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Meet your community champions!

replies: 14

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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The Long Road

replies: 13

I'm 66. I am a retired professional. When I was 40 I contracted Ross River Fever, ended up with Chronic Fatigue. My GP told me to get over it! I got a new GP. Then I fractured a vertebrae. We had a 4yr old son & a brand new daughter, a brand new home and interest rates went up every month. Medication didn't help. My poor partner!!! She finally dragged me of to a psychologist who explained my condition. It seems funny but I had no idea I was depressed. I had no idea about anything. I lived in a black hole for over 2 years, don't remember much at all. The psych gave me simple tools that I use to this day, stand tall, head held high and a bunch of other stuff. With support from the above mentioned and my marvelous boss I "got better". Over the years I've had 3 nervous breakdowns and a few less serious episodes. In 2011 I was divorced, had surgery for prostate cancer, changed towns, bought a large house which I share with my beautiful daughter and reinvented myself. The next 4 years were the best of my life. Then the cancer returned, I had radiation therapy which doesn't seem to have worked. That doesn't really concern me by itself. I am a musician with arthritic fingers, I have a herniated disc pressing on my sciatic nerves. For the last 4 years I have enjoyed acting as Treasurer for a large Community Service Organisation but now my mind can't cope. I can't even walk my beautiful dogs. Injury and depression aside I have been physically, intellectually and politically active all of my adult life. I have much to be grateful for but now I am just tired and apathetic.

No section for Military Veterans?

replies: 6

I've just registered and visited the forums and your website for the first time. I am really very concerned that you have no information for currently serving and discharged Military Veterans. I may be female and I may only be 38 years old, but I fall in to this category. I am a survivor of abuse in the Australian Defence Force and I have Major Depression, several Anxiety Disorders, OCD, Panic Disorder and PTSD. It's all well and good having shiny, professionally photographed celebrities and sporting identities rating as ambassadors on your pages, but what about those of us who have done the hard yards serving our country?? It is a huge disappointment to see we don't even rate a mention. How about opening up some portals for Veterans to connect with each at Beyond Blue? Fair enough we can attempt to fit in under "Women" or "Men", but unless you have actually served, others cannot easily identify with or relate to our unique life and work experiences.

New member who is ready to connect & help

replies: 3

Hi everyone, I am new member of beyond blue! I am currently finishing my bachelor degree in psychology. I myself have previously been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. It was a difficult, confusing and very overwhelming time in my life. I found it so hard to acknowledge my anxiety and depression; I was in denial for a very long time. It was difficult sometimes for the people around me to understand because it is not a 'physical injury' that can be seen, however it does not mean it is not as serious as a physical injury. Through the help of a psychologist and medication I was able to process my emotions and was able to learn coping mechanisms that helped me work through some of my issues. This is essentially what inspired me to enroll into a psychology course. I hope to further help others as best to my ability because it definitely changed my life for the better. I really hope to get to know some of you

Help with Social Anxiety Disorder

replies: 2

Hi, I'm new here and not sure where to start or find the right place for questions on social anxiety disorder?

New to this

replies: 3

Hi all, my name is Iain and I often get low, don't have a lot of confidence and have self esteem issues. I'm married to a beautiful girl with 2 wonderful children & would do anything for them I try to make myself happier by seeking other options, partner wise, to make myself feel better My wife has found out about this and to say she is unhappy is an understatement. I've done the wrong thing and want to make amends so that I can get the trust back that I am now craving I'm here just to talk and know there's other people that I can chat to. To know there's others out there who understand and can help with advice Cheers

Realised I have an issue

replies: 4

Yesterday I had a bit of a realisation, I don't want to be clinically depressed, but probably could be and need to do something about it before I push my family away. I think I've been in denial for a long time. I Have been thinking about recent behaviour from another perspective and it became obvious. I've been having problems for a while and not wanting to admit that i could have a problem and not be a overly talkative person about my feeling. So here I am, Looking down probably long but hopefully successful journey.

out of my comfort zone

replies: 3

Hi all, I am new to this, so here goes.. for quite a few months now i have been experiencing symptoms of anxiety. It all started when I was a passenger in my partners car one day. I felt extremely nauseous but didn't think to much of it as it had never happened before.I thought I must have been feeling ill or coming down with something. As time went on it got worse to the point where I would be sitting as a passenger in a car and would make the driver pull over to the side of the road because my heart started to race and all I could think was " I'm going to be sick." Funny thing is no matter how nauseous I felt I never actually threw up. If that wasn't bad enough, overtime I would be laying in bed trying to sleep out of no where my heart would start to race again and the sickening feeling would come back. One night I felt my heart race that fast that I was struggling to breath, the nausea came back and I feel extremely weak to the point where I struggled to walk to the car so that my mum could take me to the hospital. I had blood test done that night at the hospital and they came back all clear. As days went on the symptoms would just come about when in a car weather it was me or someone else driving, I carried a vomit bag with me everywhere I went just incase. A few nights had past and the very same thing happened, I was admitted into the hospital. Has a scan done on my heart rate and an X-ray done. they came back fine but I was severely dehydrated due to not being able to swallow any fluids or eat anything for days. I was kept over night and on the drip. I went back to my local gp the next day and was given medicine to help with the nausea. its been a few months now and I would have my days. I am under a massive amount of stress due to financial difficulties and work duties. A week ago I was at a shopping centre getting lunch in the middle of a busy period and all of a sudden my legs nearly gave way, my body went numb and my heart was racing, I felt like I was going to be sick. I was scared because I was on my own at this point. I ran to the toilet and sat there trying to catch my breathe. I knew I had to leave so I did as quickly and calmly as I could. I notice that I feel like this when I'm surrounded by a lot of people. I have never had this problem before. I am scared that there is seriously something wrong. My next step is to go see my doctor tomorrow to find out what is really going on. any help would be appreciated. Thankyou

Helpless

replies: 3

so I'm new here took the quiz scored high but I already knew I would. I can not remember a time I was not depressed. Ive tried to get help correct n the past only to be told by the doctor that at my age I should know how to cope. Changed doctors but can't seem to bring it up again with the new doctor had my obgyn send a letter to current doctor saying I needed help with depression but my doctor has never bought it up so I doubt he ever read it. Think I'm at my wits end just so over everything wishing it would all just stop.

Hi I'm new and after support

replies: 3

Hi for a brief history 5 years ago i had my first panic attack and was put on medication that didn't agree with me so i got scared of trying anything else i am diagnosed with Anxiety and Panic Disorder. I thought i was coping well until recently and the anxiety has flared up again I have the choice to medicate but I'm scared because my life is so busy that it can't be put on hold. I joined this forum for support for people maybe going through the same thing and can offer any advice. Thanks so much Lee

Howdy peoples first chat

replies: 2

Ok thanks l hope you get this thread as I am still navigating how this all works

Meet your community champions! replies: 14

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

The Long Road replies: 13

No section for Military Veterans? replies: 6

New member who is ready to connect & help replies: 3

Help with Social Anxiety Disorder replies: 2

New to this replies: 3

Realised I have an issue replies: 4

out of my comfort zone replies: 3

Helpless replies: 3

Hi I'm new and after support replies: 3

Howdy peoples first chat replies: 2