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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Another Bad Day - Finally joined up

replies: 3

Hi, I have suffered with depression and anxiety since my early teens. I am a 27 and married to a beautiful wife and we have an amazing daughter. I should be happy but this illness has a way of rearing its ugly head. I just can't seem to enjoy anything or have fun. I am always anxious in social situations, to the point where I'd much prefer to stay at home. I don't have many friends any more due to this. I feel like i am a terrible father, even though i am always spending time with our daughter when i am not working (I feel like I have to be perfect and beat myself up for not playing all of the time). I even feel guilt when writing this. I feel like i am always on edge/anxious and get grumpy quite often. I feel like because of this i am letting my family down. I am constantly stressed at work and feel like other people are talking about me or think i am incompetent, even though past performance/ comments have been positive. i have gotten help in the past (meds and a few counselling sessions) but did not feel they worked, i think maybe my counsellor wasn't right for me. I have been having a rough few weeks, it seems to come in waves but this has gotten to the point where i had to reach out and sign up. thanks for listening and sorry if this is a bit much!

Dont know what to do.

replies: 2

Hi all. I'm a 26yr male and I'm in a relationship with a 22yr who has been recently told she has depression by a councillor. I will try give a bit of a back story to how she is. We have been together for 3 years and only in the last year, she has been feeling a bit down and stressed which we both put it down to her finals at Tafe and some issues at work. We both thought she would start feeling better after but I feel like it just opened the door for her depression. I'm being really supportive to her giving her any space she wants even if it makes me feel horrible, talking to her when ever she needs, she always says its not me that makes her feel this way. I purposely don't show her I'm angry with her even when I am just to protect her as I feel it wont help. Ill drop everything to help her in anyway I can because I love her a lot and want her to feel better. She had recently told me that she feels trapped living with me and has moved out as she thinks she needs her own place to sort her self out. I didn't like the idea and tried to change her mind as nicely as I could but she still moved out, and I've come to accept it, as hard as it is. She still comes by and stays over sometimes, but she has begun to drink may too much, which I tried to explain will not help. She has also starting going out when we've made plans, just to go drinking with some of her new friends that aren't helping at all, and wont reply to any massages or calls, I pretty much don't know if she's ok or not and I get really worried for her, usually this only happens over one night and Ill see her the next day and well talk about it. At the time of typing this I've had little contact with her I haven't seen her or had a talk with her since Friday morning its Saturday afternoon now. The one message she has replied to said she will see me tonight but I'm really dought full as she's been drinking. I'm at a lose at what to do, I don't know how much of this I can take as I have started to feel depressed myself. I love her so much and I don't wont to end things but it feels like where its heading. I'm not sure if its her depression that's making her be like this all a sudden but I need advice on what to do.

Hi everyone..

replies: 4

My name is Melissa and I'm 22. I struggle with depression, anxiety and binge eating. I've joined the forum to hopefully get advice and help others if I can. I'm hoping by utilising this forum I can learn a thing or two about how our brains work. I'm currently studying a certificate online, hoping to get back into a career after 3 years of unemployment. Thanks for having me here Melissa

Hello everyone

replies: 2

Hi all I’m new here. My name is Ally. I suffer from GAD and Aspergers. I would love to chat to people like me as it gets very lonely and isolating.

Geoff is retiring as a community champion

replies: 11

hi Everyone, I would like to inform you all that I am retiring as a community champion with Beyond Blue. I have been posting to support others on the forums for 15 years of service. It hurts me but circumstances have prevailed. I will still continue to respond and reply to posts that come in from those new and existing threads extending the time I've spent on BB. My life membership will remain intact as well as my number of post counts. Geoff.

