Welcome and Orientation

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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 to everyone

replies: 4

Hi everyone, I've just joined this site... I've had depression since I was a child To cut a long story short, the last 3 years depression and anxiety has dominated my life. Through that I've no friends left really that I feel that I can confide in for fear of losing more. To add to that concern I lost my partner due to this also. The main trigger that unearthed the depression bigtime, where previously i was able to recover, was a total and uttet loss of passion and purpose. Not just workwise but pretty much everything. Loss of relationships have really compounded things for me, there is alot of shame there for allowing that to happen. I've tried many forms of conventional treatment,and not so conventional. I've yet to find the key. I've been a hard nut to crack. Still fighting Cheers

Pure-O (Pure Obsessional OCD)-I'm struggling

replies: 1

Hi people, I've been struggling with OCD for about ten years now, and usually I'm able to manage it pretty well. Unfortunately I've been finding life very hard for the first time in years recently, which has been possibly triggered by some other experiences I've had that are not the nicest in the past few weeks. I'm also adjusting to a new medication that I hope to God works because otherwise I don't know how I'll cope with life. I'm really desperate, and want to find people who can understand what its like to have these constant ruminations. Mine mostly centre around losing control, or dying. Can anyone give me some hope? Carla.

Hello and a brief summary of where I'm at

replies: 2

Hi, My name is Al and I'm a 28 year old male. I've had several diagnosis (Depression, anxiety, ADHD, Bipolar) but no particular medication or therapy has ever been helpful. All of my life I have been able to cope and lead a normal life, but the last few months I have been completely bed ridden. I have lost my job, I'm about to lose my license (other medical issues), and I'm scared I'm going to lose my relationship. I'm can't keep any appointments with my GP or other help I've sought due to not being able to get out of bed, let alone the house. As great as my girlfriend is at understanding what I'm going through she doesn't know how to help, and I don't have any family or friends I can talk to or ask for help. I've completely run out of ideas, and don't know where to go from here. Al.

A quick and nervous hello and background. Dunno which direction to head after potentially running away from issues

replies: 4

Hi all, a bit wary and nervous about writing here as generally I keep a lot of this private (bad I know). Anyway I'm male, 34 years old and have been living a bit of a nomadic life for the past 13 years, dotting about the globe through over 100 countries which has been enjoyable but now wondering if this was partly due to running away from previous problems. I work in IT at the moment and am also a trained high school teacher and would ideally like to use this to volunteer a bit more overseas at some point in some of the poorer areas I've been through at some point. My father was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver when I was 22 and had already left to travel overseas (to which I went back to the funeral for) yet I decided to continue travelling the globe with the idea of "this just proves you have to live your life to the fullest" for another 5 years before visiting my family (back in NZ) again. Another 6-7 years of travelling after that (during which my cousin took his own life) and I decided to go back to NZ with a view to settle down a bit, open the next chapter of my life, be closer to my family and to study to be a teacher. Things seemed to go well however after getting involved in a semi-relationship with an amazing young lady and then royally screwing it up (due to my own indecision) and hurting that person bad, things went downhill from there. It has been 2 years since I messed things up and I still feel massive guilt every day about it and the depression is sort of taking its toll on my day to day life. Lots of thinking about "what could have been", seeing that person happier now with someone else, massive disappointment/guilty with myself, lack of interest in anything I do and helpless at knowing you can't change history. A close friend said "you need to move one" or "you can't beat yourself up about it" but I find it hard to break out of the cycle. I have regular insomnia and often anxiety (especially just before sleeping) and often walk to work in a zombie-like down state, before faking it for the day. I often wonder if I have been running away from things when they get a little too tough and the thought of returning to home fills me with dread as my mind just associates it with pain and hurt. Often the nomadic travelling life just feels like an easy escape as well. I've had a few counselling sessions. Logically the suggestions made sense. In practice it's harder. Thanks all. Appreciate any advice or suggestions

I'm not new I'm old

replies: 4

G'day everyone, I looked up this site to help my oldest friend. He is 82 and his mind is playing tricks on him. I also discovered I am in need of help, I realised I have problems of my own that can and have been quite serious for most of my life. Ok ... View more

Lost

replies: 2

Hi all , I've just joined as I am so depressed and don't know what to do about my situation. I'm injured and not getting any Centerlink help at all. I've just done 6 months jail for driving charges ( first time inside) and all I had was stolen whilst I was locked up, I have no licence till 2042 and can't find a job. I have 3 daughters that live with their mum and miss being with them so much that I cry several times a day. That's enough for now

PND with a two year old

replies: 2

A quick intro and request for directions! I have a gorgeous two year old but I have been struggling with PND most of that time. i have just had a "flare-up" and I am wanting to connect with some mums in the same boat. If anyone could direct me to a thread about PND that would be great, especially if there is a more specific thread for older children rather than newborns. TIA

Finally learning that Depression is

replies: 5

Not my fault, a work in progress. It has been a rough few years. I finally found a supportive and very patient team. I am not near the end, but have progressed from the scared and scarred clammed shell I fell into the illness at the beginning. I could never have written this...what I want is to know what helped others. Beside a professional team I am in this solo, I hope to find a supportive community.

Jd

replies: 10

Hi I new to the website and forums. I'm a little uneasy about everything I write on here

Feel like im going nuts

replies: 3

Hi im 53 i have depression anxiety and ocd..i wrote a lot more but it wouldnt post

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Saying hi to everyone replies: 4

Pure-O (Pure Obsessional OCD)-I'm struggling replies: 1

Hello and a brief summary of where I'm at replies: 2

A quick and nervous hello and background. Dunno which direction to head after potentially running away from issues replies: 4

I'm not new I'm old replies: 4

Lost replies: 2

PND with a two year old replies: 2

Finally learning that Depression is replies: 5

Jd replies: 10

Feel like im going nuts replies: 3