Welcome and Orientation

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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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I'm new here, how are you all

replies: 7

Hello how are you all? I'm feeling really low today. I hate myself. I'm over life. Life is so horrible. Probably tomorrow will get better I hope so. See you all tomorrow.

Getting started

replies: 2

This is a big deal for me. I signed up today because I finally realised after 16 years that my daughter seems to be presenting with some mental health issues. She is the middle child or our close, loving, mostly functional family. I have reached the point where I have had to accept that I don’t know how to support her. Furthermore, I think it’s because I have my own unresolved issues that reappear in times of stress, and I am not coping well. Even my husband is starting to show signs of fatigue and both of us have recently stepped over the line of losing our cool, yelling and swearing at our daughter , causing her to get on her bike and ride away into the night. That’s why I’m here. I dont feel like we’re getting anywhere. I know very little about mental illness. It scares me. But I think the time has come to address both my daughter’s needs, my own long standing needs, and in turn, the needs of our whole family.

New and a bit nervous

replies: 4

Hi all, This is my first time posting to a forum like this one. I am a single mother who works full time, and over the past few months, I've been feeling completely empty. I don't feel sad. I don't want to cry. I just feel really numb. I feel like I am manufacturing laughter, or anger, or whatever emotion I am supposed to show... I can't concentrate on my job, and this has fuelled further feelings of inadequacy - not just in my work life, but in my private life (feeling like a bad and useless mother). I am quite isolated at the moment, and really only see my parents on a regular basis (as well as my child). As it's only been a few months... I don't know if this feeling will last... but I really really hope it does as every day I wake up feeling defeated. I have never been diagnosed with depression - and I don't know what this is, other than knowing my mental health and wellbeing is taking a beating. I guess I'm just here to see if anyone could offer any advice, or if there is anyone here who might be going through something similar.

Another newbie saying hello

replies: 1

Hello all, I’ve just joined and after reading some posts thought I would introduce myself. I’ve battled depression to varying degrees most of my adult life and have had a couple of significant episodes of anxiety lasting months in the past. I had severe postnatal depression and anxiety when my daughter was born, as well as postnatal psychosis and several months of menstrual psychosis in her first year. I spent seven weeks in a mother baby unit as a psych patient. I’ve been on the same antidepressant medication since she was a week old, she just turned 14. I’ve had a tough year with my 85yo Dad’s health which is now thankfully much better but I do worry about him and my Mum as I am very close to them. I’m studying a masters degree in social work and I know I put huge pressure on myself to excel... I’m not a perfectionist by any means but I do obsess about the study. I’ve become very isolated and haven’t been looking after myself at all. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who is also my best friend, but he’s been traveling so much for work and I miss him terribly - he has been away this week, due home next Friday. Last Sunday, it was as though something inside me snapped and anxiety exploded, and I’ve been struggling to cope. The thoughts are mainly around fear of death and loss, and general feeling of dread. I saw my psychologist and GP today and I’ve been reaching out for support from friends which is not easy for me to do. I called the BB helpline a couple of days ago and spoke to a really helpful guy so I decided I’d come here and sign up. I’m doing my best to challenge thoughts and stay mindful etc, but it’s hard I’m doing guided relaxation meditations, would be interested to hear what strategies are helpful for others.

need hope and support

replies: 4

hello my name is bronwyn I suffer so bad with anxiety and depression ..its like a constant hole inside me ..im lost

Suffering depression. A new 'self diagnosed' member

replies: 3

Hi. This has been a confronting 2 weeks. I was once a professional business woman who has always succeeded in every aspect of life to this scared little girl who feels everyone's against her. It was also quite difficult to seek the right help. Does a... View more

New and wanted to say Hi

replies: 2

Hi everyone, just joined this forum today. So nice to see a community that I can connect to and be a part of. I feel so alone in this horrid anxiety. I have been battling it my whole life but it has gotten worse this year with me challenging my crippling fear of flying so that I can take my children overseas. I feel sick every day and hate waking up in the morning because sleep is the only relief I get from my anxiety. I am on medication and I practice my breathing all the time but nothing seems to work at the moment. Just wish I could be free of it.

New and stressed

replies: 1

Hi all, This is a first for me so not sure where to start except hi, and get straight into it. I always valued myself as mentally and emotionally strong person until 8 months ago and where out of the blue i met a woman in the most unlikely of places who rocked my world. My marriage was already on rocky ground, however meeting this woman confirmed what i had already been feeling for a very long time. I dont want to break up my family especially hurt my kids but i really want to be with the other woman. I have stressed so much about this yhat i was diagnosed with anxiety and minor depression, there is a lot more to say about the situation but i just want some feed back. THANKS

Newbie

replies: 7

Hi I'm new to this and wanted to reach out and say hi. Not sure what to say other than that I'm going through some anxiety and hope to feel better soon. Happy to talk to anyone and chat further. thanks skyyblue

New member struggling big time

replies: 4

Hello I have been suffering with anxiety for many years and for the most part have been able to keep it under control but recently it's come back with a vengeance and I can't sleep, eat or function without feeling dread and crying. My father passed away in October leaving my mother to cope on her own which she is not able to do so I am looking after all her finances and trying, with the help of my brother, to get her the proper in home care she needs as she wants to go home (she has been staying with my brother since my dads funeral). Then I had a holiday hoping to recharge my batteries only to get a phone message that 2 of my dogs had escaped my property (which is being minded by a friend) and killed a neighbors cat) ended up it wasn't my dogs but I was in another state so was terrified my whole holiday that the police or rangers would take my dogs away. Then I get back and our slab for our new house was laid, which you think would be a great thing, but you see, I live on acreage with no direct neighbors now I have to move into a place with neighbors and I have dogs that have never lived in suburbia before and I'm stressing that there may be issues with barking or council. We have to move as our current land has been compulsory acquired. all this has happened at once and it has overwhelmed me to the point that I feel like I'm going to explode, I just want to curl up and not see anyone or do anything, but I have a full time job and have animals and a husband that needs me. I'm also worried about worrying him as I've had a breakdown once before and I don't want that to happen again. I am on some meds but my Dr is working out the dosage. I've seen a psych before and it didn't do any good really. I know that most of you would have been through much worse so I apologise if I seem weak. I just want to feel normal again, happy. Please help

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

I'm new here, how are you all replies: 7

Getting started replies: 2

New and a bit nervous replies: 4

Another newbie saying hello replies: 1

need hope and support replies: 4

Suffering depression. A new 'self diagnosed' member replies: 3

New and wanted to say Hi replies: 2

New and stressed replies: 1

Newbie replies: 7

New member struggling big time replies: 4