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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 Newbie Frosty

replies: 5

Hi I am new to all this, I am 44 I thought this would be a place I could find others who are suffering from deep disabilitating depression like I suffer. I am very isolated from people & family. When I try & talk about what is going on with me or what is in my head it just gets shrugged off & a new subject about them is brought up. i have learned not too bother anyone & just try & do the best I can. I hope to hear from you Kind regards Frosty

New to BB :)

replies: 16

Hi all, I've had anxiety on and off but have been generally pretty good at controlling it with the usual meditation and keeping active. However since losing my job late oct 2016, I tried to act strong and then it just went spiralling out of control from there. Instantly I seeked help because I got so scared. So I see a therapist often - which helps a lot in making me feel "normal" and also check in with a GP... also another reassurance method that I need. Before Xmas I was feeling up and positive and looking forward to getting on with life, then after Christmas I kind of relapsed. I went to my Dr feeling scared (a common thread I'm noticing with myself!) and as it usually hits hard around ovulation he prescribed me an SSRI ... I haven't really used these before, so i held hope and thought, who knows it could make me feel stronger... after 3 days, I felt the worst I had ever felt in my life and it has traumatised me. I stopped taking it after the 6th day (under the Drs guidance) as I knew it wasn't right. It's almost been two weeks and although the Drs reassurance has calmed me and made me feel good for the following week or so, after I brought it all up with my therapist a few days ago, it has made me feel crap again. Horrible side effects like dissociation had left me feeling so fragile, and the memory and feeling has lft me scared deep down. I know its a matter of time, however, I just feel like i need support and like minded people who have been through similar experiences to help me know it will be ok and that I'm not alone. Apart from all this I'm generally so grateful for everything, but this situation has got me really low and am finding it hard at times to be completely full of faith and hope. Thanks for listening guys xxx Faithh

Hello

replies: 6

I am a 19 year old studying at university and I am feeling very much alone. I am troubled by my own shyness, and can't seem to move out of my comfort zone in social situations. I've a few friends in high school but lost contact with them ever since I moved into university. I've only speak to a few acquaintances that go the universities nearby who happen to be passing by trains, but they are fleeting moments. I have recently started being more active by going to a sort of fitness club that teaches martial arts but the experience is physically tiring. I can definitely say it is a positive environment but i don't have the time to go there all the time, which makes me feel worse because the joining fee was expensive. At the moment, I am definitely considering on joining another club that builds on public speaking skills so i can improve myself. Frankly, i don't really know why i joined this online forum, but I've been feeling depressed lately. I do hope that I can at least contribute to the community here in some way !

I'm new.

replies: 7

Hey all. I'm Cam, im from perth. Been suffering from depression on and off since I was 14 I'm 25 now. Just joint the forums after a few rough weeks. For the past year my depression has been the worst it's ever been and iv given up on it so many times. Iv been suggested and prescribed meds but I refuse to take them as I like to live life as drug free as possible. I have a super loving partner and we have been trying for a kid for over a year now with no luck. I see a phyc once every 3 weeks. She is good but sometimes I feel she is too nice to me. The biggest bombshell to happen in the last 2 weeks has been the realisation that I'm a narcissist. It effected my relationship to almost breaking point several times and iv lost every friend iv had. My partner has been telling me for some time now but being quite a narrow minded individual I shrugged it off. I'm not really sure where to start or where to post to get help with my narcissism. As I belive it's thr root cause of my current depressed and sometimes anxious state. Kind regards Cam

Surrounded by people who love me yet I feel so alone

replies: 2

Lots has happened in my life and still does and yet I still DO consider myself fortunate and lucky as many of my family members have passed on. Loving husband, gorgeous kids and yet I still regularly in a crowded room feel so alone? Desperately need someone to talk to who is 'outside' my circle of friends and business associates and family - who all have no idea that I do feel so alone and............unsure? Can you relate?

Newbie 23/03/2017

replies: 4

I just found this Forum. Scrolling through, so many Communications. Keep Me Busy! How Womderful, to have access to this!

Anxious and Scared

replies: 1

Over the past few weeks I have been getting more and more anxious about life. I have been feeling nauseous and getting a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach especially when it comes to work. I have been at the same job for about 7 or 8 years and have this year been under a lot more stress at work. I lay awake at night thinking of all the things I have to do and get nervous and anxious every morning knowing I have to go to work. This week especially I have not even been able to go to work. Every morning when I try I end up in a panic and burst into tears. I have such a supportive husband and family but still I can't quite tell myself that everything will be ok. I have been crying a lot and obsessing over work. I feel miserable at work or thinking of going to work. I have thought of quitting so many times. I went to the doctor to get a medical certificate and kind of told him how I was feeling but I was so scared and nervous and I burst into tears again and had to get my husband to talk for me. He said maybe I should try some medication and also said I could get some counselling sessions if I wanted to. I got too scared and nervous about getting medication because I don't know what it will do to me because I've never taken anything like that before and don't want to rely on a drug to make me feel better but I just don't know what to do. I'm not sure what to do about going back to work on Monday either. Even though I had this time off I still feel as bad as I did because I know it's all going to still be there waiting for me. Every time I think of quitting I automatically feel better for a little while. What should I do? I've never really been through this before

Feel like my battle is lost

replies: 4

I've been suffering severe clinical depression for 12 years now. For the last four years I have also had Bipolar. I think I have come to the realisation that my battle is lost and this is going to be what I will be like for the rest of my life. I have family that are old school and have never believed or taken on board my battle despite hospitalisations etc. The few friends I have left skirt around the issue despite my attempts to try and explain my unreliability and social anxieties. I haven't worked for the last 12 years though I have managed to do complete some study (three attempts). I have a support agency but I have endured long waits for help and lack of support for "middle aged" single parents. I have suffered the loss of three friends and my only sibling all within the last five years. I have a myriad of other health issues and no self esteem or self confidence due to being overweight from years of Meds. Despite all this there a couple of things to be grateful for but I just dont care anymore, I feel like, well why should I care when no one cares about me. I am in a particularly bad period of depression at the moment maybe it's yet another medication change result maybe not. Is this all that is left?

Mutual Support

replies: 6

Hi, I have just turned 49 and have bipolar depression since 25. I feel sometimes my family doesn't understand, so I appreciate mutual (give and take) through this forum.

Beyond Blue for everyone.

replies: 3

My husband thinks that Beyond Blue is only about men's mental health. A simple search of this site has proved him wrong. Why do you think he had this misconception?

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hi Newbie Frosty replies: 5

New to BB :) replies: 16

Hello replies: 6

I'm new. replies: 7

Surrounded by people who love me yet I feel so alone replies: 2

Newbie 23/03/2017 replies: 4

Anxious and Scared replies: 1

Feel like my battle is lost replies: 4

Mutual Support replies: 6

Beyond Blue for everyone. replies: 3