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Sophie_M 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 Be... View more

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.

Aaronsis 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 th... View more

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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Evi001 Overwhelmed Newbie
  • replies: 4

Hi, I'm new here and to forums. I have suffered with anxiety and panic attacks for the last 23 years. This has led to depression and some OCD's which are my coping mechanisms. I was coping for many years in that I could get on with life and feel norm... View more

Hi, I'm new here and to forums. I have suffered with anxiety and panic attacks for the last 23 years. This has led to depression and some OCD's which are my coping mechanisms. I was coping for many years in that I could get on with life and feel normal for the most part, but then in May of last year, I had to go into hospital for five days with pneumonia. I was in a state of high anxiety for the entire time. I didn't sleep - didn't even try to sleep. It took me weeks to get into a proper sleeping pattern when I got home (proper for me, but by no means normal), but I can't shake the anxiety. It's there 24/7, and varies from moderate to severe. If anything goes wrong in my life, even the tiny things that logic tells me aren't a big deal, I fall to pieces. It's debilitating and I just want to feel normal! I have seen psychologists in the past, but they haven't helped. I started with another one in Aug of last year. I like her and she's easy to talk to, but so far, she hasn't really helped me. I tried another psychologist in Nov. I went twice and she left me feeling utterly desperate. I was in tears every single day for about six weeks. My husband didn't know what to do with me. I have gone back to the original psych and I'm hoping that she will find a way to help me because I'm out of ideas. I try to make changes to my life, but I'm finding that any changes at all heighten the anxiety and I can't cope with them. Some of the changes are ridiculous - new bed linen for example. Most of my anxiety seems to be associated with sleep, so any changes to my sleep routine are a nightmare! I simply can't cope with it. The worst part of all of this is that to the outside world, I'm a strong individual, a leader and someone who doesn't get phased easily. No-one is ever going to believe the anxiety issues I have. My husband has been a rock, but he is lost. He has no idea how to help me. He just feels helpless and this makes me feel guilty. It's a vicious circle and I need faith that it will one day end, but 23 years is a long time and I have yet to see even a pin prick of light at the end of the tunnel.

Blot Hello
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone. New here and struggling. can't take much more of it. Blot

Hi everyone. New here and struggling. can't take much more of it. Blot

Adam2 Goats don’t get lost.
  • replies: 1

Here I am. 54 years old, suffered from depression all my life and now my marriage is over. I spent the last 22 years building what we have and despite a gambling habit that saw me lose some money about a year ago, we own our home, kids education is p... View more

Here I am. 54 years old, suffered from depression all my life and now my marriage is over. I spent the last 22 years building what we have and despite a gambling habit that saw me lose some money about a year ago, we own our home, kids education is paid and my eldest was given a near new car, free. Our children have everything they need. My wife claims that I have treated her poorly and wants a divorce. I didn’t agree and tried everything I could but it’s only made matters worse. She wants me out and claims the house should be hers because I spent money gambling and in any event she wants custody of the three boys aged 19, 16 and 13. The thirteen year old has a disability. i have tried to reason with her that I also need to start a new life and I also need a place to stay but she doesn’t care and puts me on a guilt trip. i am really tired, confused and lost.

Kevo62 kevo62
  • replies: 2

Hi I'm a newbie. Having some tuff times lately so just trying different things to try help myself feel better.

Hi I'm a newbie. Having some tuff times lately so just trying different things to try help myself feel better.

Todda Hi
  • replies: 2

I am a professional - does that really have to a uni degree, what about life skills and being a survivor over victim. I work in the area of child welfare, am a mum of 2 amazing adults and am unhappy with my life. If God or whoever is out there wants ... View more

I am a professional - does that really have to a uni degree, what about life skills and being a survivor over victim. I work in the area of child welfare, am a mum of 2 amazing adults and am unhappy with my life. If God or whoever is out there wants me to keep going, i would like to know. I just want sleep ... with creepy dreams and exhaustion. Thank you for listening

Ghost01 I get the blame
  • replies: 2

Hi all I am a person who keeps to her self an somehow even if I have nothing to do with it I get the blame . Apparently I push people away as well . I work an I come home, I reach out to my family to make an effort but as soon as I a don't make the e... View more

Hi all I am a person who keeps to her self an somehow even if I have nothing to do with it I get the blame . Apparently I push people away as well . I work an I come home, I reach out to my family to make an effort but as soon as I a don't make the effort they say I push people away .were is there effort why is it my fault.im now second guessing myself an feel it is my fault. What am I supposed to do .

