Welcome and Orientation

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Meet your community champions!

replies: 14

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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Losing hope

replies: 3

Hi, I'm totally lost. 4 years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer, success I was told, fast forward to may this year I found out it had spread throughout my body, told stage 4 no cure. At the same time my husband of 16 years ex girlfriend turn up, and he started an emotional affair with her, that he won't stop as he told me he loves me to death and will never leave me, but he is in love with her and he can't lie about that...I'm totally alone and lost, as with 3 teenager boys that are facing losing their mum, I can't have them lose their dad too as I know they will hate him if they find out. I am losing hope as I don't know how to process this all

Intro anxious OCD

replies: 1

Hey all, I thought i'd get a head start on my New Year's resolution to get my life back together, mentally and physically, joining BB forums is one on the bucket list. I won't overload you with a complete story, that'll come out over time, just some of the major events which got me to this point;I have had OCD since i was a kid i think, but it only became apparent to me in my early 20's. My specialty is locks and powerpoints (with a bit of a dabble in neat freak), i just cannot get enough of checking they're locked and off when not in use, it drives me mad. Specialists have given me the indicators that the OCD has set the path for my current anxiety and panic attacks. About 5 years ago i hit a wall that knocked me for 6; i was working manager level in IT, was drinking litres of coffee before lunch, litres of energy drink after, not eating well, working late nights, had a boss who was convinced blood can be got from a stone and would not support his employees, had subbordinates hell bent on undermining my authority, had a 'god' complex (which i see now, but not then), and did not get along with the boss well. I'd had enough of the place and decided to walk away without a job to step into. I was so full of myself that i was convinced as soon as word got out i'd left, the phone would be ringing with job offers (the god complex), it didn't ring and i didn't get another job for four months. The job i took under duress, required a lot more travel time, paid a lot less, and was not exactly a stable company. My GP said that this lifestyle coupled with losing my father to cancer, and being directly impacted by the Black Saturday bushfires a few years earlier, is what put me in hospital with a BP of 197/167 thinking I was going to explode. It all caught up with me, I thought I was going to die from heart attack, all the classic signs were there; chest pain, nausea, sweats, irrational thoughts, dizziness, restlessness, my first panic attack while supposedly at rest taking a country drive. After that first one, had an 'episode' approx every 3 weeks for 3 years after. Since that horrible time I've got better with help, still 'broken' but better than I was. Cannot take medication, couldn't stand the ramp up to prescribed strength, it made it far worse for me than dealing with it unaided so have been using breathing and destraction to deal with it. so here I am! Thankyou for providing this service BB, i have some reading and contributing to do! Cheers!

Hi all - BipolarII/Other fun comorbid things

replies: 1

Hey there guys; First things first - I'm 25 with a long standing medical history of mental health issues going back around 15 years. Diagnosed bipolarII when I was 17 and had a *very rough* patch. Previously it was only clinical depression and GAD (recently changed to panic disorder) amongst other physical health issues. I've spent my whole life moving up the chain of medication so no issues there. After spending seven years with the same psychiatrist I was brave and made the move to a new one. My new psychiatrist is a lot younger and he has me on six weekly appointments with email check ins' every fortnight in regards to the extreme overhaul of my medication. I guess that's all there is to me. Currently unemployed - fired after 3 years f/t with the same employer over a holiday pay dispute. Recently dropped out of uni (Research psychology of all things, third year), and in the last month I got on newstart with an assessment so as I have 0 hours to complete until my medications stabilise which is a true godsend. Highly recommend chasing this option up with anyone who is having Centrelink issues and have a formal diagnosis from a psychiatrist (your gp fills out a form, and a community social worker can help with the application). So that's it. Hello everyone - Sammy

