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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Kylie

replies: 2

I have different physical symptoms I am sure are anxiety related. Lots to unpack from my 52 years. Numb face and arm crying etc. Doctor puts it down to Psychosomatic issues. I hold down a full time job and adult children and friends.After a few years of saying “no” I took an SSRI for three mornings. I felt so unwell and depressed the third day I stopped taking them. Thoughts?

I’m new here & want to connect with others

replies: 2

I suffer from depression, anxiety, BPD & PTSD. I’ve never found admissions to Psychiatric facilities helpful. I need to learn how to cope better with emotions & have a management plan, so I don’t fall down the dark hole, continually. I’ve made changes to diet, who I hang with, stay away from negativity, be my greatest fan & do daily things that bring me joy. I’m sure I’ll find more that will help me. Thank you for reading my story.

Confused In Life

replies: 9

Hello Guys, I am relatively new here but I just wanted to share some of my own experiences and ask a few questions. My parents took a business to run ever since we came here to Australia (2012) and since then I haven't felt as happy or loved. I know they are running the business because of our family situation and we need the income it provides but this has led them to not spend time with me or my sibling except my sibling was old enough to take care of himself to some point. It's been 11 years but we have only spent time together as a family twice. I mean I know my parents are working day and night for us but sometimes I just wish they could spend more time with us. Not only this but my relationship with my friends didn't go so well in high school that I had to change from my from a 4-year friend group. Although this has gotten better with my new friends, there are constant problems. I also like this person and they said they think they like me and I felt properly loved but it's just so frustrating because the person who likes me can't act the same in front of me as they do with their friends. They don't talk much at all and don't give me the chance to get to know them. I did say I will wait but I don't know what to do. What would you do? Anyways, right now I am in yr 12 and I am going to sit my HSC but I have no interest in the world around me. I don't know what to do in life. I have my exams in less than 6 months but I am failing half my subjects. The pressure from my brown parents is getting to me. They are setting expectations that are too much for me. At times they are pressuring me into telling me what course I want to study and then the next moment they say "It doesn't matter as long as you get a good ATAR". But what defines a GOOD ATAR? There is so much more I want to say but it's going to get boring so I will stop now...

Hi all

replies: 3

I've been struggling with stress and depression for a while now. Just looking for support and ways to get out.

New feedback forum

replies: 2

Hello everyone, We appreciate the feedback you've given us so far on the new website and our online forums. We have set up a new area for you to provide further details in the "Website Feedback" forum. In the next day or so, you'll see we've moved re... View more

Confused and uncertain (selfish?!)

replies: 2

On the face of things you'd think I should be happy. A loving family, a very well paid job, a roof over my head. Something isn't right though.I feel disconnected from my job and every day I go deeper down a hole. I'm embarrassed to tell people (I only recently changed career path), I don't know what I'd do / where i'd turn to instead. I don't want to let my family down or for others to think I don't care or I'm lazy.I have this deep rooted sadness and the future doesn't look much brighter.Am I being selfish?

Cant work this out

replies: 6

I was using beyond blue many months ago and need more help so tried to log back in. After resetting a forgotten password I finally was able to log on again. Just want to post my feelings and get some support but I cannot understand ANYTHING or find ANYTHING on your site anymore. It makes no sense to me and I cannot work it out anymore!!!! Why have you made it so hard???? I just want to post and receive messages of support but your site is NOT USER FRIENDLY anymore and making it impossible for me to click on basic tabs that makes sense. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE??..Why have you made it so hard???..

Quarter Life Crisis

replies: 3

Hello listeners, I'm going through a confusing time. I can't say anything is particularly wrong, I can't complain. But lately I have been overly irritable and having weird thoughts mainly around not being satisfied with my life at the moment. (I feel selfish just saying this) but I think the truth is, I'm putting too much pressure on myself to have it all together. I'm 25, I'll be 26 toward the end of the year and it makes me anxious. Whats my next step? Am I doing good enough? What should I focus on? If I don't settle down soon I'll never get married and have kids! I'm trying to focus on my career. I just started a new job which is a great opportunity and I have a lot of responsibility here which I actually love. But I feel sad when people ask me what I'm doing on the weekend and every weekend I sit at home or visit my parents and don't do much else. I do have animals (dogs, horses) and live alone which is a responsibility in itself and takes up my time too. I PROMISE I'm not a boring person. I'm actually really fun. But I don't have the energy for a social life. I don't actually care about having a lot of people around me. But when I do have people around me, I do enjoy myself. But I actually do feel like a loser and that I "should" be going out more, or I "should be dating. The truth is I'm not fazed about anything and I feel like I should be! To add a spanner in the works, my dad recently went to the doctor and got diagnosed with anxiety and depression on a relatively high level. I guess I wasn't surprised. He has suppressed his feelings for years, I don't think he even knew he had depression and anxiety. He was in literal denial. But this has hit me hard emotionally. Mainly because I feel he had hid it from my family to protect us in some way. And that hurts. Because of my dad's behaviors, and the years and years of trying to convince him somethings wrong. The countless arguments with him because he's said or done something hurtful or out of sorts has put a wedge In my parents marriage. I guess it's all just getting to me! Anyone else going through or been through a tough time in their twenties where you're just lost! LC

Suddenly feel insufferably lonely

replies: 56

this is how I feel right now, not sure if this is the best place to post this... these kinds of intrusive thoughts are scary, they are not the facts but they are linked to reality. Because I'm really lonely.

Everyone's struggles are unique but no one's struggles are incomprehensible

replies: 2

Hi guys! So, basically I am like incredibly new to this and joining was undeniably spontaneous. I was just laying in bed and I couldn't help but feel like I was being useless, wasting my time if you know what I mean. I barely have the energy to stand in the shower, but this, I want to do. I want to share my story, my friend's stories and I want people to feel that they are valid. That anyone can be subject to mental health issues, that the demons don't discriminate and a little empathy, a little kindness, a little love, goes all the way. The phrase in the title is so deep because for me personally, being understood is such an essential part of my healing journey. To know that I'm not insane, to know that how I feel doesn't make me a lost cause, to know that I'm not too far gone and that people have been exactly where I am and still made it out. I want so deeply to be told that my struggles are exactly that, struggles. I don't know if some people have gone through worse, because how I feel right now is my definition of worse. I don't feel ok and that's ok too. I don't have to be on the verge of death to be understood. This is a deep topic and I agree I have strong opinions. (Although it's mostly facts) Thanks guys

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Kylie replies: 2

I’m new here & want to connect with others replies: 2

Confused In Life replies: 9

Hi all replies: 3

New feedback forum replies: 2

Confused and uncertain (selfish?!) replies: 2

Cant work this out replies: 6

Quarter Life Crisis replies: 3

Suddenly feel insufferably lonely replies: 56

Everyone's struggles are unique but no one's struggles are incomprehensible replies: 2