Welcome and Orientation

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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

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Hello

replies: 5

Im relieved, i did this. Just had "that moment" of realizing what's been bothering me. Depression!! I thought i was immune because i've been taking antidepressants for 8 years! They have gotten me through some tough times, and helped enormously, but ... View more

Someone new and sometimes blue

replies: 2

Hey, everyone. I'm all brand new here, as in I just made an account about fifteen minutes ago. I saw this place suggested on Facebook (Oh, Facebook, you're always trying to look out for me) and thought it looked like a friendly sort of place. So, here I am! A bit about me … I'm sure you want to know what it is that brought me here - aside from Facebook - more than you want to know my favourite colour. I won't bore you with that detail. I'm kidding, I absolutely will: it's purple. Anyway, serious time: I'm nineteen and when I was eighteen I was diagnosed with Bipolar II. If you're not 100% on what that is, it's a form of Bipolar where I sometimes feel pretty good, but it never reaches the manic level of Bipolar I. Mostly I feel very depressed, as there are more often periods of depression than good time feelings (hypomania, if you wanna be fancy). It's cyclic, so it, y'know, goes in a big cycle. Sometimes I wake up and think, 'oh no, it's gonna be a bad couple days, isn't it.' And it is. A little bit more on hypomania: I tend to get very talkative and my thoughts go a bit all over the place, so my train of thought is hard to follow for anyone who has to hear it (I'm pretty sure I'm quite annoying). But, like I said, it's more common that I'll experience depression than I will hypomania. As a silver lining, though, I've been on the correct medication for a while now (there was a long period of depression before diagnosis, so I was treated for depression. That was, unfortunately, not the right thing to be treating me for) and things are mostly okay. I'm pretty level 90% of the time. I also have OCD, which is unpleasant, but has greatly improved after I commenced treatment late last year. Aaaand, that's about it! I'd love to get to know some people on here and have some nice chats. I'm happy to listen to anyone! Oh, and you might have guessed from my username, I absolutely love David Bowie. So, if anyone else is a fan, you're gonna be my best friend, just sayin'. I think I've rambled long enough, so I'll get off the stage now. (:

Relapse

replies: 1

Hi, I am just wanting some help dealing with my aniexty. I had it once before like 5 years ago, and at Xmas last year out of no where I had a relapse, since then I am getting anxious all the time, I get most anxious in the car as that were it happened my attack. I hate it, it makes me feel awful everyday, I just want to wake up and smile. Instead I wake up each morning and feel like it groundhog day. I want my life back. My kids need there mum. I feel I can't be there for them as much as I should because of my aniexty. Any advice?

New and a little lost

replies: 2

Hi - I'm new to the online forums. I read a few posts and replies and it was just good to know there are other people who are going through similar experiences. i've had anxiety / depression on and off for a long time. Usually brought on by stress - the current episode was brought on by fearing my schizophrenic brother was trying to get into my flat and harm me and my kids because we were hiding my mother. Anyway that was a long time ago but I'm still on the meds. In some ways I'm coping well. I was an alcoholic and I've been sober 3 years. I'm a single parent holding down a fairly demanding job and dealing with two kids (13 and 9) both with learning difficulties and one also has ADHD/ Aspergers. My ex is unemployed and doesn't contribute financially. He lives with his parents so only has the kids 2 days per fortnight - which is when I try to catch up on housework etc. All this means I'm exhausted. I've got very little time, money or energy to do anything I enjoy. I know from past experience that doing yoga and going to the gym really help my mood but I can't afford them and have no time. I do walk my dog - that helps a bit. My life is not great and I can't see any way to make it better. All I get from my family is criticism - they are sick of how miserable I am and my mother screamed at me to see a insert swear word psychiatrist. When I tried to explain to my ex how desperate I am he just said 'well you choose to leave me'. Only because I woul have started drinking again if I stayed but that is another story

stuck and in need of assistance

replies: 2

Like pretty much every day for the past few months, I woke up this morning crying my eyes out. I hate waking up like this and so much want to feel joy and optimism from life, but right now this black cloud just seems to be constantly overhead and it's paralysing me... I've sat here trying to write this for days since I joined here. I've tried to see my GP and I've written to a local couselling service, but I have absolutely no money, not even enough to cover medicare gap, so it seems impossible to access any meaningful services.

