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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Hi.

replies: 3

Not sure how to start. FML

Anxious Newbie

replies: 5

Hi I'm new to all this and thought I'd give it a go to see if it helps me in any way. In the past 4 months I have developed high anxiety which produces panic attacks and I'm at my wits end trying to figure it all out and why its happening to me. When it happens it literally feels like I'm going to die and I every time i run to the doctors they tell me that I'm fine and reassure me which helps but doesn't stop it from happening. The symptoms are very scary to me as I get very light headed, heart racing weakness in my body and start to shake and get all types of weird body pains. Hoping others can shed some light on it and share so techniques they use.

Ben

replies: 2

Hi I'm Ben im 37years old. I have a 9mth old son and a partner. Suffering from various degrees of mental illness for nigh on 20 years now. Over it. Can feel my family slipping away. Live in remote WA. Very hard to get regular services. Feel lost and ... View more

Why can't I converse anymore

replies: 3

Hi i have always been a happy and talkative person and love helping others but over 18 months life has fallen apart i lost my marriage. I lost my home. I lost my business im residing with friends with 2 children in my care I function because I have to but I just don't want to talk I'm on meds and go to therapy but to anyone around me now even my kids I just clam up i want all of this to pass and feel like I am back in control of my life and give my kids their mum back

Feeling different

replies: 6

Hi all, I've struggled with MI for a number of years but it hasn't been until recently far I have actually personally accepted it. I guess I always thought mental illness involved being sad, or feeling anxious all of the time. But mostly I've just felt flat and like life has lost its meaning. I guess this is why I never thought I had an MI in the first place I just thought I wasn't looking after myself properly or just draining myself too much. Never expected that I was actually suffering figured I was being weak. But how long can one just feel flat, lifeless and like nothing can get you out of that hole?

Disability Employment Service problem

replies: 2

Hi everyone, I was sitting with my phone for 3 hours or so. I called this number then I realized I was too close to speaking to somebody. Then I totally chickened out. I am not brave enough to even make this phone call. I don't know - maybe others have a similar experience. I don't even know if I can properly communicate with people. By the way, I am on Newstart Allowance and am required to go to one of the Disability Employment Service providers. This was arranged because I have depression. It seems none of the staff there have a clue about mental health issues and I always feel miserable or intimidated. They are like prison guards. I don't know who came up this crap of system. Nothing works really. Sorry for the rant.

Failing at Life

replies: 2

Hi all, Im 43, in a well paid job, own a lovely home, 12 year relationship. Everything should be great, but i find feeling flat all the time, the only emotion I experience is anger and this is seriously affecting my relationship - my partner is ready to leave the relationship from constantly having to put up with my mood, I have always found it difficult to express my views without sounding arrogant or angry, so people tend to avoid conversation with me, and i usually end up talking in facts not feelings. With the exclusion of my partner I have 2 friends - one of whom has moved overseas, the other is interstate. I rarely speak to my family - my mum jokes if she speaks to me more than once every 2 months she thinks something is wrong. I cant start anything new, if i do i expect to be automatically excellent at it - and as is normal when im not, I stop. This has been going on so long now, i automatically dismiss new experiances or learning things as I know I will fail. I recognise this as depression as i have had episodes of this in the past. Im not good at talking about my feelings at the best of times, i get tounge tied and cant make people understand what im trying to say, i avoid eye contact and my face is often blank. I feel i wouldnt be missed if i wasnt around - my Facebook feed is more adverts than invites as is my email. I feel disappointed and angry at myself at feeling like this when there are homeless people, people who cant work etc and i have been lucky Im not sure what im trying to say here - I should go and see a doctor, and a psych but I dont know how much that will help, if i cant feel a feeling i cant challange it. I feel like runnning away - which makes me angry as im not a kid - dropping out of everyones life to stop them being hurt

hello

replies: 27

Hi I’m new here. I’m not really sure why I’m posting….the need to connect I guess. I have a longish history of anxiety and depression but it’s only in the last 5 years that I’ve admitted this to myself, sought professional help and started on SSRIs, etc. My dr and meds have helped save me a few times over I think. The last 12 months have been particularly rough, although I’m past the worst now. I split with my partner of 20+ years about a year ago and was not prepared for the emotional upheaval this would put me through. Although I wanted the separation, I have not handled being single with as much dignity and courage as I would’ve liked and, as a result, have put myself in situations where I’ve gotten hurt. The most recent being a friend who confessed he had feelings for me, and once I digested this information and started to respond in kind, he completely withdrew from me without any explanation whatsoever. It’s hard not to let this affect my sense of self-worth (and for the most part, I don’t, but on bad days…). I'm surprised at just how frightening I found it to suddenly become single again, although I'm starting to feel more comfortable with it these days. I have a few friends and some family but no one I feel really close to. My social life is pretty uneventful and the loneliness does get to me, especially on weekends. Also, ever since my separation, I haven’t been able to sit through a film or even a tv show. And reading, which has been my lifelong love, is virtually impossible. Has anyone else experienced this and did things go back to normal eventually? Anyway, thanks for listening – it feels better just having said this aloud (so to speak) to someone other than myself or my dr. Take care everyone, rg

Simply66

replies: 4

Hi i was wondering if there are actual support groups on Sunshine Coast for people struggling with depression loss of relationship home and belongings. Wanting to start again its very hard when you try to converse with non like minded people because all everyone talks about are their possessions. And I have lost them all and it would be good to talk to people with no judgement and genuinely want to listen and maybe provide any ideas they have experienced i'd be very greatful for any suggestions

Hi, I'm new here

replies: 3

Hello Just wanting to connect with people going through depression like me. It's been 6 months now and I'm really struggling. I have two children and not much support. The mornings are terrible. I have started medication but after 6 weeks the depression is worse so now coming off the meds. I'm normally a confident and happy person, but this has taken over my life and I find it hard to go to work and do normal things.

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Hi. replies: 3

Anxious Newbie replies: 5

Ben replies: 2

Why can't I converse anymore replies: 3

Feeling different replies: 6

Disability Employment Service problem replies: 2

Failing at Life replies: 2

hello replies: 27

Simply66 replies: 4

Hi, I'm new here replies: 3