Welcome and Orientation

Pinned discussions

Meet your community champions!

replies: 13

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

All discussions

Sorted by:

Start a conversation

Anxious in Wonderland

replies: 6

Hi everyone. This is my first time ever blogging about what's going on in this head of mine. I've always had a nervous disposition for as long as I can remember. However about 18 months ago I went to the city with some friends to look at wedding dresses with them. When we headed down into the tunnel that leads to the train station, I felt this sensation of vertigo. I felt like I needed to go to the toilet urgently and vomit at the same time. The train ride home was horrible, I felt like I couldn't breathe, my hands felt tingly and I literally thought I was having a heart attack. Looking back on that day I now know I was having a panic attack. I'm not sure entirely what brought that on but who really knows how these things manifest right? Since then I seemed to be fine for many months after, then I began noticing that my breathing felt out of sync. Like I couldn't take a deep breath. I'd go on lunch at work and sit there trying to breathe while eating and thinking what is going on? Have I got some sort of chest infection? But it was anxiety the whole time, slowly creeping up on me. Then I began noticing that when in public places especially waiting in lines that I felt so panicky, I even walked out of shops because I was afraid someone would notice that I was acting weird. In June 2016 I reached a low point and decided to try medication. GP prescribed me medication. I took one dose and could not handle the side effects. I then spent the next 6 months trying natural ways like meditation. It helped a little, but not enough. In the first week of Jan this year, my mum had travelled back to NZ for a wedding. My partner (who works FIFO) left to go back to work. And suddenly I was alone. Although my brother came to stay with me luckily. I had sort of a manic day of cleaning and organizing after getting home from work that day. Didn't feel especially anxious, until I went to bed. Then the breathing came on. After tossing and turning for had an hour, I suddenly started getting chest pains. Then came the nausea. I got up to go toilet and my whole body started shaking. I panicked and my brother took me to the ER. I was lucky enough to be taken straight through and they did all sorts of tests, but after 3 hours they sent me home. I managed to get to sleep. The next day I called my partner and begged him to come home and he flew back home. So back to the GP it was, I'm now 2 weeks into a different medication just in case. But it's still a daily struggle...

Roller coaster depression

replies: 2

Hi my name is Henry. I am new to this. I have had depression and anxiety for a number years. Some days i am ok but other days i dont know what to do i get so down and it affects my relationship with my partner. Some days all i want to do is go to bed... View more

Hey

replies: 2

Hello. I've been diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorder, Depression and anxiety. I've been fighting with this since I was 20 and I'm getting really tired. I have no friends anymore a couple of great family members both of which live in other countries. I have also managed to get a minor eating problem...not diagnosed but I'm pretty badly overweight. I have only ever had two real jobs one for 5 years and one for 4 months. I'm managing an easy casual job for now which has been going on for 2 years now. I've been through Centrelink and just been kicked out of Atwork. I have never had an intimate relationship at all...absolutely nothing. This only keeping me going is my cousin and my Goddaughter. I have no skills and some experience so getting a job is almost impossible. The drugs are amazing cos despite all this I'm not currently depressed. I get through most days with a hefty dose of Lyrica. Oh I'm also pre-diabetic.. Im aimless... I don't want to remember my past, the present is always numb and there is no future... Sorry for the wall of text.

Hi everybody

replies: 1

Hi Ywoodi here! Finally decided to starting posting something on here. I figured coming on here might give me the chance to meet like minded people. I'm feeling alone and like I'm fighting a losing battle. To start off with this would be my 17th year with depression and yep its been a tough battle to get here. Currently I'm struggling with a stressful work environment and now my family who live a good distance away, have made my life harder to deal with. In regards to my job, I'm in the process of finding another job. As much as I would like to up and quit my current one, I can't afford to do that. My life goal is to get a career in Animation or Game Development. I've done the studies, but depression makes it hard to enjoy the things I love and live for. Anyway that's all for my introduction, sorry its short, my brain just isn't functioning at the moment. Feel free to pop in and say hi. I love meeting new people and find having friends is the one thing I can still enjoy.

