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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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

First steps.

replies: 4

Hi, I feel like a bit of a fraud posting here. I'm 42, single with a good, secure job that pays well, I just moved into my own home in December, and I really feel like my life is on track and I'm a fully-functioning adult human. But I feel hollow, completely and utterly, and that is about the only feeling I have. I've also noticed in the last 12 months or so that I no longer feel any empathy. I recognise and understand the way people are feeling and can muster up the minimal expected response for any given situation - but I don't feel anything at all. I've always been an introvert, but these days I just want people to leave me alone. I think I've flat-lined emotionally. I was the fat kid at school, so dealt with all the bullying that went along with that - the natural reaction was to withdraw and keep the things that meant something to me secret and protected. All my life people have unloaded their problems on me, but never been interested in mine, so I think I just stopped expecting people to be interested in what I was feeling, and that morphed into me just not having the feelings at all. Then after my divorce a few years ago I think the shutters came down completely. So I don't even know if there is anything the matter with me. Maybe this is a mid-life crisis? All I am aware of is that I've reached this point and I can't see where the road ahead is leading me, and I can't seem to make any plans to draw a map for myself and forge a new direction. So that's me. Hello :).

Diagnosed with depression, and doing my best (keen to talk)

replies: 7

Hi all, Despite having probably been in and out of depression and anxiety for a large part of my life, only now have I really felt compelled to seek help online, as my usual methods of coping seem underwhelming in my current situation. At the moment I'm studying to be a high school English teacher, but feeling like I hate the education side of it, and the industry is bad (teaching is a great idea but the Australian system is awful and I don't have the necessary energy). I do however love English and really would love to be an editor or technical writer or something. Life trouble number two is that my dad (the rock of my family) was diagnosed with a type of cancer this year; he's in good spirits and the outlook is pretty decent, but it hit me hard. I don't project my anxiety and depression onto it, but it could be a contributing factor. This year too, I've been lucky enough to get into my first relationship, which has been all kinds of a rollercoaster of self-discovery and fear of not being enough. My boyfriend is the most gentle and caring person, and obviously feels as much for me as I do for him; he's been nothing but supportive through my recent diagnosis with moderate-severe depression. I feel however, that I am projecting a lot of my anxiety onto what is a very stable and happy relationship, and it scares the hell out of me. Logically, all things are right and well for us, but I keep misreading little things as him being distant when he isn't, and I cannot stand being the needy party (he's very independent, but we talk every day and see each other a couple of times a week despite living two and a bit hours apart). I'm on uni break now so the lack of structure in my life has given me too much time to think and worry; I'm trying to get myself together and concentrate on my hobbies but all I want to do is sleep. My doctor prescribed me a herbal thing to assist with anxiety and depression, but I'm still waiting for the three week probation to pass to see if it'll work for me. I'm seeing my psychologist tomorrow (for the second time ever) and I'm hopeful to learn some mindfulness strategies. TL;DR: I have a loving family, great friends, and a seriously lovely boyfriend, and I feel so scared that that isn't enough to bring me out of my sadness. I want to energy to follow my dreams and feel happy, but right now that's a big struggle. I'm doing my best every day, but it's hard and I wanted to be able to get it down somewhere, and to talk about it.

New kid saying hi

replies: 3

Hi, This is my first time on this site. My name is Bella I'm a wife and mother of a beautiful 2 year old. I have suffered anxiety and depression since I was a teenager. I always tried alternate meds to self medicate until I got pregnant and had to quit smoking/booze/everything else bad for me which sent me into a frenzy so my doctor insisted I went on anti depressants, which I'm still on 3 years late and I feel are working. I have my up and down days especially ATM, my ex boyfriend committed suicide 2 weeks ago and I'm devasted! I wish I was able to help, to tell him how much I love him and try and change his mind. Im looking forward to being apart of this special programme and getting help and trying to help other. thanks for listening x

new

replies: 3

Hi I'm new I guess I came on hear as I feel alot people don't understand I know that's the depression talking.

feeling down and lost

replies: 1

I have had an interesting life, but the last few years have not been easy since seperating from a woman who was supposed to be the love of my life, and I am now beating myself up for making some stupid decisions, some of which have been incredibly destructive, largely because of my addictive behaviour. I now find myself at the age of 60 with few assets because of chronic gambling and very poor investment decisions, even though I left that relationship with enough money (I thought) to go into semi-retirement. I can't get back what I have lost, and now I struggle, and the future scares me. The thought of entering another relationship is equally as daunting, particularly because I feel that I am a loser, with very little going for me. I work occasionally, trying to generate some income, but it's really tough, and I admit that I constantly tend to numb my pain by drinking too much, which has often led to more problems. I recently became a Grandfather, but it eats me alive that that gorgeous little boy will not be looking up to me the way he should. That's all I want to say in this introduction - I hope I can pick myself up and that it's not to late.

Been Looking At This Page For Days Scared To Post

replies: 7

Im jay a 32 yr old male with significant health issues that require me to live with family i feel extremely reticent to say anything as i am afraid of letting people in and getting out at the same time i dont really know what else to say i guess im l... View more

Hi from a Newbie!

replies: 6

Hi, I'm new here. I'm 33 years young and live in NSW with my husband and two children. My daughter is 7 and my son is 5. I homeschool them both. I've suffered from Depression and GAD for as long as I can remember. I suffered from mild PND after the birth of my daughter and severe PND after the birth of my son. I've been on medication for around 17 years. I have an awesome Dr now and she recently changed my meds after feeling like a zombie for years. I was (and still am a little) terrified of changing meds after so long but something had to change. I've been on the new meds for just under two weeks. Thanks for reading

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

Hey :-) replies: 3

Hello replies: 4

New and saying hi replies: 2

First steps. replies: 4

Diagnosed with depression, and doing my best (keen to talk) replies: 7

New kid saying hi replies: 3

new replies: 3

feeling down and lost replies: 1

Been Looking At This Page For Days Scared To Post replies: 7

Hi from a Newbie! replies: 6