Hello, I'm new here 😊

replies: 1

Hi everyone, I'm pleased to be here and hope to get to know at least some members through posting. Happy Australia Day to you all

Needing Guidance!

replies: 3

Hi everyone im new here im an expat moved to Istanbul- Turkey. 4yrs married no kids TTC with no hope atm. found out husband was cheatıng on me last year .ı have an metally abusive mothinlaw. she lives with us so my daily life is hell. 2016 was a very hard year for me had a lot of grief & loss, my father had a heart attack and with the attempted co-op + teror attacks going on here ive been very afraid, i love Istanbul so ı dont want to leave either.ı have nocturnal panic attacks where i wake up at around 2am tıll 4am cold and heart pounding and a feeling of death hits me my husband fast asleep ı start prayıng and try to go back to sleep only hours later ı lıtteraly passout and go to work ın the mornıng draıned no energy. ı have no family as mum and siblings are in Melbourne mum has postnatal depressıon so cant really talk to her for advıse.. ı dont know how ı will cope with all this but im a fighter from birth and i know there is light at the end of every tunnel. ı was born and raısed ın Melbourne , Australia so ı know ıts best to reach out to people who wıll understand me better.

Hey :-)

replies: 3

Hey Everyone, I joined this forum following a post I saw on the Beyond Blue Facebook page encouraging people to join in and share their experience of mental health. It caught my attention because of my most recent battle with anxiety and PTSD. I feel as though it's so important to talk about mental health so it becomes more normalised. I know that when I first started to experience anxiety, I refused to think that there was anything wrong. I completely shut off because I was afraid of what was happening to me. Thanks to my supportive network of fam and friends, exercise, healthy foods and making positive changes in my life, I am now in a better space both mentally and physically. I am looking forward to chatting with you all and sharing stories and experiences. E

Hello

replies: 4

Hi everyone, I've just been chatting with one of the telephone counsellors who suggested I should join this online forum. Thank you for accepting me into your community, I hope to get to know you all and offer mutual support. I'm not sure where to start posting, as I relate to everything. I'd probably like to start with "self care' as I'm not doing that great there, although I'm trying my best, or am I ? I've kinda lost faith in myself, hence I'm here. Little about me: bipolar disorder, diagnosed very late in life, managed now, but anxiety and depression is a continual part of my life as my youngest son has been dealing with cancer the last 4 yrs. I'm a single mum with 4 teenagers, so all their ups and downs as well. I haven't had any extended family for back-up. I must admit I have self-medicated with alcohol meantime. I'd like to learn how to re-integrate myself into 'normal society. It's like I've moved to a different planet where no-one speaks my language, and I don't even know if I want to come back, although I must. As the kind young man on the telephone said, perhaps this would be the first place to start. Thanks for listening xx

New and saying hi

replies: 2

Hi, my name is Hilary and following the death of my brother 3 years ago I have suffered with depression and anxiety. Good news is I have now been off my anti depressants for 6 weeks, but there are still really bad days. I moved to Australia, from England, not long after my brother died and often wonder whether I made the right choice or not, or whether the depression would be better if I moved back home. My parents are currently out visiting me (they are both originally from Sydney but live in England), but they are leaving in a week and I will miss them very much. Look forward to chatting to you all on these forums

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Hello replies: 5

Someone new and sometimes blue replies: 2

Relapse replies: 1

New and a little lost replies: 2

stuck and in need of assistance replies: 2

Hello, I'm new here 😊 replies: 1

Needing Guidance! replies: 3

Hey :-) replies: 3

Hello replies: 4

New and saying hi replies: 2