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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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Feeling lost

replies: 2

Hi I am currently 43 and feeling very lost and unhappy all the time.I did not have the best upbringing and have strived to make myself a better person. I was in juvenile detention at 14 years of age after living on the streets. I found my real mother passed away and unfortunately due to father not dealing well my sisters and I were placed in homes My father remarried and my relationship with my stepmother was never right sometimes traumatic for me.I left the situation I was in and begun a new life rebuilding relationship with my father. Since the death of my father his last words were to promise him to look after my stepmother which I have done to my best ability but have also forgotten about my partner, son and my own happiness. I suffer quite bad anxiety and depression and feel I don't fit in anywhere. My son had just turned 18 my partner of 20 years is leaving me.I guess I'm just curious if it's me,my problem or is there something I can do.Many thanks in advance

Traumatised from work

replies: 1

Hi guys, I’m 27 years old and been working in hospitality industry for 7 years now. I have had some terrible experiences with work, co workers and employers.I used to be very self motivated, hard working and dedicated with work.I burnt myself out because I was a people pleaser and tried to help everybody when I could, I realised I had to change and set boundaries if I want to be healthy with my life outside of work. I started to speak up and said no, but people werent happy with the change I made.I used to get bullied, personally attacked and told i was not good enough. Gaslight and manipulation were part of my day at work. I was so traumatised, I was in my early 20s and was dealing with social phobia (social anxiety), I was worried whether my co-worker and the regular customers would like me or not, what they would think about me, and whether they would judge me or not. I always tried to control what they think, I worried so much that I lost myself in my head, I felt dizzy and felt sick in my stomach. I lost my job because of my anxiety, my overthinking pattern. It affected me until today. I still struggle with getting back to work, because I’m always scared about something bad would happen, people wouldnt like the way I work. But lately, I’ve been trying to find a new job that suits me and I try to speak my mind if something doesnt align with me, is that bad? Trying to speak up and set boundary from the beginning, rather than being a yes-man and burning myself out in the end. I still think we are still in work culture where we always have to say yes to be able accepted in a company. We can’t speak our mind and let people see our perspective. I’m still so traumatised, Im scared that I wont be able to find a job that I can stay for a long period of time. What am i gonna do if i dont work? Im really scared right now i cant even eat even though im hungry, my head is spinning because of stress. What should I do???

Hi, I just joined

replies: 2

Hi i'm kind of new to this but has anyone else just been sad for no apparent reason? like you cry sometimes and you don't exactly know why? and random words and actions from other people hurt you more than it should?

In over my head

replies: 3

I'm exhausted. Mentally and emotionally. Work is really getting to me. We're short staffed so I've stepped up, but my stress and anxiety had skyrocketed. I am trying to do a good job but the workload is overwhelming and I'm just feeling like I'm not cut out for the higher duties I've taken on. My boss doesn't help. Just tries to coach, doesn't offer help or solutions when I ask for them. It actually makes me feel even more inadequate. I used to like my work. Now I hate it. I'm always worried about it, and it's taking away from my family life. I'm working ridiculous hours because there is so much work. I am drowning but there's no way out.

Stole and feel like the scum of the Earth

replies: 4

I feel like a terrible person. I know I should have thoughts like “no I’m not, I’m just someone who did a bad thing.” And I know there are people who would disagree and say, yes, this does make me a bad person. I don’t know what to think anymore. I work for someone’s small business and I took money on three shifts out of desperation. There is no excuse for this. I didn’t have enough for rent, my phone, water, medication, car, and groceries. I am stressed out of my mind from uni and I have been unsuccessful in my job interviews as I have been looking for a second job because of money stress. I know this isn’t an excuse and it doesn’t make it okay. It was a terrible thing to do, taking from a small business because I know my employer trusted me enough to leave me alone with the cash box while they went to the bathroom. They have things they need to pay for as well, and I realise that now. I don’t know what came over me. I plan on giving this money back and a little more for damage because I feel horrible but this is my only job and I’m terrified of losing it without a backup. I know I should have thought of this before I stole but I didn’t. I thought I needed to do this. My employer sent me a message telling me they noticed money was missing from those shifts and if I had just been counting my change wrong. I know this wasn’t the case. But I’m terrified. I know I need to do what’s right and give it back but I’m so scared. I meant no harm but I know this must have had consequences for them. I guess I’m just asking for advice on what to do from here. I know I have to face the harsh consequences, whatever it might be. I know if I give it back, they might rightfully not want to work with me anymore. Do I wait until I have another job to fall back on? Do I just do it at my next shift? Do I tell them I was just counting change very wrong and just never do this again? The fact I am considering this makes me feel horrible. I think I know people are going to say “just give it back with a sincere apology asap” and I really do want to. I am scared. I can’t help but feel like a terrible person and I’m questioning why I even did this. I know why but it doesn’t make it right. It shouldn’t matter what I feel because I’ve done somebody wrong. I really am sorry.

