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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Memory Issues and Lifestyle Changes - (First Time poster! )

replies: 3

Hi there, I've finally worked up the courage to post here - Yay! I am in my mid twenties and have battled with mental health issues all my life, however only sought help at 19, at which point I was diagnosed with PTSD and OCD. I have decided to post to this forum to be able to connect with others who, from what I can gather, may have an understanding of some of what I am going through at present. It seems like such an amazing online community here. I was hospitalised a few weeks ago for the first time, due to depression and anxiety. I have struggled in silence for many years, and have now (following being in hospital) been plugged into a great support network of mental health nurses, a wonderful psychologist, a nurse practitioner and my local GP. Leading up to going into hospital I had a lack of sleep and an inability to deal with encroaching memories resurfacing relating to my post traumatic stress disorder. I was having memories triggered by senses (touch, smell, sound etc) and would become cripplingly emotional and anxious. This was in addition to nightmares. I feel like my sleep, my 'flashbacks' and my heightened senses (fight or flight instinct) have been better with medication and I have amazing professionals helping me. However, day to day I am becoming impatient with myself. With my work, I need to be alert and 'on-the-ball' (I really don't like to use that term, though!). I have others in my care, and head up a team of volunteers, while also studying full time - I was quite a busy person. I am struggling with the guilt of having made the decision to cut back on work for a while (less hours, and delegate a lot more) to find my feet again and deal with medication changes & time to work through things with my psychologist. However, the primary reason for this is my memory! I would love to hear how other people have found making changes to their schedules and lives, and coping with memory issues (if anyone else has had any). This week I forgot my phone number and email, a few weeks ago I had no recollection of a conversation I had had. I am double booking myself with appointments etcetera, forgetting day to day tasks and peoples names that I interact with on a weekly basis.I have been told it is common with depression and it will improve as my mental health does. However, would love to hear from anyone who can relate, or who has some tips or advice. Many Thanks in advance! I am looking forward to being a part of this online community.

Wondering If I'm the Only One?

replies: 5

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is having an amazing Easter weekend! I've just joined up here and I wanted to reach out to you guys and ask if anyone else may have been or knows someone who has had a similar experience to me. I've had severe GAD my entire life and I have struggled with it forever. It has usually based itself on social anxiety, as well as anxiety of new experiences and accidentally failing in areas of my life or doing the wrong thing without meaning to. Recently however, I have been working really hard at getting those sorts of thoughts out of my head and it is finally, after so many years, actually started working. But now, my anxiety seems to have taken on another form and obsessed over a very specific thought. That of a fear of ghosts, spirits and other forces being around me. I want to make it really clear that I am not having any hallucinations or delusions, I don't feel like I see or hear any of this stuff, but I'm just quite on edge at nighttime, especially when I am alone in my house, and it occasionally will get to the point where I am fighting panic attacks over it, being scared to look into mirrors in case I see someone/something standing there. It's been really rough lately and has been making me very uneasy. I was just wondering if anyone else has these paranoid thoughts or anything similar that could maybe share their experiences with me and give me a bit of insight? Thanks in advance everyone!

How I'm really feeling...

replies: 6

For so long I have always put up this exterior of someone who has their life put together, am happy and optimistic all the time, smiley and friendly person. But sometimes it is so tiring to keep up this façade that when I am alone, I often ponder to myself is this really what I am like. To be honest, I just need to vent it out on a platform anonymously because I am too scared to talk about this to anyone. I am already getting emotional typing this out... I feel lonely most of the time, I don't have many friends that I trust, in fact I have never talked to any of my 'friends' about this because I am too scared for them to think that I am a very insecure person. This also applies to my family as well... I am also stressed and have to fight this alone because I am too proud to let anyone see my weak side, but it hurts a lot. What should I do? I always feel lonely, I am pretty much alone most of the time and when I am with others, I still have this resounding feeling. I have a strong family connection, don't get me wrong, but I don't like showing them this side of me because I don't want it to affect our relationship in anyway. But I am getting tired of this exterior and do not know what to do... Thank you for reading.

Hi a newbie

replies: 1

HI I am new person in this place. I work in IT and I work for long hours. It is stressful and sometimes I just want to just shut myself and stop all communication with others. Main issue which I am in a very difficult position is I crossdress. I have been doing for last 10 years off and on. First time I was caught by my wife and we had a big fight. It was my fault because I should have been upfront with her. But I was quite embraced to discuss with my wife. Also, i took the easy way out of not informing her. After that I left everything. I stopped dressing up completely. I was ok for quite sometime. However, I lost my job. The stress triggered second part of a crossdresser. I spent huge amount of money to but stuff. But as before, I got caught and it was a nasty fight. So I stopped again. But I am back again. This time I want to be upfront but I just dont know how. I fear there will be serious repercussion. cheers

