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Meet your community champions!

replies: 13

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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Saying Hi

replies: 7

Hi Everyone . I joined last night because sleep was just not happening. I poked around some threads not knowing what to do and responded to another first time poster. Hand holding is good. A CC Just Sara said check in here and say hi, so here I am and Hi! Thanks for making me feel welcome. Reading through some posts I see there is so much in common even though we think we are doing it all on our own. Reading what others are going through makes me feel like I'm having a storm in a tea cup, but if you think you're in a tiny tiny boat then I guess it is a big deal. Sunny side up boys and girls! Cya

Nice to Meet you all

replies: 5

Hi All, Thank you for letting me lurk in the background for the last month or so and for the responses to my more emotional introduction the other day. I thought I would take the time to introduce myself in a more positive and calm way. Hi, I am Maddie and I am in my late 20's. I have nicknamed myself after one of my dogs hence the Pasha name, which incidentally came from a book I love. I work full time in a job I enjoy and am studying and am a foster carer too ( currently on a break to look after myself) I live in a tiny house with a big yard with 2 dogs and my Partner and all 3 of these beings are my happy place. While I am stuggling at the moment with depression and anxiety, I want to live a happier life so this time I am putting myself first and I will do this and get myself better. (Now I have written it down I feel like I have taken ownership of this) Thank you for all your kind words already, I hope I can also give some back. Maddie

Support groups

replies: 3

Hi I'm new to the forum. I'd like to make an enquiry about support groups. Overseas I've attended weekly meetings where people share about their week and the effects of depression. I always felt great after leaving these sharings as I knew these peop... View more

Newbie and feeling lost and low

replies: 3

Hi! Taking the big step to post here and feeling I don't know how to express my current feelings. Lost, sad, frightened, anxious - struggling to keep up the front of coping. On the outside I've got it together, but inside I'm exhausted - it's taking so much from me. Workplace stress - bullying, pressure, expectations of me to be the 'perfect, confident person' My workplace is under serious pressure - huge numbers of staff on stress leave. Those left battling to keep it going - and I am too afraid for people to see I'm not coping. Or to be labelled and the stigma of being "one of those" - despite the fact many cases of stress staff leave cases are genuine. I need to work but going each day is exhausting me, I'm a senior manager with a very good work history of 'pulling of the unachievable' I know I'm liked and staff look up to me but I'm crumbling

Worried about my Mum.

replies: 3

My mother is in hospital right now, undergoing tests and we don't know exactly what's wrong. Diagnosis is taking time. I'm disabled and she's my carer, but now she can't even walk. I'm terrified. I don't know how to handle everything and the Aged Care system isn't proving easy to navigate. My fear is that she'll be sent home without a real diagnosis and we'll be just left to fend for ourselves. I have no idea how to cope. And I'm so afraid she won't make it if we don't find out what's wrong. I'm always putting on a positive, strong face, but she needs care, and I want her here, and I'm lost. Help, please.

Anxiety, body dysmorphia, low self-esteem & negative self talk to name a few.

replies: 2

Hi, Im new here & would like to hear from people who have felt or dealt with the issues in my Title & to share some ideas & tips on how to cope better. Thanks

❤ Introducing myself❤

replies: 17

Hi my name is Julie and I am 41 and live on the Central Coast NSW. I have suffered depression for some time now and what makes it even harder is having anxiety along with it....some days I'm fine and then one day I'll wake up and feel so sad and gloomy for no apparent reason I hate feeling this way because I have no answers for it as to why it happens unexpectedly. ...I also sufferfrom emotional abuse too which hurts so badly A lot of so called friends and family claim to say they're here for support but when you need them they're nowhere to be found so I pretty much have no one else to rely on to talk to when I'm feeling lost and sad...hence why I've turned to here to find people who are willing to be my friend and chat, and I will be more than happy to offer my support and friendship back Thank you ❤

First time Poster,Long time Fighter

replies: 3

hyper vigilance

Sea change,left adrift

replies: 1

Hi All I've just made a huge, belated change in my life. After 10+ years fighting depression, anxiety and resulting substance abuse, all on my own, I finally did what was ultimately the bravest thing possible... I moved back home. I'm lucky enough to have an incredibly supportive Mum who has always made it clear to me that I have a place to seek shelter. However, I firmly believe the pervasive "loser" stigma associated with living at home forced me to flounder in a life I just couldn't handle, for a ridiculously long time..I avoided it for as long as possible, for whatever reasons.. and I grappled for support anywhere else but the dreaded home with family. For whatever reason, this has ended up being the right time for me to seek that refuge. Living out of home since the age of 21 I only just, at 31, kind of "gave up". However, my family is not exactly a haven of stability , they have a myriad of issues themselves. Both my siblings suffer with quite severe mental health issues. My Mum is on her own and a stoically "strong" woman. She finds the depression hard to cope with so I don't talk to her about it.. but we both know why I'm home... Anyways, I joined Beyond Blue so I could have a chat on the forums as , although I finally find myself relatively safe, and at home, I have none of the structures I once relied on when I felt sad. I have made a literal 180° turn to move here... leaving behind toxic relationships, focusing on my health (physical and mental) , setting new boundaries etc. Although I'm fairly positive I am doing the right thing, it has been a lonely and confusing scramble towards wellness. I'm yet to find myself a professional support system here.. and it has me feeling pretty overwhelmed so hoping to have a chat here when the "bad thoughts" do, inevitably, surface. Thanks to you guys for providing a service to all of us "seekers". - x

struggling with unhelpful thoughts

replies: 7

been diagnosed with mixed anxiety/depression,seeing counsellor,using other stratergies,but still having very tough time dealing with the unhelpfful thoughts,set off by small things,lots bad medical help[none for most of it],former very heavy drinker & find even doing all i know still doesn't help at times,end up so overwhelmed have to go to ed for extra help,anyone got any more helpful advice,all help greatly appreciated

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Saying Hi replies: 7

Nice to Meet you all replies: 5

Support groups replies: 3

Newbie and feeling lost and low replies: 3

Worried about my Mum. replies: 3

Anxiety, body dysmorphia, low self-esteem & negative self talk to name a few. replies: 2

❤ Introducing myself❤ replies: 17

First time Poster,Long time Fighter replies: 3

Sea change,left adrift replies: 1

struggling with unhelpful thoughts replies: 7