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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 i'm new can you tell ??

replies: 4

Hey, Giving this a go, as nothing has worked yet. Everyone is unique or different as are their hopes, fears and ideals as well as their illness. An illness that is what i am told i have, i think of it as a different way at looking at things. My illness is ""depression"" which i have had for 9 years and in the last 3 i am listed as extreme yay me. The options for treatment that i have been given don't appeal to me, drugs or having electric shock treatment. I worked as a sparky and have been zapped a few times so i am ticking that treatment as done. I don't like the ideas of drugs.... well there are many reasons which this is not the place to post from what i have read. I have gotten to a point in the last 2 years where my attempts make sense, i have made a promise to change my view, but the more i try to change, the more i feel my judgement is right. Sorry for the preachy crazy intro

Can you claim sick leave for mental illness

replies: 2

Hello everyone I had to take this week off due to my depression being at a all time low as I am thinking to try and get back to work next week as I have organised help can I claim sick leave and if not what can I do people know? Kind regards ash

Molly

replies: 2

I have always suffered from depression but have been off work now for 3 1/2 months. I had a scan on my head and a pineal cyst found approximately 20 yrs ago has grown and causing me major issues. Have been in hospital and suffer from the symptoms from cyst daily. Now waiting to see neurosurgeon but that could be months away even though a Category 1. I am really struggling dealing with all of this. No money coming in as can't work and the waiting. I don't want to get out of bed, just want to sleep but can't I do try to go for walks but sometimes impossible. I am just over the feelings of sadness and uselessness and emptiness. I have so much to be grateful for and just want things to be sorted

Depression is taking over me

replies: 4

Hey guys, i have been suffering from depression and anxiety for 6 years now. Right now I am at my lowest and struggling to see a way out. I am trying to find new ways to deal and be happy however not finding it very easy. I am trying this to see if it helps before seeking further help. I am just after someone to speak with who can help me see the light. i hope to hear from someone soon.

First time reaching out.

replies: 10

As my title suggests I have never asked for help with my struggles. Partly because I could not acknowledge certain issues and partly because blocking some things seemed easier then to confront them. I have had several people tell me to seek help in the past and I've ignored them all. I'm 31 years of age and like many others, i'm sure, I look at my life and myself as a person and I want things to change but lack direction and maybe my first step is this very post.... I don't really know what else to say.

Hello all

replies: 13

Am 56 years of age, have had a couple of strokes that affect you in different ways, mental health problems do exist and wish to start a topic on stroke, where people can feel comfortable to share.

Weight of the world..

replies: 1

Hi, New here and just looking for someone who might understand.. my husband is currently going through the process of being diagnosed with what is believed to be bipolar. We are currently separated due to behaviour resulting from this (eg huge money spending anger not sleeping dealing with his many grand schemes as i call them)but trying to work it out as we have children. I know he is not in control of what has happened and i can say im actually relieved there is some reason as to why we've had such a roller-coaster over the past 10 years. But im just still really angry at him and then I feel so guilty for that but i feel as though im the one left to deal with all of the fallout from this...i am just struggling to keep it all together. Not really sure what I'm trying to say..but thanks for listening anyway

New to this

replies: 4

Hi all I'm new to this not sure what to say or how much to say. Just thought I would drop in and say Hi. I am a wally

My life unexplained ( skitzophrenia )

replies: 4

Does anyone on this site been diagnosed or lead to believe at stages in their life that they were a skitzophrenic..I am eager to hear your story. Everything I can know about this mental health condition will be a help for me to understand my story and life... Please tell me what skitzophrenia is in your own terms. It appears the condition is continually changing with experts . It has a lot a misunderstanding and un-explained phenomenon or maybe that is just with me? Is that un-true to say? i have tried to find connect groups with people living with skitzophrenia for obvious reasons . I hope people living with it will reply! regards.. Jay

Struggling with depression and anger

replies: 2

Hi there. I am new to the forum. I've suffered with depression (and anxiety) for many years. Although I have found ways to cope with this on a day-to-day basis, sometimes it trips me up big time. An ongoing problem for me is that I struggle to recognise what I am feeling emotionally; and often miss the signs that my depression and/or anxiety has been triggered. When in this state I very easily get angry without realising. I'm in a long term relationship, and my partner might say something that normally would be inconsequential but in this state arouses anger extremely quickly. The problem is that once triggered I struggle (and usually fail) to prevent it escalating - I fail to walk away; and I fail to keep my mouth shut. Does anyone else have a similar experience? Is there anything you're tried that works?

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hi i'm new can you tell ?? replies: 4

Can you claim sick leave for mental illness replies: 2

Molly replies: 2

Depression is taking over me replies: 4

First time reaching out. replies: 10

Hello all replies: 13

Weight of the world.. replies: 1

New to this replies: 4

My life unexplained ( skitzophrenia ) replies: 4

Struggling with depression and anger replies: 2