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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Feeling depressed!!

replies: 1

Hi, this is my first post. I am finding it hard to feel happy anymore. Its like i dont know that feeling. I am a single mother who lives with her parents at 36 years of age, i own and work with my ex husband who we lost a baby 6 years ago and he has had a gf for a while and a 3 year old boy with her. I feel so lonely when i don't have my 7 year old daughter as we share her. I don't really do well in social settings if it is out of work life. I honestly don't know what it feels like to be happy.

Lost Without a Map

replies: 8

After a publicly humiliating breakup involving multiple public infidelities by my partner of the time I decided to take a break from dating. Just as I was starting to feel ready to dive in again, I was robbed twice at gunpoint at my place of work. My employer was totally unsupportive and I lost it badly and my life fell apart. I became a recluse, barely talking to anyone except a very small group of long-term friends who helped keep me sane(ish). But aside from them, I have been cut off from people for nearly 12 years now, only having the bare minimum of socialising to keep my job. I alos devolped a marijuana habit. Then 3 years ago, my best friend of 35 years killed himself and our small group disintegrated. I'm all alone now and it's eating me away inside. I'm sick of it and I want to find a way out of this hole I've been hiding in. I want to have friends and am desperately in need of love but I'm so socially awkward because of my self-imposed isolation that all I do is "creep people out" when I talk to them and that makes me feel even worse about my future prospects. I feel lost without a map to guide me to where I want to be.

Hello I'm new

replies: 6

Hi I have this hollow that I can never seem to fill. I have a loving partner and two children who I love with all my heart. I have a few friends but my mum and brother live overseas. There is a constant feeling of something missing and an inability to feel that everything is ok and that I am safe. I am always waiting for something bad to happen and am always anxious. My mind never stops. Hoping that being able to chat to others on this site can help me deal with this sadness and find ways to accept and enjoy my life

Help, I suffer anxiety and my partner suffers depression

replies: 1

Hi all, I'm new to this group and I'm in desperate need for some help. I'm suffering anxiety and my partners depression is impacting on me in a huge way. I have never felt so alone and unloved in all my life. I have been trying so hard to be understanding of my partners depression but his verbal attacks and distancing of himself and complete lack of love and attention to me is making my life unbearable at the moment, is anyone else in this position or able to offer me advice please.

New to forums. Thank God for my children and my elderly dog right now or I would be gone.

replies: 4

My youngest daughter is on this forum and she has now set me up here also. Bless her heart. Thank God she is getting the help she needs to finally be able to talk to me in a way that a depressed person understands regarding how life can be so challenging. I was so proud of her and her wisdom of what she has learned for herself now she has moved away, after I had a big melt down tonight, and finally someone understands me where so many others just don't "get it." My sadness for my youngest daughter is her depression is genetic (a little bit of trauma added in there) and it breaks my heart that family history crap can be passed on. I have a bunch of trauma depression that I have never had the chance to properly deal with as no psychologist etc has ever bothered to take the deep down time I probably need. The talks always end up as the "here and now" and there is always a ton of that crap we all deal with. A few select friends who know my past have said I should write a book but that is just too deep and I don't want to go there ever again so it wouldn't give justice to any book. To all of you out there suffering depression in one way or another I can only wish for you to have a happy Christmas and hope so much that 2017 is better for us all.

Just want to say hi

replies: 2

Hello all, My name is Rhys. I am new here but have been reading through alot of the threads. I am not much of a talker, prefer just to listen and read. I have written a few posts/replies but been too scared to actually hit post and I just cancel them. so here I go. I have been struggling with depression and anxiety for about 15 years now. I briefly got professional help when I was much younger. Despite being in a better place now as in secure job, loving partner, comfortable life, I feel that mentally I am in a much worse state. I am surrounded by everything I need to be happy but I still struggle to find joy in any of it. I had a drinking problem for many years that took a lot of effort to get away from and I actually feel worse off now that I don't drink. I am moving state in 4 months and plan on seeking professional help again once I move. Until then, I am using the internet to get myself started on self help. I know I have the ability to help myself, I just don't know how to start and struggle with the confidence. So if anyone has any pointers, I'd really appreciate it.

i am indigenous

replies: 10

For the first timei. Saying im indigenous. Is there forum rooms for me? Because ive been having lots of problems here.

giving Beyond b.a break

replies: 2

Hi. Its uncanny how everytime i post that things are a bit brighter. Some thing rotten happens. So ive decided to give BB a break to see if its more than a coincidence. Have a good xmas. Cheers. MAX

Is there anyone out there who has similar challenges as I have

replies: 5

Hi, I'm new to the group and am looking for somewhere to chat with other people who like me struggle to live in the world that we live in today. I have suffered from anxiety and depression since I was 19 years old, and experienced problems before this but then it wasn't talked about and I wasn't aware of it myself. I felt all alone at school and was bullied on a daily basis, initially for being intelligent and then afterwards for being grossly overweight. I left school thinking that there were great opportunities out there and that all my problems would disappear once I left school. I was wrong. I had a number of dead end jobs mainly in male dominated workplaces, and there I was harassed. I attracted men that treated me badly and I wanted to change them, or help them. I shudder when I look back on some of those experiences. I have experienced, social phobia, agoraphobia, chronic depression, an eating disorder, OCD, and panic attacks. So let's just say I'm an all rounder!!!LOL I haven't worked for a long time because of my mental health and also find I've had a problem with insomnia on and off for 25 years. It's amazing the things you can get done in the wee hours of the morning,, I actually like that quiet time, I'd rather be asleep but it's when my mind is at it's best, and I am able to journal and get my thoughts and feelings down on paper. If someone had of told me my life would end up like this I never would have believed them. I used to be ambitious, hardworking, determined and heading for success. I guess listening to people put me down constantly, I started to believe in their chatter, and that chatter became my inner chatter. This year I've gone from being agoraphobic to gradually increasing my exposure to the point where I try to do something each day, even if I'm not going out, I'll go for a walk. I believe exercise really helps with anxiety and depression and without it I wouldn't have progressed to the point I have so far this year. I am getting really anxious as Christmas approaches and experiencing a few problems out and about, the world seems to have gone crazy!! I have to go grocery shopping on Thursday and then to a shopping centre on Friday to get some Christmas presents, I am dreading it, worrying about it, and it is making me physically ill. I'll be glad when this week is over. I look forward to chatting with others and offering advice in return for advice on how we can help one another overcome these daily struggles. Supergirl

Here I go

replies: 2

Hi all, Chris here. I'm just in a bit of an odd spot at the moment, hoping me popping this here is OK. My long story short is this; I am an alcoholic, without question (by either myself or those around me) I have tried to fix or hold it off by myself, then with family, then by myself again. Each time I failed. Then in October I hit my lowest rock bottom. I headed up to Mum and Dad's and worked on fixing me. My parents support me, I have a great GP and counsellor, but most of all I started attending AA. Then my life changed, no BSing you. Those rooms where I lissedned to people and spoke to them made me calm, I got a week up, then a month up, then almost 2 months of being sober. Today I drank, and I don't know why. I just hope someone would like to chat. I thought I was fixing me, but I don'tt know. I blab a lot, and I hope I am making sense. Thanks, Chris

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Feeling depressed!! replies: 1

Lost Without a Map replies: 8

Hello I'm new replies: 6

Help, I suffer anxiety and my partner suffers depression replies: 1

New to forums. Thank God for my children and my elderly dog right now or I would be gone. replies: 4

Just want to say hi replies: 2

i am indigenous replies: 10

giving Beyond b.a break replies: 2

Is there anyone out there who has similar challenges as I have replies: 5

Here I go replies: 2