature, knowledge and other avenues, perhaps my expectations on life are unrealistic to think people can be better than what the media and the world shapes them to be. I know I can't change the world but I believe that the only time you ever look down on a person is when you are helping them up, irrelevant of their race, religion, skin colour or sexual orientation. Thanks for reading, Deadpan

I need of a friend. God that sounds needy!

replies: 7

Hi Folks, I'm new to Beyound blue. Up until now i have always wondered about the name "beyound blue" but i can completely relate to it now. i moved to Oz, from the uk, just over 3 years ago. I came heree with my aussie wife and 2 young uns. Since moving things have slowly headed more and more into the blue. I have not slept well for half my life, but since emigrating its got so much worse. I'm now at the point that i hardly sleep at all. Along with the lack of sleep is a major uptick in my mood which is turning very depressed. I now contenplate wondering down to the bottom of my block in the hope of findinging a snake, or going for a major tumble in the car. I'm so fed up with life. I don't have family or friends here and as i tell my wife a few bits about how i feel, she pulls away from me making me more and more isolated. It's not my wifes fault as she had a traumatic childhoom, bit needless to say, that doesn't help me. Anyway if anyone fancies a chat, get in touch. Cheers. Tom

I'm New.... Anxiety Setbacks

replies: 7

Hello All, I have joined this platform as a way to hopefully obtain some help with anxiety set backs. I've had anxiety for 10 years, I am 30, I am currently enduring high levels of physical symptoms which have not been this bad for some time. I've hit a rock bottom again. I'm at the paranoid point of questioning the symptoms eventhough I know them, havent left the house for days, avoiding social events, worrying about going to work. I have had the same job for 12 years. Childcare, almost finished my degree in Kinder Teaching. At the moment I'm on hold, I can't cope, I can't move forward. My main physical symptoms is foggy brain, severe disorientation and can barely put one foot in front of the other. I just want to sleep and forget the world for a while.

stuck in my head

replies: 2

I have been searching the internet for years almost to try and find a post or a blog or a forum about thoughts I have and insecurities. Everything i come across seems to be the same around depression, wanting to end it, seeing everything negatively, feeling numb. I only relate to some for a portion of time. I am a happy person anyone would agree with me but something i have struggled for so long with is being stuck in my own head. I struggle with the every person insecurities about body image and if my personality is fun and lovable. But i also have a terrifying fear that my younger sister (J) is becoming prettier than me, cooler than me, funnier than me, juvenile stupid things yes. I have watched all my sisters grow up and surpasss me in beauty and the ability to take control of their lives, weight, maturity and motivation. I am still stuck back here. I feel left behind. I used to relate to (J) on body issues and lacking motivation but she's hit 16 and already moved on. I feel myself becoming more and more defensive around her, needing to put her down to make myself feel better and make myself feel like she hasn't left me behind. I am definitely the least prettiest of my family. Compared to my supermodel 3 sisters i am an average looking person i mean even compared to anyone else nothing stands out about me i am so average i look at myself in the mirror and i just feel so bored with my face. my older sister will always say "oh (j) you could be a model" or "(younest sister) you are going to be the hottest in the family", stupid things but i push it off with humour when it makes me feel so shit and out of place in the family. I am rapidly gaining weight and feeling worse and worse about myself as i get older. My sister and i used to bully each other with humour and we wouldn't be hurt by it because we were both in the same boat but now as (J) becomes prettier and more mature i feel so intimidated by her i don't feel older than her at all i feel pushed down by her even with her nicest words towards me. What terrifies me the most above all of this is that i write this and the perception of what is being written by others is another insecure girl. My worst fear is that all of this only exists in my head, not in the sense that it isnt real but that only i can understand the true pain being felt and no matter how hard i search for someone to really understand, i will never find them. i have other problems but this one is on my mind at the moment

I need help please

replies: 11

Hi, I'm a late-30s woman living alone. I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and currently being assessed for a personality disorder. No partner, no close friends. I am on medication and regularly seeing the doctor and psychologist. I've ... View more

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.

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

Sad/depressed, no social life replies: 10

first timer here replies: 11

Our family has been affected by someone who has narcissist traits. replies: 5

Newbie replies: 2

New to Beyond Blue but not new to life replies: 6

I need of a friend. God that sounds needy! replies: 7

I'm New.... Anxiety Setbacks replies: 7

stuck in my head replies: 2

I need help please replies: 11

I thought I had beaten depression replies: 2