Hi from a Newbie

replies: 3

Struggling to make sense of life as fighting at so many fronts and diagnosed with high anxiety and depression. Losing job and feeling suffocated in a very long marriage as I am being controlled like a puppet by partner. Not sure how long will it go o... View more

Newbie

replies: 10

Hi , my name is falling angel I'm new as of today and thought I'd introduce myself im looking forward to hearing from anyone and finding support and people whom I can connect with on life experiences nicr to be here I look forward to any reply feelin... View more

The Benefits Of Posting on BB

replies: 30

Hello everybody, whether new or still hesitant about posting, I hope this post will provide some comfort and re assurance so you can I have had severe anxiety and then depression (for many years) and was very hesitant (scared) about posting when I found the BB website I am a volunteer/poster on the forums and not a staff member. Joining BB as a poster 10 months ago has given me hope and a valuable support network I have never had before. The kind people on the forums have provided me with the support I needed to enable me to improve and rebuild my mental health (my life) So Far Beyond Blue have helped me..... help myself without judgement assist my self esteem and confidence in my day to day life to really trust others and believe that I am not alone with this awful illness called depression/anxiety realise that I was living in my own protective 'bubble' and didnt let anyone in I never would have opened my heart like this10 months ago when I joined. If you want some support or even just a chat please post The forums are a judgement free zone and rock solid secure to ensure your privacy. If you have any questions about my thread please ask....there is no such thing as a dumb question on the forums! Thanks for reading my post. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by posting if and when you wish of course Be Gentle to yourselves Paul

lost

replies: 2

In the past ive always managed to see the positives. A walk with my dogs , the simple things would cure any negative and a good old chat with my dear mom.She past away 2 years ago and after all this time i have lost all motivation and will to go on. My life spent helping otbers offering advice and at my age realize i have no one. The world seems crazy. Life has come to an end for me Not even energy to get up and wash. only thing thst keeping me alive are my 2 dogs feeding. Nothing left in my heart and so tired. Its all too hard This an attempt to get help

Newbie

replies: 11

Hi all, this is a new thing for me, I have known about beyond blue for a long time, however I only recently started think it might be useful to me. I have suffered from depression and anxiety since my early teens and have managed it over the years in varying degrees, however at this stage in my life I think I am managing it as best as I can and I am a functioning human being on the outside, but on the inside I feel as if I am waiting to self destruct. 2 years ago, at a prime stage of my depression and anxiety, I decided I did not have enough problems and uprooted my life from WA and moved to VIC. Since then I settled into Melbourne and got worse and then better to the stage I am at now, however there is still a lot missing. The one major contributing factor is all I do is work and housework and eat and sleep. My life has very little joy, which I get from my dog and partner who is extremely distant from me, and of course the occasional retail therapy I get to do. I feel I need to do more, and this is one of those things which I hope will help me.

Walking on eggshells: life with personality disorders.

replies: 3

Growing up I always felt there was something strange about my mother, but I could never put my finger on it. How could I? I was a child, with limited life experience and zero understanding of mental illness. We fought constantly. Her behaviours to me were odd. She flittered from job to job. She left, or was forced to leave because she never got along with her colleagues. It was always "their fault"... It was always "someone's fault", just not my mother's. Friends came and went. I would stand like a statue, shocked as my mother created a scene so dramatic the friendship could never come back from it. The more they tried to talk sense into her, the more hysterical and enraged she became. I tried to reassemble the carnage with humour... Nurturing my inappropriate use of 'medium chill'. She craved attention from my father, yet nothing he ever did was good enough. She found negatives in everything that gave him pleasure and would list them daily. Yet she was his world and he would have done anything for her. She couldn't see how lucky she was. No one ever met her unrealistic expectations. We walked on eggshells. Fastforward 30+ years and I find myself in a psychiatric hospital. I am no stranger to this place. I have visited my sister here too many times to count. She has had 4 serious attempts to end her life in the past 12 months. This time I am a patient... This is when I learn about personality disorders... This is when I stop walking on eggshells...

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Anxious in Wonderland replies: 6

Roller coaster depression replies: 2

Hey replies: 2

Hi everybody replies: 1

Hi from a Newbie replies: 3

Newbie replies: 10

The Benefits Of Posting on BB replies: 30

lost replies: 2

Newbie replies: 11

Walking on eggshells: life with personality disorders. replies: 3