Welcome and Orientation

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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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Hello Im Virginia

replies: 2

Hi my am Virginia. I have suffered anxiety/depression for most of my life. Only officially diagnosed in 2006 and still being treated medically and psychologically. I have never joined a forum before because of fear of not knowing what to say.

My life is mentally exhausting.

replies: 4

hi Everyone. Im new here and thought Id introduce myself. Panic attacks since mid 1984, my daughter was only 2. Marriage lasted 32 years. It lacked love, empathy and support. New relationship lasted 4 years. I didn't reveal everything about myself to him. There was no point. Heartless individual that preys on mental weaknesses and uses them to his advantage. We are still living under the same roof and he has continued to make my life a living hell. He actually gets his kicks when he succeeds to make me furious and when I reach my peak, my anxiety goes through the roof and I break down and cry. I don't want him to see me cry so Ill go to my room or have a shower, sit on the floor and cry my heart out. It doesn't help but I feel better temporarily. I can't move out as 1. I cannot afford the rents on my own and 2. I still have really debilitating panic attacks when I''m alone in the house. I have no friends and no one in the family can offer me help. My daughter will help if I need do go shopping and I can drive around my area but cannot drive alone for long distances or unfamiliar areas. My rent is $400/fortnight (shared) so I'm left with just enough to buy my animals their food an a bit of food for myself. The anxiety and stress of living day to day like this eventually got to me. Plus living with the verbal abuse.. I was finding it hard to find the energy to get out of bed. I didnt want to die but I wanted a big hole to open up that I could crawl into. I have fears, like everyone else. I fear death, I fear living alone, I fear never finding someone to love me, I fear that I will become homeless. I fear that I am going insane at times. I FEAR my fears. I shed a few tears reading other peoples' stories. I guess it made me realise that I am not really alone in my thoughts. Other people know what a panic attack feels like, they know what loneliness is. I am not alone .

Hello I'm New Here

replies: 5

Hi my names Elle and I'm 22. I've never been on an online forum and am hoping I'll get some understanding and support for my generalised anxiety and social anxiety. I've recently broken up from a 4 year relationship and just feel like everything fall... View more

Breaking barriers: How I overcame depression

replies: 24

Hi, I'm new here and I’d like to contribute to your journey by telling my story. I was diagnosed with severe depression when my son was 9 months old. Hospitalised four times with heaps of medication. Professionals, family and friends took care of me. I tried everything: group therapy, mindfulness, art therapy, meditation, reiki and electroshock therapy. Nothing was enough to lift me up. I eventually got a bit better and was sent home. The hospital was after all, a safe place. Being home alone with my tortured brain wasn’t easy. The cloud got bigger and the days and nights endless. Months went by…. I had to get a job, get my life back. Do things, pretend to be well and happy. The cloud on my head was still there, on and off. My medication, therapy, breathing techniques, walks in nature.. weren’t doing much for my recovery. I wondered If I was ever going to get back to my old self.  One day, a meditation teacher suggested I should call an ayurvedic doctor for a consult. I had vaguely heard about Ayurveda, the Indian science of life. Hesitant and sceptical, I decided to give it a go. I had a Skype session with the most amazing practitioner. She suggested drastic changes on my lifestyle and my diet. Getting up at 5.30am, going for a walk, getting home, doing yoga and meditation. No red meat, no most carbohydrates, no sweets, no alcohol. I was overwhelmed and grumpy, but I embraced the challenge. I put all my energy into this, and I started to feel much better in a couple of months.  My ayurvedic doctor told me on the first session that the purpose of this treatment, long term, was that I would stop taking my medication. I told the news to my psychiatrist. He laughed at me. He said I would be on my meds at least for five years.  It’s been a year since I started my ayurvedic journey. I lost ten kilos and haven’t been sick since (not even a cold). I’m now on the minimum dose of my medication, before getting off it forever. It’s been an incredible ride. My life gave a 180 degrees turn. I’m happy and grateful to be alive .

Hi I'm new

replies: 2

Hi I'm really not sure about writing this but anyway here goes - I get very overwhelmed when confronted with a large group of people - recently and reluctantly I went to a BBQ with my wife (it was her work colleagues) anyway I knew all day it was going to be a bad night - I texted my wife and said I don't really feel comfortable about going - she said thats fine - when I got home from work I was relaxed that I wasn't going but she said she wanted me to come to the BBQ - do it for me, so I went knowing it wasn't going to be a good idea - sure enough it was a disaster I spoke to no none, I didn't want to speak to anyone, the noise was too loud, there was no food cooked till nearly 8pm, one lady started a conversation with my wife and she tried to include me but I didn't pick up on the signs and just listened. Then I just got up and left and stood in carpark near the car until food was on - ate really quickly, then I returned and stood next to the car for the next hour while I left my wife back at the BBQ - an hour or so passed and she excused herself and we went home - next morning we had a huge argument about how I let her down, she tried to include me, but I got so overwhelmed and me leaving to go stand near the car - I told her I knew it was going to be a bad idea and I couldn't believe she put me in that situation. I've had this issue all my life and it upsets me so bad I can't think or function and I flee to get somewhere safe. I hate feeling this way and then all sorts of bad things fill my head - I did let my wife dow, embarrassed her in front of her work colleagues and I feel worthless cause I did that - then in the morning I swore at her and lost my temper cause I was in a situation that I can't function in - I took it out on her and it concerns me that I have these issues and self doubts - weird thing is I'm a teacher standing in front of 25-30 kids every day for 30 years - doesn't bother me in the slightest - I would never put a kid in a situation where they feel worthless/full of anxiety etc - my wife now says she won't bother asking me to social things now so I have really upset her - not intentionally but still hurt her all the same which then leads me to think other worthless feelings - she's embarrassed now to be seen out with me Ive put her in a awkward situation with her work colleagues - next morning I emailed her boss and said to pass on my apologies to all at BBQ - don't know what else to do?? - she suggested I contact beyond blue

New and Very lost

replies: 2

Hi, I am new here and I am pretty sure I need help but I am too embarrassed to talk to anyone. I have tried a lot of the tools and things on the Website and they help a bit (particularly my action plan) but it is not enough. Some of my thoughts scare me but whenever I refer to the action plan I can usually get through the dark times but it seems to be getting harder. Anyway this is my first step and it has taken me months to get this far. Lost

I'm new here

replies: 6

Mother of 6. Eldest is 15 youngest is 4 months. Do have post natal depression and aniexty. I'm 34 years old. Have found support to be wonderful in dealing with this. But some days are a struggle.. I think your all amazing xx It's a pleasure to meet e... View more

New here

replies: 5

Hey, I'm on here because I thought it was time that I talk to someone. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression 3-4 years ago. Just when I think I'm getting better and things are looking up, BOOM! Something happens and I'm back to where I started. I have a loving and supporting family who are there for me. But I don't want to burden them, even though they say I'm not. I feel like I'm stuck in life and don't know what to do. Most days I wake up with a heavy feeling in my chest that won't go away.

New to the group

replies: 3

Hello all, I am new to the group, and I would like to say how great it is to have an online forum that covers issues such as, depression and anxiety. Like many sufferers, I find that telling people about it, can be very difficult.

Hello New Member

replies: 2

Hi my name is Alison,i'm 26 years old and i'm from Melbourne,Victoria.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hello Im Virginia replies: 2

My life is mentally exhausting. replies: 4

Hello I'm New Here replies: 5

Breaking barriers: How I overcame depression replies: 24

Hi I'm new replies: 2

New and Very lost replies: 2

I'm new here replies: 6

New here replies: 5

New to the group replies: 3

Hello New Member replies: 2