Welcome and Orientation

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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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Hello To everyone I am new

replies: 3

Hi I just decided to join up this forum because I needed someone to talk to and i am feeling quite lonely. I am all ears and non judgemental if anyone wants to chat on the forum

New here too

replies: 1

Hi. Don't really know why I am here but I am so I thought I'd introduce myself. Have had severe depression on and off for over 20 years but the last few years I havedeen pretty stable. Recently life has crashed. I am empty, lifeless and alone. I feel like a failure at everything I have ever done and can't see past the 'nobody would even notice if you died' thoughts. I live in a small country town with my hubby and children but apart from them I have nobody. Family all 5 hours away and don't understand anyway. Hi

Voting for VC?

replies: 6

How do i vote for someone to become VC? the other thread doesnt say how to vote, and link doesnt seem to be working on my computer?

Everyone I know is asleep

replies: 8

I spend the evening talking and texting friends, but then everyone goes to sleep. I can't sleep. So I get lonely. Does anyone else have this problem? Btw BAD and other problems

Need someone to talk to- anemia & anxiety

replies: 3

Hi, this is my first time doing this, please don’t mind my long paragraph. If you have dealt with something similar pls share your story or if you have advice I would love to here it. last year one day I randomly started feeling faint and ended up having a miscarriage and lost a lot of blood. Three weeks later I ended up in emergency as I couldn’t feel my body & short of breathe, dizziness etc. was in hospital for a week and had a mri and ecg. Everything was fine my iron was just a little low but they said I was fine. Sumpomts got worse and my doctor said it was anxiety and depression, I didn’t believe it. I went to a naturopath and seen I was severely anemic although it wasn’t showing up in my blood tests. I started taking natural meds and eating healthy and I felt better, it’s been a month and I’m still not feeling 100% and I’m dealing with anxiety which I’ve never had before. Has anyone else had anxiety because of there anemia and they both went away? I’ve been home bound for the past two months as I don’t feel good enough to go out and I feel bad for my son and partner. My naturopath, mum and counsellor said the anxiety should go once my anemia’s gone but I’m just a bit worried. I hate feeling like this, I’ve never had anxiety before until I got I’ll.

janie781

replies: 2

I dont really know where to start. I should be happy, but i am not. I just dont seem to be able to anythibg right. This year was meant to be diff and then i go and lose my license. I i am needing to go to drs regually for an life condition i cant even do that now.i live on an isolated block and now even the kids are looking down on me because they have lost their freedom as well..so now i am even more good for nothing. Just not meant to be in this life

Talkin' to people helps.

replies: 2

Being me can get hard sometimes, with people judging me for being...well...ME! But really talking to your friends will really help, make sure to chat to them if you need some...Pick-Me-Ups! If anyone needs to talk or load off some crapy feeling feel ... View more

Im lost

replies: 22

Hey I dont really know where to begin. Ive gone over everything in my head. Im lonely. Im 40 and single and never had a proper relationship. Ive been a good person. Ive been nice to people. Ive ended up alone no friends. Im tired. Ive struggled with depression, anxiety, ocd and being a good person. Wheres my return for all my struggles, wheres my love, children and happiness. Im 40...im depressed and don know how this can improve.

Feel completely helpless

replies: 4

Where does one start wellnik new to this group and hoping that I can find the support and help I need im in a relationship with a genuinely loving caring man, but his depression and anxiety has spiraled out of control to the point he is pushing me away saying he needs time to get himself together my issue is he says he wants me in his life and that he has told no one else friends nor family what he is going through , but wants to get through this by himself ... but knows he can’t .... I feel helpless ... I would be there 24/7 and he knows and appreciates this .. but still keeps me at arms length... I’m in tears constantly as I can’t do anything to help and I don’t want his situation to worsen any help support or direction would be great .. torn

Having a bad day so thought I'd sign up and say hi

replies: 13

Hello, I am completely new to forums. I have suffered with anxiety in some form all my life but has usually been quite manageable. This is the second consuming constant episode of anxiety I have suffered in my life time. The type of anxiety where it's constantly on your mind and not so much triggered by something specific. This happened to me 3 or 4 years ago for the first time. After some time, I managed to get it under control and I vowed I would never let myself get like that again. After a stressful year mid last year, I found myself in that same consuming anxious head space again. Now as well as anxiety, I am battling something which I have never had in my life. Depression. I think I beat myself up a bit too much for getting into such an anxious headspace when I said to myself I wouldnt and that's probably what triggered the depression. It's been months and sometimes I worry I won'I get better. I am sick of feeling like this. I have gone back to seeing a psychologist I saw once a month for 6 months last time. I had my first session yesterday. I have read plenty of forums but I have never been an active participant. After having a bad day mentally today, I thought why not join, it can't hurt. going to have to head to work in a few minutes. Amy body have some positive things to part with or even say hi Thanks guys

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

Hello To everyone I am new replies: 3

New here too replies: 1

Voting for VC? replies: 6

Everyone I know is asleep replies: 8

Need someone to talk to- anemia & anxiety replies: 3

janie781 replies: 2

Talkin' to people helps. replies: 2

Im lost replies: 22

Feel completely helpless replies: 4

Having a bad day so thought I'd sign up and say hi replies: 13