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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Hi

replies: 5

Hi, I'm new...hello everyone

New bean on the block

replies: 6

Hey guys, thought I would introduce myself and give some background as to why I joined this site! I'm Canadian and in my late 30's, been living here in Oz for about 6 years. Couldn't deal with the endless grey skies of Canadian winters (which usually last half the year) ! I have suffered from anxiety since as long as I remember being alive. As a child, I knew what I was feeling but I unsure what to call it. I just knew I always felt on edge, scared, constant stomach aches, etc. As I became older, I begun to understand that I was experiencing anxiety...about everything. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!! I tended to be prone to melancholy for as long as I remember as well. Fast forward to high school and a long-term controlling relationship AND that's when I finally snapped. Unable to attend school for a week and literally feeling like I was going crazy. My weight was down to roughly 42 kg...which made me quite the walking skeleton at 5'6 tall. I couldn't bring myself to eat much due to the chronic state of anxiety and feeling like I had a golfball in my throat that wouldn't disappear. At this point my parents took me to the Dr. and I was diagnosed with GAD. I was put on medication and another to take as needed. Life changer...I became happy, confident and took control of my life. I finished high school and went to Uni, finishing in 2004 with a Nursing Degree. New relationship and career. 8 years later, my husband and I divorced... definitely for the best, still not painless. I moved to a new city and started a new position...became independent once again. Life was good...I wanted an adventure, and moved to Oz!! Met an amazing guy who is now my husband. Continued to work as a nurse until this past year when I had to quit due to back problems (I crushed my lower back in a car accident in 2004 and the injury finally caught up to me). I have been unemployed for half the year, dealing with chronic pain and spent most my time in bed, waiting for surgery and becoming quite depressed. I'm now 7 weeks post-op, but am still feeling down. Anxiety has been reappearing, probably due to my boredom and overthinking. I'm left questioning what direction to go with my career now that bedside nursing is no longer an option. I kind of feel like I'm having an existential crisis at this point Running out of room, so this is who I am and where I am at (in a teeny nutshell) I welcome any comments, questions, sharing of stories, etc. Thanks for reading

Introducing myself

replies: 2

Hi everyone, Im new to online forums but thought id introduce myself and share a little. Im 28 years old, have a 3 year old daughter, partner & have been suffering with Borderline Personality Disorder for several years. Ive struggled with addiction & bulimia also. I feel my illness getting stronger and having more control over me lately =( Finding it hard to have ANY control over my emotions or thoughts. I feel lile ive been locked in a cage with this beast and I cant get out. my family have little to no understanding of BPD so I feel extremely alone most of the time. Hoping to meet some people who understand so I know im not alone in this dark world. thanks for reading Xo

Help - technical issue with exceeding character limit

replies: 5

I cannot post in other topics. No matter how few words I type it tells me I've exceeded the character limit. What am I doing wrong?

Hello - I'm new and complicated, I think?

replies: 4

Hello all I am new here, even though I've checked out BB info in the past. I don't really fit easily into any of the forum categories that I can see, so I will just briefly say that I am depressed, struggle to accept things and complicatedly grieving. I suppose I am normally an anxious kind of person too, and I worry a lot/need to stay organised to cope. A lot has happened in the past few years, basically a multiple-whammy of things, but in my mind, I am ok, or I should be ok, or 'it's not that bad, is it?'. At this point, I feel like I am coming unstuck. Migrated to Aus in 2011, moved house 11 times in the past 10 years (in Aus and before moving to Aus), was burgled a few months after arriving, marriage troubles throughout (I think he had aspergers, depression, anxiety/social anxiety, and/or more, but there's no way of knowing now, and I did not know at the time), separation after 8yrs of marriage, grief/loss (separated husband took his life 2yrs ago), messed up/non-functional relationship x 2 in the subsequent time. Add to that, 2 soul-destroying jobs which I thankfully left, retrenchment, job instability, normal day to day life (which is actually ok!!) and yeah, that's me. My mom and sister are still living in my 'home' country (my dad passed away in 2004), so the timezone difference is fun to contend with when I need a close supportive chat during normal day-time hours here. I have friends here, 2 of which are very supportive and understanding, they are almost like my adopted uncle and adopted sister. I am healthy, grateful for everything living here, I don't take it for granted at all, so I should be ok. But I just feel messed up in my head and unable to feel happy or enjoy things. The advice I see everywhere is 'do things that you enjoy'... but that does nothing for me. Doing things I need to do, like chores, etc, are a drag enough. I can't say whether I will post on the forum very much, but at least I've signed up

Anxiety , Major depression , pain medication dependance

replies: 2

Hi , I am new . I am currently really low . I have a husband and a son and I feel like I am completely alone . I am struggling with basic daily activities , I am sad all the time , so scared and feel so alone . I know I am a burden to my husband , an... View more

Hi I would like to introduce myself and share experiences to help me fight depression and anxiety

replies: 7

Hi I am new to the forum and I need someone to talk to and get help on how to beat depression and anxiety and how to handle bullies. My manager bullies me at work and she put me down so much and old feelings of insecurity came back and I felt very anxious and depressed and I need to overcome people like her causing me problems and putting me down. Also if anyone knows a group of people who get together and talk through their experiences please let me know I would love to be a part of a support group.

ADHD and anxiety newbie

replies: 4

Hi all I have always suffered from ADHD and in the last year have started getting anxiety I am now on various medications for it. the problem is I am still getting the anxiety every now and then looking for some help as I can't afford to see a psycho... View more

Im a newbie

replies: 3

Hi everyone. Im just starting out here. My life has been very challenging since i was a child. Of course all the wrong things happened to me when i was a child. But anyway...now i have ptsd, cluster B personality disorders and major depressive disorder with psychotic features. I struggle with depression so much, its really hard to live my life. I struggle to get out of bed, to be a good mum and wife. I just wish things would get easier.

Getting out of bed

replies: 3

I've struggled with depression, sometimes worse than others, for a few years now and I still wonder why, when I know getting out of bed will make me feel a bit better, I still stay in bed refusing to get up. It doesn't make sense but I guess that's w... View more

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hi replies: 5

New bean on the block replies: 6

Introducing myself replies: 2

Help - technical issue with exceeding character limit replies: 5

Hello - I'm new and complicated, I think? replies: 4

Anxiety , Major depression , pain medication dependance replies: 2

Hi I would like to introduce myself and share experiences to help me fight depression and anxiety replies: 7

ADHD and anxiety newbie replies: 4

Im a newbie replies: 3

Getting out of bed replies: 3