Hi, I'm new here and wanting advice.

replies: 1

Hi everyone. I feel I'm continually dealing with lapses of quite intense anxiety and at a bit of a loss with how to treat it/whether there is something to treat. I live in Melbourne with my loving partner and 3 year old daughter (with another one on the way). We live in the city in a bit of a rough area and I am constantly feeling under threat on. I am 6 foot 5 and hardly the most vulnerable looking person, however, I feel extremely uncomfortable around those that strike me as 'dodgy' looking. This often makes me go silent at home as I sit with my painful anxiety, making me difficult for my family to deal with. We are not in a financial position to move at the moment, and my partner is unwilling due to her support network. I often dip into the world of meditation and mindfulness only often to come out of these experiences worse - i find this extremely frustrating as it puts me off well being altogether. My old-fashioned upbringing of tough love may be influencing this for the worse. I'm also feeling very afraid of having a new baby to deal with - added to that my parents (I have a difficult relationship with my Dad) from the UK are visiting and I want to provide a happy environment. Everything just seems too much and I often just want to live all by myself and shut everyone out. And help or dialogue would be most appreciated.

An Introduction of course...

replies: 2

Salubrious greetings to all and one... Like many amongst this merry band, I too bear the dread and wearisome burden that is depression. Of this I will doubtless expound at length in future missives. For now, I am simply the bearer of a broken mirror.... View more

Overwhelming guilt & depression

replies: 16

Hello all, first post for me! A bit disjointed at 2am! I have suffered from varying bouts of depression for the past 16 years. I am finding myself now to be going through the motions of working and being a Mum and wife but when the weekend rolls around I hit the wall. I get done just what I need to do and then I go to sleep. I’m totally exhausted and even after a few hours doing shopping etc I just want to collapse. My house is suffering as I don’t have the motivation to clean any more. My husband is as supportive as he can be but thinks if I just get out and do things I will feel better. When I feel like this I don’t want to leave home. I sleep, I cry, I look after my son (teenager) and sleep some more. My husband works most weekends which doesn’t help. I am on medication but not currently seeing a psychologist. I would appreciate any suggestions.... thanks, WB

Friendship trust issues and one stressed mum

replies: 3

I have had PND since having my last child at the time things started getting hard before diagnosis. I had started to make someone what i thought were good friends i ended up pushing them away and picking on small things they done. In my head they were the worst ppl. I have since come to realise it may have been the PND and me causing the problem. i also had another friend who i have had as support and spoke with on regular basis about the other friend and how it made me feel. This friend has now become friends with other ones. Im having constant aniexty that this friend will break my trust and speak to them about what i have said. do i arrange coffee explain what has happened how i feel and have felt to orginal friend to get ride if this aniexty or just leave it and see how it plays out.

HI ALL NEW HERE HI

replies: 2

Im here because I need help. Im tired of feeling down never happy, really despressed ...anxious on meds for depression and nothing works..... My parents don't talk to me , my older sister doesn't my twin I choose not to as she goes back when my parents treat like they have treated me and she talks to me about and I don't want to hear cause of how I feeling depressed and anxious of how thy treated me....so I sau no don't wan it and she told me off...My friend from work of 12 years doesn't talk to me either ..there was change in the workplace and I moved from my area into her area and she my ex friend didn't talk to me for 3 weeks..I said r u ok is there anything wrong and she said it was bout me.....I didn't make it about me ...I heard she wasn't well and asked her how she was doing and she said its not about me ..I cried and I said I cant be a friend with someone who treats me like that like my mum did and I thought she was the mother I never had .

How do I know if I'm lazy or it's something more

replies: 4

Hi guys, I'm not sure if this is even the right place for me to come to but I just need to talk. Lately I've had a complete lack of motivation - I have things I want to do around the house but I cant even seem to bring myself to do much basic cleaning let alone more than that. I saw a nutritionist cos i wanted to lose some weight but only did what she said on and off for a week or two then basically gave up and eat so bad now. I used to go to the gym a decent amount and have no motivation to go now. I pretty much just sit on the lounge and watch TV in my free time. I am studying and staying pretty on top of that and work 1 day a week. But anything beyond that - I just really struggle with. Am I just in a slump? Or is it more than that. I don't know what to do and if I'm just being lazy. Any advice appreciated. Thank you

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Memory Issues and Lifestyle Changes - (First Time poster! ) replies: 3

Wondering If I'm the Only One? replies: 5

How I'm really feeling... replies: 6

Hi a newbie replies: 1

Hi, I'm new here and wanting advice. replies: 1

An Introduction of course... replies: 2

Overwhelming guilt & depression replies: 16

Friendship trust issues and one stressed mum replies: 3

HI ALL NEW HERE HI replies: 2

How do I know if I'm lazy or it's something more replies: 4