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Pinned discussions

Sophie_M 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 Be... View more

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.

Aaronsis 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 th... View more

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

All discussions

domn8 Career is about to be ruined
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I'm a partner in an advisory business. I've struggled with depression and anxiety for around 10 years now, tried a couple of different medications, meditation, and counselling. Currently using cannabis to help with insomnia, but no other medication o... View more

I'm a partner in an advisory business. I've struggled with depression and anxiety for around 10 years now, tried a couple of different medications, meditation, and counselling. Currently using cannabis to help with insomnia, but no other medication or treatment.My depression seems to be getting deeper, and I can hardly function. During the day I can't focus well so not very productive. I somehow manage to block the difficult tasks from my mind and they just don't get done, but thoughts of them often resurface during the night and I'm awake for hours rigid with panic. Some of those difficult tasks have been pushed back for so long that they may result in legal action from clients, and even if they don't, they're likely to end my career when my partners find out, and this will have dreadful financial consequences that will really hurt my family.I've been successful, or at least appeared that way, for 20+ years, and now 5 years from retirement I'm fearful of losing everything. I don't feel like I can risk talking about it with my business partners. I don't feel like I can talk about it with my wife either. I don't think my GP can help - they just prescribe antidepressants, but the ones I've tried so far haven't helped me address my work issues. Who should I talk to? What should I do?

JaydeB Not sure where to start
  • replies: 7

Hi, I'm new to this forum. Firstly I joined because I feel totally alone with my feelings right now. Since leaving my job 2 years ago I feel my mental health has spiralled down and it's not due to not having enough to keep busy or interested in life.... View more

Hi, I'm new to this forum. Firstly I joined because I feel totally alone with my feelings right now. Since leaving my job 2 years ago I feel my mental health has spiralled down and it's not due to not having enough to keep busy or interested in life. I have some friends I meet up with once a month and a loving husband and two lovely adult offspring, so one would ask, why am I in a pickle..... I go down a rabbit hole of confusion even going to the shops can lead to me coming home in tears, people seem to hone in on my mental vulnerability and target me (I know that sounds paranoid). I keep getting into situations with staff in the shops, everything seems so hectic, I feel like I'm in a vacuum. It doesn't help that I have developed tinnatus over the past year and stuggle to hear even if I wear the hearing aids. So I'm feeling a bit like just shutting myself into the house and doing all my shopping online where I'll be safe. I talked to my doctor but he said I am just having hormonal issues (I'm 62), I asked for anti-depression medication, but he said lets see how you go.... May have to go see another doctor as it's not getting any better.It's so much more than the above, but I had to start somewhere...Thanks for reading

Cgawde My Life Story
  • replies: 2

I made a very stupid mistake almost 2 years ago, it was around when COVID-19 was a big deal and I took it lightly. Not only did it put myself at risk but the people around me. I was feeling unwell with covid like symptoms on the job, things were gett... View more

I made a very stupid mistake almost 2 years ago, it was around when COVID-19 was a big deal and I took it lightly. Not only did it put myself at risk but the people around me. I was feeling unwell with covid like symptoms on the job, things were getting worse & worse as days gone by. My workmates were getting worried looking at me and gave me a lot of pressure that I had strong symptoms of COVID-19. I waited until I had basically all symptoms of covid-19 before rushing to the medical center to undergo a PCR Test.That day, from rushing to the medical center to waiting for the result, was one of the scariest experiences of my life and no one should ever go through that. Talking to the medical bay trying to explain to them what is happening to me was the hardest thing. My heart was pounding, my speech was slurred, and my eye focus wasn’t there. It put the medical staff in distress as I told them I had covid-19 symptoms. The results came back as negative and I went back to work the next day to try to normalize the situation.Due to that reason, I lost my job.From that moment to now I can’t confirm what happened, but I believe they tried to remove all information about me like I’m a ghost walking around now.People don’t want to recognize me more than twice but I got so many people trying rely on me to do sometimes I can’t even do.The amount of pressure on me is insane… Friends, People, Family, Government, Companies ETCIt’s been a hard process talking to people since this event, I have lived a very isolated life since covid-19 and trying to talk to people is what I found the hardest part in my daily life.Worst part of all no one wants to tell me what’s going on, which should be the easiest thing to do.This past few months I have grown so much without little to no support but now with so much pressure on me I hope to find support with Beyond Blue.

Suelynn Postpardum anxiety or depression?
  • replies: 3

Hi, I'm a new mum. First week actually. All my life I wanted a baby. But when I gave birth to my daughter I never felt so detached and estranged. I have no idea what I'm doing. I've got support around me saying I'm doing great, or I've got a cute bab... View more

Hi, I'm a new mum. First week actually. All my life I wanted a baby. But when I gave birth to my daughter I never felt so detached and estranged. I have no idea what I'm doing. I've got support around me saying I'm doing great, or I've got a cute baby. But I just don't see it. I find myself crying randomly and being anxious when I'm with her and not with her. It's been such a big shift having a baby, and almost selfish to say that I miss having my freedom.

