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Meet your community champions!

replies: 12

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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I don't know how to ask for help, I feel like I am failing myself by being so sick

replies: 2

Hi, I guess I have to start here as I have no idea how to confront my mental health, I have no self esteem and I feel like my approach to outside my home is fake it till I make it. I work, I function, That means nothing is wrong but something is wrong and I am fighting my negative frame of mind everyday? I can't pin point when I started to feel this way, I try so hard to fight my negative self doubt but it lingers and I feel like I don't know who I am... I am ashamed of the women I am, The mother I am, The partner I am, I am actually failing everyone around me. All I truely want is happiness and I can barely find glimpses of this in my day. I want to cut everyone out of my life so I can just start again but realistically that is probably my mind frame talking but as these feelings go on I see reason in every little thing why I can't have anyone in my life. To the outside world I almost appear to have it all, but inside I feel nothing, I don't appreciate this life, which is slightly scary but I don't even see it like that. I regret the life I lead it is overwheling, I worked hard for everything I have, I ticked off that list but now that list has stalled, I don't want anything at all except to be alone. This life is more a struggle then living and I question why it has become so hard.. I know I need professional help but am ashamed to admit that and ashamed to be honest that the darkness is eating me alive. I don't want to live like this but I feel like admitting I am like this will be even worse.

Hi i am new here also

replies: 4

Hi there newbie here. I have checked out this forum several times in recent months and have now decided to join. I have had depression and anxiety most of my life and in recent years my anxiety has become pretty bad. I was on meds for a little while and while I was on them it made me realise a lot of things. That it is possible for me to be happy. That life can be better for me. I have managed ok without meds for awhile now. Exercise and keeping myself busy helps. But one thing keeps holding me back and the one constant in my life that continually brings me down - that is my partner of 15+ years. I am ready to leave him now but I dont have family or friends I can turn to for help or even just talk to. Which is a major reason why I am still with him. I cannot do this on my own. I am not sure what I am looking for or expecting by joining this forum. But so far just typing this out has helped me even of just for a little bit..

Canuck in Auz

replies: 4

Hi Everyone, This is my first time joining a forum or posting anything ever. I'm 29 and seem to be hitting a royal low. I've been really struggling lately with anxiety (mostly social) and lashing out at people. My poor boyfriend gets the brunt of it. I really don't know why I keep getting so angry over small things that really wouldn't normally matter. My anger gets pretty bad as well, it's gotten to the point where I break things. I feel really embarrassed and ashamed of how I've been acting and just feeling very overwhelmed. I am starting to seek help and the only positive thing I have to go on is that I don't want to enter 30 feeling or acting like this anymore. Thank you for listening ... the forum really helps

Hot Lips

replies: 3

I'm new and not sure what to write.I suffer from bad depression .I see a counsellor,but at weekends I can't contact her.I saw her yesterday,but I'm very teary.I have asked her to contact me ,but have not heard from her yet.I really need to talk . View more

New, unmotivated and incredibly lost

replies: 2

Hi everyone! I've been viewing this website for so many years and have wanted to express how I felt..and perhaps get some advice too. But I always chicken out; only because I know there are other people who have a worse situation than I do and I feel horrible even telling people about it thinking it might sound stupid. But at this point I feel like I'm giving up and just really needed someone to talk to. I'm a 21 year old Asian and currently in my 4th year of uni. I was meant to graduate last year but failed too many units due to my anxiety and low motivation. I had anxiety for a long time now, since I was in year 6 but didn't get properly diagnosed until I was in my second year of uni. I was also diagnosed with CAPD last year but failed to get any therapy for it because I couldn't afford it. But yeah, during second year and half way through third year I started getting several panic attacks and it was so bad to the point that I even missed a couple of assessed presentations. I also had difficulty in trying to stay focused and kept procrastinating, I felt so unmotivated to study. The anxiety and me being very unmotivated was why I haven't been doing so well in my studies. And I feel like im not getting any better. I don't get panic attacks anymore. Maybe because I was working so much that my social skills have gotten a bit better, but even then I was having mental break downs thinking I couldn't last another month or two paying rent & bills. But now I just feel numb. I don't feel happy, angry or sad...I don't feel anything. I don't care about anything anymore nor do I care that I failed my units even though I should. I don't see a future at all and feel absolutely lost and hopeless at what I should do with my life. My parents and friends keep asking me what I'm going to do once I graduate (if I do graduate that is) but I really don't know. My parents arent aware that I have anxiety or CAPD and it feels like a burden to even tell them. Can't exactly explain it to them either because of a language barrier. My Chinese is so bad now I don't even know to explain what it is to them. My friends know that I have anxiety though, but it's so hard to tell them what Im going through now. One of them once told me that "no one can help you but yourself". And I guess it's somewhat true? It just stops me from saying anything. so yeah, don't know what I'm doing!! Sorry for rambling and also for my poor English. You'd wonder why I failed so many units haha

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.

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

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

I don't know how to ask for help, I feel like I am failing myself by being so sick replies: 2

Hi i am new here also replies: 4

Canuck in Auz replies: 4

Hot Lips replies: 3

New, unmotivated and incredibly lost replies: 2

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