Welcome and Orientation

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Meet your community champions!

replies: 13

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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New

replies: 25

Hello I am new & don’t really know where to start. I am not used to talking about myself. I am mature aged person & have depression that has gone undiagnosed for most of my life. I just thought it was normal ‘that’s life’, now I look back there wasn’t anything normal. I handled situations ok, but now I am not. I feel like I’m in a bucket of oil I can’t get out of. I feel useless, helpless and frustrated to say the least. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone by talking about my feelings as I know there’s people worse off than me. It’s just getting harder to cope. Thankyou for listening .

Understanding the why of depression and anxiety

replies: 2

Hello. This is my first time here. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. I was involved in a serious car accident a few years ago and was diagnosed with PTSD. I have not worked since. Having the accident triggered many flashbacks of verbal/emotional abuse going back to primary school years to adulthood relationships. I have a very supportive Dr and psychologist. I have never felt good enough and like many with Depression, have shown the smile on my face for many years, but really hurting inside. My anxiety is very high. I find it hard to make decisions and become very agitated if pushed to do so. Is this common? I do not sleep well at all. I do the breathing exercises that my psychologist asks me to do. I do walking and look after my grandchildren which helps me. What are others doing to help them? I was diagnosed with Sjogrens also. Appreciate the sharing.

What am I going to do?

replies: 3

Hi I am new to this...I lost my husband last year to a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. I was able to support him and my children but in September of last year when I lost my grandma who I was extremely close to and I fell in a heap. Since then the grief has developed into Depression and my anxiety is through the roof. I have lost my self confidence and am pushing away those who are closest to me as I find it hard to socialize..work..do anything like I used to. I just don't know what I am going to do anymore. Would welcome advice from anyone that understands the struggle. Thanks

New to the forum

replies: 1

Hi My name is wardy I'm 47 I'm looking for some support and tips to live with depression. Thanks

Hi. Im new here

replies: 1

Hi everyone, Im here because i have been feeling really down, teary and distressed for a long time. It has come about, i think, because of holding my teenage daughter through about 1.5 years of fairly severe depression. I have been the primary person supporting her through this time and i feel that i have picked up some trauma through this experience. My daughter is now taking medication and although not out of the woods, she is coping and living much better than she has been. i feel like all this time i have spent supporting her and being hyper-vigilant around her wellbeing and safety has left me with some vicarious stuff. While i feel like i can relax some now she is somewhat better, i now am not ok. I am getting up with her and gently nudging her to keep going to school each day and then i sit in my car and cry at the thought of going to work. I am spontaneously crying and feel exhausted but unable to know what will soothe me. i am a social worker as a profession but working in a role which is administratively heavy which is good as client contact would be hard for me at the moment. I dont feel ok. and i am about to go to a gp and get support i think. i am just exhausted, frazzled and i want to withdraw from everything but i am challenging myself to stay connected but it is so hard and i know people are noticing.

New here

replies: 2

Hi my names Brad, im 20 years old and i have been struggling recently. I play in a band and as a result go to alot of gigs. Performing on stage is ironically the only time when my mind is not flooded. The hardest part is when im not performing, i struggle being in crowds, i constantly have the feeling like everyone is judging what im doing, what im wearing or how i move to the music. I almost always stand at the back of the room so i cant be seen and to avoid talking to people. I often find myself leaving the gig after we play and just waiting in the car for my band mates until the gig is over. Also my dedication to the band makes working difficult. Last year i finally found a job suitable but at the start of this year i got let go because there wasnt enough work for me to stay. Its been 6 months now and im scared of starting a new job. Im terrified of confrontation and scared of being told i suck at my job. Ive had only had 1 job interview this year and i didnt attend because of my fears, constantly 2nd gyessing myself and playing over the 1000s of irrational possibilities of the interview. I constantly stress over what im going to do for work once the bands lifetime is over as i have no other life skills. Im constantly figiting, can never sit still, constantly have a strained neck, have dizzy spells and struggling to sleep lately. I recently started smoking stupidly thinking it would relief some of this stress and pain. Im lacking the motivation to go see friends or even leave the house. My parents are very supportive people but i dont feel confortable sharing this with them, or with my closest friends either. Im scared that theyll think of me differently or just tell me im overreacting. So instead ive found myself sharing my flooded mind here.

Hi people

replies: 2

hi i'm ssevo , that is what i want to call myself here i'm an international student in my last semester i don't know if i am correct or wrong but i have social anxiety issues but i never properly tried to assess myself about this because of lots of factors , now that i have a goal and this issue might be a major hurdle for me i don't know what to do or how to to a little help would be much appreciated thanks

New to the forum and struggling to put myself first…

replies: 2

Hi there guys, I don’t really know how to pen this, but I’ll give it a go… I seem to just write myself off.. I put the effort into my work, marriage, family, even hobbies, but when it comes to putting the effort into myself, I seem to just not bother, I’m overweight at the moment and I feel my energy levels are lower, but I keep moving. I know, I should be working out and eating right, which I have done in the past and been very successful, but this time I just can’t seem to start, I comfort eat, I drink too much at times, and I feel that I should be looking after myself more, but I’m not, I do everything I believe a good husband should do, I work hard, Overtime shifts (but not too many) carry my fair share of work around the house, both inside as well as outside, I’m supportive to my family and friends and try to make the effort. But I just can’t seem to find the motivation for ME, I’m there for everyone with everything, renovations, automotive stuff, yard work, catch ups, the hard conversations, a shoulder, someone to vent to etc… I kinder feel that I’m always stuck ‘doing the right thing’ for others, but not doing the right thing for me….

Hello everyone, newbie here.

replies: 1

Hello everyone. This is my first post, so I just wanted to introduce myself. I've struggled with mental illness for more than 20 years, since I was a teenager. I have Bipolar Disorder, OCD and GAD. I've been through a lot just trying to get by and find treatment that can help, but every day is still so hard. I hope that if I share some of my story, to support others, that at least a small part of this hard trek will be worth it. Take care

Wanting some hope

replies: 1

Hi, I’m 37, single Mum of three. History of childhood abuse. Hospitalised 4 years ago for depressive episode. Was left for another woman 2 1/2 years ago. Got so depressed I lost a job I love. 1 1/2 years ago moved to a farm & got new job. Have been pretty happy & medication free for a year. For the last month I have seen a return of first anxiety, then more recently depression. Lack of sleep, worry, feeling of impending doom and hopelessness. I’m a failure. Lack of sleep etc. this is due to environmental factors. The children’s father is unwell due to alcoholism, I have been bullied at work. My eldest son (9), has been having symptoms of anxiety & depression & trouble at school. He is booked in for child psychology. I really don’t want medication. I just want some hope that I will get through this and that one day I will have lasting happiness. I’m just so tired of going from crisis to crisis in my life. Thanks xxxx

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

New replies: 25

Understanding the why of depression and anxiety replies: 2

What am I going to do? replies: 3

New to the forum replies: 1

Hi. Im new here replies: 1

New here replies: 2

Hi people replies: 2

New to the forum and struggling to put myself first… replies: 2

Hello everyone, newbie here. replies: 1

Wanting some hope replies: 1