New by saying Hi

replies: 4

Hello. It has taken a lot of strength to join and write a thread. I have been diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder, Depression and Anxiety. I am 41 years old with 3 kids and 1 grandchild. I had a fall in December 2016 and fractured my pelvis and stuffed my right hip. Have since had 2 surgeries on the hip last one being a total replacement in which I am not recovering as I should be. I’m in constant pain. Have lost some mobility and now lost myself. I was once an outgoing person that lived to chat to anyone and now only leave the house to go to work and even then don’t work like I used too. I work as a swimming instructor and I also worked in hospitality. Have now been told physically unable to return to my hospitality work and that sux. Anyway popped in to say Hi. Hoping to get some support and tools to go on with living as normal as possible. I am on medication but not sure it is helping. I’m under the care of GP. Psychologist. Pain clinic and Physio. Guess I’m looking for people to chat with that get it and won’t judge or tell me to just get over it and get on with it. Thanks for taking the time to read my spill. X

Feeling worthless

replies: 2

I'm new here so please bear with me. I am a middle aged married father of two girls 11 and 14. I have been a diabetic since I was 3 ( over 45 years ) and have in the last ten years or so had some issues caused by the diabetes including losing the sight in one eye. I also am now overweight and have a really bad back and a knee that will need replacing within 5 years. I love my wife and I think she used to really love me but I'm not sure if that is still the case. We basically have no sex life and this is really affecting my feelings of self worth. I am self conscious and I believe that this is why my wife no longer wants anything to do with me sexually. She says its not and that it was enjoyable for her but I can't help thinking that she is just saying that. If you enjoy something wouldn't you want to do it more than once or twice a year. She often complains about my weight also which I cant do much about due to my injuries, medication and the fact that insulin is a growth hormone that I have been injecting into my guts for more than 45 years. It doesn't help me knowing personal details about her relationship with her ex husband and even though she knew she was leaving him and wanted to be with me she went back for 1 more which resulted in a pregnancy which was aborted. I just feel so worthless and it is becoming worse every day and I don't know how to fix it.

Question: are the counselors on the online chat real people?

replies: 1

I wasn’t sure where to ask this so I leave this question here. Are you talking to real people in the online support chat or are they bots or something?

Lost

replies: 1

Hi i’m new here and not sure where I fit in. I guess i’ve been in an abusive relationship for the past 12 years. I’m finally out but i’m cycling with my emotions. At the moment i’m at the lowest of low points. My brother has emotionally and verbally abused me since I started working for him. The last 4-5 years have been the most horrible. At a terrible low point I got a trip to hospital and before I left he told me to hurt myself. I always believed him when he said sorry and that he would be better and that he would look after me. I finally understand he is a narcissist. It gives me little comfort becuase the why cannot be answered. I did everything for him at that job. Whatever he needed I did, no matter the time or if it was a weekend or if I was with my family. I realise now how he has manipulated me and I’m keenly aware that now that I am away from him he is continuing to try to manipulate me through our Mum and by his actions and words which are just to send me downs he dark path. I have ended up feeling lonely, isolated, worthless...the list goes on. I’m struggling to cope. Rationally I have a keen understanding, but the emotions and feelings just come and i’m up and down and all over the place like a roller coaster. The nights are the hardest once the kids are in bed and there is nothing to distract me. Worse still when hubby is on shift and I don’t have my support person next to me. I don’t know where I fit in. I have started treatment for this but for me it’s harrowing and traumatic to talk about and ‘live’ through again. I’m also sad that I’ve lost my brother. I understand there can be no communication or contact, it’s the only way I’ll be safe and those few that are around me will help keep that on track when I feel the manipulation pulling me back. I’m so sad and angry that I can still feel his ‘wordless’ manipulation calling to me. I’m so tired. I need to be around others that have experienced the same treatment. It’s like anything in life, you don’t know until you’ve experienced it what it is truly like. I miss my old me. I have such a big heart, which is part of the reason I got sucked in. I was easy to manipulate and be made fearful and worthless. I don’t want to feel like this anymore. For those that have experienced this how long does it take before the pain and torment eases? Thanks in advance.

About time!

replies: 2

I’m 21 years old, and I have suffered depression and anxiety since I was 14. Im off medication now, and expecting my first child, and it’s the biggest emotional roller coaster of my short life. My mum passed away when I was 18, and my father has cancer. And life’s a bit stressful, I just need to sort of find a way to de stress and to communicate with someone who I don’t know so I can vent with no judgement.. I just needed to do something before it got to bad..

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

Another Bad Day - Finally joined up replies: 3

Dont know what to do. replies: 2

Hi everyone.. replies: 4

Hello everyone replies: 2

Geoff is retiring as a community champion replies: 11

New by saying Hi replies: 4

Feeling worthless replies: 2

Question: are the counselors on the online chat real people? replies: 1

Lost replies: 1

About time! replies: 2