Relocation sadness

replies: 3

hello, I am 38 female and 3 months ago moved to a remote community for a promotion and absolutely hate it and struggle to get up out of bed for work. I have worked for this company for 20 years I am sad all the time which means I am falling behind at work and because I am a leader my team are falling further behind and I know my mental health is now a liability for the business I work for.I have an appointment with doctor on Monday to get mental health plan but feel like I need to relocate back home and put my mental health first Needing advice from people who have left their job due to mental health

Just Joined Hello

replies: 5

Hello everyone I have just joined and though I would just lay down some feelings which is so hard for me, I am lost in life I have had some big changes and heart acks, I had to give up my job and become a career for my partner and I have a stepdaughter with mental illness as well, I am going through the motions of cooking and cleaning which I hate but I have no joy, I have no motivation to do anything I looked at the local Man's Shed for support but there they are making stuff to help them, I don't have the mental energy to do that I just wanted to be around people and talk, I walk the dog each day to get out of the house but that doesn't seem to do much.

Feeling worthless

replies: 1

Hello, I'm being snubbed and disrespected by my friends and colleagues, I'm 24 y/o I am dejected and feeling worthless, 6 months one of my guy friends invited all of his friends a week in advance, who are my mutual friends and invited me just a day before, I was being childish and didn't know to ignore late invite, one of my other friend told "oh late invite", after then I realised. Today my co-worker snubbed me for his birthday party and invited all other colleagues. I felt worthless. Last year none of my friends in Australia wished me on my birthday (I've been living here for the last 15 months). The only friends who care about me or talk to me are the ones who are interested in me, before this my partner. I was in a relationship with a woman and was afraid that if I disclosed it, I would be subjected to homophobia and I distanced myself from all my friends, we broke up a couple of months back. I've never seen any friends after that, I have no one to talk to. Additionally, I am about to fail in a subject and broke

Hi from an angry person

replies: 3

Hi, this is my first time here. I'm 38 and suffering from outbursts, angry explosions. I think people are talking about me, they do not like me or not invite me to anything... I lost the trust of my colleagues at work and just received a warning and now I cannot work until I behave myself. They are giving me a chance because next time will be termination. Its pretty hard, I feel lonely most of the times, and most of the times I want to be by myself, but its heartbreaking having no one to hold your hand. For me its hard making and preserving friendship. As I have depression and anxiety, I tried going to GP, taking some pills, hypnotherapy, meditation, people say to exercise, to eat healthy, but for me I just cannot find peace. I just think I'm a lost case. I know I still have a chance, but Im so tired of being in this hole, crying all the time and upsetting people all the time. What else I can do? Here is my last resource really... Im from overseas, have a 5 year old boy, no medicare...

First Timer

replies: 4

Hello! I have just joined and thought I would take a dive into the deep end and say hello (hopefully this is the right place to do that). I suffer from anxiety and depression. I have been suffering with it for a fairly long time but it was compounded by COVID, losing my grandma who was overseas and working in a very toxic environment. I have also grown up in a fairly challenging environment as well in which I experienced both physical and mental abuse growing up which has taken its toll despite my best efforts to have stuck my head in the sand and pretended otherwise. I now see a psychologist and am on medication to manage my anxiety and depression and just getting to that point was a challenge in and of itself, particularly due to the stigma surrounding mental health in my culture. Some days are better than others and I'm grateful for every good day. I guess I joined this community because I don't really have anyone in my life who really gets what its like when some days the current is so heavy you can't help being pulled under and its a battle just to keep your head above water. Before I started getting assistance for my mental health I used to drink a lot. It was a way of coping with the difficult family situation I was in and I would also spend a lot of time with friends just trying to drown out all my feelings of being stuck and helpless. I've since stopped drinking in excess which is great. I have so much more clarity. But more recently, I have found myself really lonely and in a position where I don't really have anyone to turn to when I find myself struggling.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Feeling lost replies: 2

Traumatised from work replies: 1

Hi, I just joined replies: 2

In over my head replies: 3

Stole and feel like the scum of the Earth replies: 4

Relocation sadness replies: 3

Just Joined Hello replies: 5

Feeling worthless replies: 1

Hi from an angry person replies: 3

First Timer replies: 4