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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 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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Hey Everyone, New here 👋🏻

replies: 4

Hey Everyone new to beyond blue, as of late I’ve been feeling a little lost in life, I feel like I have no one that I can talk to or connect with. I don’t have any family that I can talk to & though my friends are great I just feel that I cant expres... View more

Should I stay or should I go?

replies: 1

I am looking to understand and being at peace with the experience of immigration, please, what I would like with this forum discussion is that you share your experiences about immigration, I don't want advice, thank you After 11 years in Australia and trying hard to live here happily I found myself with a depression and I am not surprised really. I have tried everything I could do to be integrated and have closed friends or at least have moments of belonging as I am a very social person I love to spend time with people.I raised a family alone, in a small town, added to that with lots of lock-downs for 2 years, my Australian husband of course is here but I have no emotional support other than him and no help when I am unwell for example, which I have been a bit more recently, I am feeling tired most of the time.I have also been bullied at my 2 last workplaces and I am afraid now to go back to any new job or develop my little business, my confidence is very low, I am going in freeze mode when it about showing my skills.My loving family is in France and I still have closed friends there too. My husband is a loving man and has been considering for the last 5 years if we should go back there as it hurts me to live here in Australia where I often feel an outsider. I have fears related with going back though which stops me, more so financially as my husband does speak so little french and we are 45+, at least I am lucky he is ok to live there. If you know of any books or studies you have read about what could be the impact of immigration I would love to have access to those, I really would like to feel normal I suppose after trying so hard and not succeed. Your help is much appreciated. Thanking you in advance.

Struggling

replies: 2

I really feel like I'm out of control with myself. My inner demons come out every few years. I've had on going issues since I was a child.If I don't be careful I could lose everything. I don't know how to stop.I have been drinking so much and doing risky things. Gambling, secretly drinking, had an connection with another man that my husband now knows about. And he is going to stay with me.I think I'm going through a midlife crisis. Also our house flooded and we havnt been home since February.Everything was going well up until that point and it's triggered me.I don't know how to turn my life around right now....I have all the work booklets information at my fingertips from previous councilling but I seem to not want to do the work to change.Thanks for reading

This is ME!

replies: 2

Hi all, newbie here to Beyond Blue and a forum in general. I’m not very good at reaching out and seeking support even though I tell people everyday in my job that that is exactly what they should be doing!I have been struggling with mental health all my life but only acknowledged it as mental health a few years ago. Until then it was "pull yourself together and stop being such a drama queen about everything" (my words ).Depression is a reoccurring one from me and something I have to work hard to pull myself out from. I have a very (very) small network that I know love me but trauma from my childhood to early adulthood creeps up and triggers my well-conditioned and very negative mindset. I have experienced multiple traumas ranging from sexual, physical and mental abuse as a child leading on to living in a very controlling and coercive domestic violence relationship until my early 20’s.When I finally found freedom, I was pretty broken on the inside, but had mastered the art of putting on an excellent mask to the outside world. A mask I held firm to for several years.In 2021 a lot of traumas were re-triggered and my mask finally crumbled. After many attempts to keep going and be strong, I ended up down the path of planning my suicide as I felt this was the only option I had left. I was over trying to be strong and always failing. I seriously believed my husband and children would be better off without me. I felt I caused so many dramas and problems in our life, I would be doing them a favor by bowing out.I was ready to go one night, my plan perfected but somehow and I really don’t know how, I didn’t.I got counselling through that time and discovered the benefits of yoga and Buddhism teachings. I have been working hard at changing my mindset and teaching myself that I am not a bad person. A lot of bad things happened to me which I could not control. I know my inner work will be constant and at times very challenging. In my work I support others daily with mental health and know my lived experience and continued work on myself gives me understanding and compassion to listen and support others. I am very passionate at helping others and trying to make sure all I encounter never feel as alone, worthless or unheard as I have felt many times in my life.I have never joined anything like this before and am interested to see how it progresses. Thank you for providing such a great space of support.

Loss of teenager son

replies: 3

Hi, just wondering if there is anyone else going through the loss of a son. My perfectly healthy 17 year old son was taken so suddenly by a tumour and died three weeks later. I’m having a hard time coming to terms with this as he was my youngest son and had his whole future ahead of him. It’s been nearly 5 weeks since he past but I just feel numb and angry. He should be still here living his life.

Someone Like Me!

replies: 5

You don't know me, and the chances are, you never will. This is why I would like to introduce myself. I'm a loser. That's right, I can freely admit it. Not just a loser but a big time loser. At various stages of my life, I have lost everything I held close to my heart. Employment opportunities, relationships and often my sanity. Any dreams I might have had. Any hopes and ambitions have disappeared in the proverbial puff of smoke. I have endured the worst that another human being could do to me, but I have never sought retribution. Anything that could have happened to me has happened and I have experienced the very deepest depths of despair and self-doubt. There have been times when I didn't think I could sink any lower only to discover that the worst was yet to come. But fast forward to the present day and I can look back on it all as a valuable lesson in human nature. Now, I consider myself a winner because I have survived it all and the scars are fading. The only thing that I can be sure of now is that I am no better or worse than any other man or woman who has ever drawn breath.

I’m not ok

replies: 14

I have always been a shirker of happiness, always been somewhat melancholy. However, over the past few years, I’ve seemingly become averse to happiness, always emotionally hurting myself and day dreaming of scenarios where I am emotionally hurt. I’m also low on confidence and therefore never sure of where I stand with others, including family, to the extent that I have started questioning whether anybody really loves me for who I am (and not out of duty). I was pretty badly emotionally abused as a teen/young adult by my peers and I’m not sure if that has caused these issues, although that was nearly 20 years ago. I don’t think this is usual, and I also think that I’m not okay.

No one cares

replies: 2

Hi I am obviously new to thisBut I have been dealing with this for over two years, I have seen three different doctors and I finally realized that I am on my own here, I Cant talk to my family about this any more as they just get too upset seeing me like this.the doctors dont listenwhat am I supposed to do ?please dont reply with "well done" or "at least you had the strength to ask for help" or any other platitudes, just tell me how to get a doctor to listen and fix this

Elderly, lonely, invisible?

replies: 2

I am an elderly woman, living alone in my own home on a rural property. My formerly busy life is now limited by severe osteoarthritis and the discomfort of two old and worn-out hip replacements. Constant pain contributes to chronic depression and increases my anxiety levels. My much loved companion is a loyal German shepherd who is always by my side, so I am not, in fact, completely alone. I have been reading previous correspondence from Grandy and Moonstruck and felt that they would really understand my own situation because theirs sounded so similar. Unfortunately they have not made contact in the forum since 2020 so I guess I have missed out on getting to know them and sharing thoughts.I love the idea that they discussed back then of creating a special friendship group for the elderly, lonely, not-so-well people. While our problems might be too specific for others to fully relate to or become interested in, we could offer genuine support and understanding to each other.Is there anyone in poor health and in circumstances similar to mine who have active minds but are physically unable to join social groups? I would love to hear from you.

Im New

replies: 3

Hello, Im new to Beyond Blue. I struggle with mental health and looking to find a supportive community to help me. I hope this is a good place to find information and chat to people about the daily struggles. Have any of your found this forum helpful... View more

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hey Everyone, New here 👋🏻 replies: 4

Should I stay or should I go? replies: 1

Struggling replies: 2

This is ME! replies: 2

Loss of teenager son replies: 3

Someone Like Me! replies: 5

I’m not ok replies: 14

No one cares replies: 2

Elderly, lonely, invisible? replies: 2

Im New replies: 3