VoxAmino Hello all! Newbie here
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone, I just needed a place to talk honestly about all my mental stuff. I have been suffering from depression for a long time but only started getting help relatively recently. 2ish years ago I believe. Anyway, my psych suggested trying to ta... View more

Hey everyone, I just needed a place to talk honestly about all my mental stuff. I have been suffering from depression for a long time but only started getting help relatively recently. 2ish years ago I believe. Anyway, my psych suggested trying to talk to my family about my problems but the people in my life are just.... unhelpful. Not that they mean to be, but hearing about how my depressive episodes make them feel bad doesn't necessarily help me out and usually ends up with me feeling worse so I end up downplaying what I've been going through so I don't worry them too much. Truth is I have been so overwhelmingly unhappy lately I have no idea what to do. I have been going through a really bad spot and that has been exasperating this so badly I can't deal with it anymore. I thoroughly dislike my job, I work in a factory with various equipment that is in desperate need of service to the point of being unsafe and no rosters so I never know when I am working. I have to call up every day to see if I am on the next so I can't plan doctors visits without rostering the whole day off or switching my hours around which the company doesn't like. My fiance tries to help me out but he is overseas and we are trying to get his visa sorted so he can move but that costs a lot of money which has been stressing both of us out lately so he is having his own issues and I don't want to saddle him with mine as well. I am going back to uni to finish this degree I don't particularly want to do but because its only 3 courses I figured it would be smarter to just get it over with but now that I am staring it down it is becoming terrifying. Also, both work and uni refuse to work with each other so I am going to have to take less shifts which work will hate. All this has been rebounding around my head and I can't get away from it. I've already been to 2 psychs who in all honesty, were mostly unhelpful. The new one I have only seen once seems nice but she is almost never at the office so she is hard to get a hold of. I am just getting burned out of life and I just don't know what to do. I have been trying to get a new job that would be more accommodating to my studies but no one will hire me and getting all these rejection emails has been disheartening.

Flamingolover Struggling to be social
  • replies: 1

Hello, I’m new and this is my first post. I’m 25 and have been struggling to cope with stress and my personal relationships the last 2-3 months. Last year I went through a pregnancy termination which is causing me a lot of grief and feelings of failu... View more

Hello, I’m new and this is my first post. I’m 25 and have been struggling to cope with stress and my personal relationships the last 2-3 months. Last year I went through a pregnancy termination which is causing me a lot of grief and feelings of failure. I’m in a new relationship and have been having low moods every few days which is causing me to get angry and fight with my new boyfriend. I feel lost and alone and living by myself is making it worse. I’m trying to find new techniques to help me cope with all of this but feel like I need a support group.

nervous_nick newbie here,just want to say hi and (in advance) thanks for sharing and caring.
  • replies: 3

I have let it all get to me and have started talking to a psychologist.I have been working at a job that has frustrated the hell out of me and caused me such worry that I cannot go back to sleep after waking around 3am everyday.I have tried breathing... View more

I have let it all get to me and have started talking to a psychologist.I have been working at a job that has frustrated the hell out of me and caused me such worry that I cannot go back to sleep after waking around 3am everyday.I have tried breathing,yoga,watching tv,reading and nothing keeps the worry out of my head.It's not just work now though,I have scary thoughts about the future and (ridiculously) the past.Ihave taken time off work to ease that part of the worry (only today so far) but I feel like I have let them down by doing so.My worst fear at the moment stems from fact that my wife is also a victim of all these feelings for the same reasons (starting with work) and she is seeing a psycohologist too and I'm worried that I will drag her down with me.She says don't worry about her but it's hard not to.

Guest_4810 Social anxiety
  • replies: 7

Hi, my name is Bob and this is my first post. I live with Aspergers Syndrome and part of the package with ASD is anxiety. I hope to learn much about social anxiety from Beyond Blue with a view to living a more rewarding life. Thank you for reading my... View more

Hi, my name is Bob and this is my first post. I live with Aspergers Syndrome and part of the package with ASD is anxiety. I hope to learn much about social anxiety from Beyond Blue with a view to living a more rewarding life. Thank you for reading my post, hope to have much more to say in the future.