Rad1958 How does it feel to be scammed
  • replies: 4

I got talked into this managed investment account by a total stranger on the phone. Over a period of few months, I shelled out quiet a significant amount into the crypto currency based account. About 2 weeks ago, the app that I used for monitoring th... View more

I got talked into this managed investment account by a total stranger on the phone. Over a period of few months, I shelled out quiet a significant amount into the crypto currency based account. About 2 weeks ago, the app that I used for monitoring the account balance, the trades on the account, etc. just disappeared, stopped working, crashed. I wrote some emails to this guy asking him what's going on, and got no reply. This raised my suspicions and I lodged a report with cybercrime. But Nick (let's say his name is) called next morning and was very upset about my allegations, and explained away the trading platform crash as a temporary issue. He was just buying time. This morning his email address was deleted, and my account was not accessible online. Now I knew I've truly been had. I have obviously put the future of my family at a risk, frittered away my hard earned money. That's a bad feeling. It feels strange that I was so trusting of this guy's tall promises that I so badly wanted it all to be true. It's the first day of the realisation, and I'm wondering if it's going to get better, or much worse before it gets better ? I keep swinging between a brief period where I feel I'm sinking, that empty feeling as if I'm not alive, and then a period where I feel as if nothing happened (is that denial) ?

DJL-3 What is wrong with me
  • replies: 13

Hi, I just feel since I hit 51 everything has gone wrong, menopause hit, lost a group of really good friends, work gets me down, I'm on my own so don't tend to do much on my days off, haven't had a break from work for 2 years, struggle financially as... View more

Hi, I just feel since I hit 51 everything has gone wrong, menopause hit, lost a group of really good friends, work gets me down, I'm on my own so don't tend to do much on my days off, haven't had a break from work for 2 years, struggle financially as I'm only casual, it's just all getting on top of me as well as try ing to be there for my 80 year old dad, it's come to th ee point where I feel like nothing I do is right or good enough

Bill of Silence Who am I
  • replies: 3

Hello BB Forums, I am 61 years old and all of a sudden alone. Not that that bothers me too much. But when my father passed away in 2017 and since then I have been fighting hostile siblings and false claims that I am legally with mental health conditi... View more

Hello BB Forums, I am 61 years old and all of a sudden alone. Not that that bothers me too much. But when my father passed away in 2017 and since then I have been fighting hostile siblings and false claims that I am legally with mental health conditions. I have been fighting to keep my sanity and anxiety attacks away by finding distractions in life. I sometimes build plastic models or even play games on my PC. What is strange by avoiding those that are hostile, I wonder whom has the mental health issues. Having learned that anxiety can destroy you in more ways than one thinks. I stopped walking and talking to people. The hardest things are to pick up the pieces and move on. kind regards, Bill of Silence

remaincarm Estranged Son
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I have been estranged from my son for nearly 8 years - his choice not mine. We think he was on drugs at the time as he spread some vicious rumours about abuse he had received at my and his brothers hands. None of this was true. I respect his right to... View more

I have been estranged from my son for nearly 8 years - his choice not mine. We think he was on drugs at the time as he spread some vicious rumours about abuse he had received at my and his brothers hands. None of this was true. I respect his right to maintain his distance. He has his own wife and children now who he meant and who believed his story. I know this as I contacted his old school friend who told me this. The thing is, my mother and his grandmother is dying with only a few days to live and I was thinking of finding a way to contact him and let him know, by letter. He was always close to her and I feel he might want to know. But maybe not, hence using a letter not FB. My question is does anyone know how to go about finding his address - and, I suppose, should I reach out? He not only cut off me and my husband but his whole family so perhaps he won’t want to know. Feedback appreciated

ozi Same old feeling
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Hi, I’m new to all of this. I’ve been struggling for about 7 or 8 months now. I only told my wife last night. It took me a good 5months to work up the courage to tell her, she is now pushing hard for me to get help, which I want but not sure what dir... View more

Hi, I’m new to all of this. I’ve been struggling for about 7 or 8 months now. I only told my wife last night. It took me a good 5months to work up the courage to tell her, she is now pushing hard for me to get help, which I want but not sure what direction to go. It took me so long to tell her I’m not sure I’m ready to talk to someone yet.Do I go to a doctor first, do I go see a psychologist first. I’m not sure what to do.Any advice would be great.

Psychgirl123 Tired mum juggling it all
  • replies: 4

Hello, I've recently joined to find a safe space to learn and share. I'm a busy mum of three (12, 9 & 3) and my youngest has autism and developmental delay. My husband is a recovering alcoholic who works shift work so I have full compassion for singl... View more

Hello, I've recently joined to find a safe space to learn and share. I'm a busy mum of three (12, 9 & 3) and my youngest has autism and developmental delay. My husband is a recovering alcoholic who works shift work so I have full compassion for single parent life and anyone dealing with addiction. I am studying psychology with hopes to make it all the way to registration. Between juggling NDIS therapies, the kids school requirements, my uni study and now a part time job working in age care, I feel I may be burning out fasting than a cheap candle. I'm not really sure why I am posting tonight, but I felt like reaching out and saying hello to everyone here.