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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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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..

new here

replies: 1

Hi ALL I dont know where to go, who to talk to I'm just a regular guy. married, kids, nice house, nice job. and 90 percent of the time I think i'm Normal but then there's this other side, where I do stupid stuff. I dont mean to do it, I know im doing it, but I cant stop me doing it. and after im like WTF is wrong with you. Now it probably going to cost me my marriage my minds going a million miles an hour, thoughts ideas, feelings, all popping in and then out, I can't grasp or hold onto any of them. If I can stay busy and focused on a task its ok, but as soon as im not, then off it goes. My eyes hurt, every single sound is at the the same volume. .I get agitated, cranky in social situations I shut down because every single damm noise, voice is at full volume Then its almost like something/someone takes over.. thats when i do weird dumb stuff. Im there im seeing it, doing it, cant stop it I play mind games, manipulate, silly things mostly, but recently having to work for an extend period on my own, got worse till I did somthing that Id never Im my job Im friendly likeable, outgoing, im in sales. but its a switch i turn on sorry this is rambling i need to talk to somene, dont know where to start cheers

Hello all

replies: 5

Hi everyone, I'm new and thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Christina. I've spend most of my life dealing with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. I try to enjoy my hobbies, such as writing, reading, playing piano and singing. I'm lookin... View more

howdy

replies: 2

Hi all, I've just joined before; thanks for having me. I already posted a thread seeking advice (in the relationships and family topic) but thought I should just say hi too and introduce myself apart from my current main problem to do with my most recent relationship breakup. I'm 38-years young from Melbourne. I've been blind since birth and use a screen reader to use the computer. I was formally diagnosed with Depression in 2003 though I know I had it for a long long time before that even back to when I was a teenager. I had a Kidney transplant in 2014 in which Dad donated. I do work fulltime but after seven years, I am looking for something else. I don't get along with most of my team members which makes things very difficultThis is mainly, but not entirely, why I wish to leave and find something else. I live with my third guide dog and two cats. Looking forward to hopefully being able to help some of you, and in turn, getting some much needed advice on several topics. Cheers!

Hello

replies: 7

How strange is it to feel some relief by simply posting one word - hello. Lonliness is overwhelming me in a seemingly busy life, lonliness and a debilitating sense of never being good enough. My only true friend is my husband and then sometimes I wonder if he is a friend or if he is just “stuck” like me. I’m rambling already. I need help, I don’t want to take medication, I have tried counselling, I don’t have any friends that I can talk to about how I truly feel- not even my husband. I seem to lurch from one crisis to another (well in my head I do) and the anxiety is starting to become crippling. I need someone to talk to and hope that by reaching out here and seeing stories of hope I can find that support through this online community. Thanks xx

Anger and depression

replies: 1

Hi. Im wondering how common it is to get so angry it wears me out... I was poorly treated and mis diagnosed. Now i have permanent injuries as a result of that. Ive saught a lawyer but still want people to pay.. I know its not healthy. Is this common?... View more

Afflicted with the Invisible Disease

replies: 2

Hi all, Why am I here? I'm turning 40 this year and my life is pretty good. I'm married with three kids, I have a decent full-time job, I'm in reasonable physical health, my finances are relatively stable etc. Life's OK on the surface. Unfortunately I suffer from anxiety and depression. I've had issues with them since I was a kid. In my teenage years it got bad to the point where I had to leave an exam because I couldn't actually pick up the pen to write the answers. The school counsellor was terrific and got me through that period but he couldn't resolve the problem entirely. I have issues with anger. I am not, and have never been, violent, threatening or abusive. I internalise most of my anger to avoid creating conflict. However it does bother me and gives me a bit of a cynical view of things. I don't enjoy watching the news any more as a result or even watching fictional TV shows that deal with unpleasant issues. In 2010 my anxiety got so bad that it was negatively affecting my work and home life. I finally went on anti-depressants and saw a therapist. While I changed anti-depressants after one year, I have been on the same one now since 2011. It has helped manage my anxiety and depression very well but at a cost to my libido (very low) and weight (gained 10kg or so since I started taking them). Both of those side effects do make me feel bad but I wouldn't call it depression. The medication won't allow me to feel that low. But the lack of sex is hurting my wife. Therapy did not work for me. I saw five different therapists over a seven year period and got nowhere. I don't blame the therapists (except one who I really didn't like and quit working with after a month or so). I just didn't want to delve into my issues. Maybe I was scared of what it could bring up, maybe I was resentful for having 'issues' and maybe I just didn't want to talk about it. Who knows. As I said to my last therapist, who I stopped seeing after two or three sessions, I was just feeling 'talked out'. And I really don't want to see a therapist ever again. I like exercise and work out fairly often through running, using the exercise bike at home and a bit of resistance work. I quit the gym last year and have no interest in reengaging with the fitness industry. I don't think any of the money I've invested in gym memberships or personal trainers has yielded much in the way of results. So what do I hope to get out of this? No idea. Sometimes I just need to vent so thanks for listening.

TMS

replies: 2

I am halfway through TMS treatment initially I was tired, then very emotional, then agitated now I’m experiencing full on depression with suicidal ideation Has any one else experienced this ? i have 8 more sessions to go

Looking for some people to be accountable to and bounce idea off of both ways.....

replies: 9

Hello Everyone, I wasn't sure where to start posting but I just wanted to open a line. I will read all the rules etc later but I'm not feeling up to it just now. Just now I wanted to voice how I am feeling today. I'm trying to get past a few things in my life right now that fall under various different categories. To look at me you wouldn't know I'm so often down. Often there is no trigger that I can work out. It's usually just that I sit on my own for a while and I start to think about bad things in my past. Relationship break-ups, bad choices, loss of friends, people taking advantage of me. My aim for coming on here is to be able to feel these feelings and finally get through them. I don't want to feel this way anymore and it feels like it has taken over my life. I keep making the same bad mistakes and I just need a forum really to bounce ideas off so that when things go bad I feel like there is someone I can connect to. For whatever reason I don't feel comfortable opening up to most of my friends right now. Hopefully I will eventually but I'm a bit closed off currently and every time I try to open up I feel that trust is abused, or I just don't fully manage to get there. I'm hoping to find an online community of people, where we can talk through issues openly. And in this I am hoping to be able to lay them to rest. I'm currently trying to quit smoking, drinking, start a new job and create a whole new set of friends in a new location. So I have quite a lot on my plate and it would be nice to have a backing support network for when things get a bit tough as I don't really have that where I am living currently. Please let me know if anyone else would be interested in this as well. I'm not fussed about male/female as long as they are caring/understanding people who don't mind talking about all issues, including relationship issues.

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

Lost replies: 1

About time! replies: 2

new here replies: 1

Hello all replies: 5

howdy replies: 2

Hello replies: 7

Anger and depression replies: 1

Afflicted with the Invisible Disease replies: 2

TMS replies: 2

Looking for some people to be accountable to and bounce idea off of both ways..... replies: 9