Confusion. Help for clarity

replies: 8

My son was born via emergency c-section. My partner told me, I had to do everything on my own. I did loads of washing, housework & I was not meant to lift anything heavier than my newborn. 3 days later I had a symptomatic seizure. I did too much. During my seizure, my partner rang his mother to tell her, that I had a fit. My in-law assumed, that I was not handling being a mother. I did suffer from post natal depression. But what I thought was support, as soon as I started to make my own decisions, in regards to raising my child, my partner & his family disapproved. I had to ask for permission. Permission to move my child into a toddler bed, even though my child broke his cot. Permission to put my child into child care. & apparently friends of my partner were ringing his mother to complain about videos I posted on social media, telling her to report me to children's services. I have never intentionally hurt my child. I do not neglect my child & I do not starve my child. Yes, sometimes, I yell, swear & curse. But I always tell my child how much I love him & I always encourage my child's growth & development. My mother & her partner both work to pay off their debts & support 3 children. Today, while my mother was working, I offered to do her chores. Knowing that my child was due for a nap, after completing my mothers chores & before eating a late lunch with my mother, I had planned to put my child down for a nap in his pram. My son refused to lay in his pram. I struggled. I felt rushed, frustrated, tired, and stressed. I yelled, I swore, and I cursed. "If you do not lay down and go to sleep, I will take that toy away!! For f**k sakes, lay down!!! Go to sleep" as I began to push the pram to help my child fall asleep. Due to my behaviour, someone called the police to make a complaint. When the police arrived, I admitted to the officer, yes, my behaviour was a bit out of line. I am a single mother, who has no support other than my mother, who I also support. All morning I had been helping my mother with her chores. I felt frustrated, because I knew my child was tired & I was struggling to get my child to sleep. I picked up my child out of the pram, told him, "love you", my child smiled at me, hugged me, and replied, "love you". The officer informed me, they had taken note of the incident, but no report had been filed. They said, that they knew what it is like to be a parent, I shook their hands & they let me be.

This is new.... I am feeling trapped in my marriage, and in a life I feel I have little control over

replies: 5

Firstly, I am new to this online support forum thing, but I thought it was worth trying as I dont really feel I can talk to anyone about how I am feeling. I have an overwhelming feeling of guilt, for feeling the way that I do, and am petrified that if I do tell anyone that they will tell me to 'get over it' or that I am being pathetic. I am a mother of three beautiful young children, who I absolutely adore, but I feel like I no longer have any confidence and that I have completely lost my identity. I used to have a career, friends, and now I feel like I am just a wife and mother and that I do not have the right to have wants or needs as that would be being selfish. Whilst I respect my husband, I am not happy, and I do not think I am in love with him, and if I am honest, I am not sure I ever was. Part of me resents him, he can walk away at any time, but I cant, I am trapped. I would never leave my children, but I am not sure I want to be in my marriage. My husband has been living overseas for a while, and whilst it has been difficult, I feel like I have at least had a little bit of independence back. I find myself getting extremely upset when he returns and that my confidence just plummets because I realise I have very little control over the future. I feel miserable, have no confidence and to be honest just dont know how to change it, I feel like I am completely incapable of connecting with people, and I dont think I have always been that way. I am sick of crying all the time whenever someone brings up future plans, as I know I dont want what is planned for me, but do not feel like I have any choice.

Blue

replies: 2

Hi this is my first time posting. It's my birthday tomorrow and I'm dreading it so much. So much has gone down this year and I feel very alone. I'm recently single and very depressed. I've seen a doctor and am on anti depressants currently. I've seen psychologists and haven't felt much better from it. I've been struggling for years now and I suppose I'm hoping that it gets better? I can't leave my room and even having a casual job is very hard to maintain. I feel very lost. I have a good friend but she can't be with me all the time. Does anyone have any advice about being alone? I hate it. I recently quit drugs and honestly everything seems so hard. I've almost admitted myself to hospital a few times this last month but never gone. I'm scared I'll end up stuck in there for awhile. I have a beautiful family but they don't seem to understand me. Looking for someone to talk to I guess.

Hello

replies: 2

This is my first post. I'm 35, a mother of 3 and have had depression since high school. I've had OCD since around the age of 7 and had no idea what this was until I was much older. I go through bouts of depression and manic behavior and right now it's depression. I've always been curious as to why I am this way and can only conclude it is my upbringing. I had an overly critical mother who had a terrible relationship with my dad,

Taken on a task and feel very overwhelmed

replies: 1

Everything was good and in place and I had to go and turn it upside down. Now alone with a child 7 yr old. Feel alone, scared and very guilty. Want it all to go back to as it was as this is effecting my child. He must be seeing it too. If we made adj... View more

One word challenge: what do these forums mean to you?

replies: 38

Hi everyone, we've got a couple of long-running, popular threads where people choose one word to describe their depression and their anxiety. I thought it might be a nice idea to think about some more positive feelings and start a "one word" thread based around that. Many people tell us how important the forums are to them, how they've felt supported, listened to, or been inspired to make positive changes in their lives. If you would like to share a word that sums up what online peer support means to you, please post it below! Once we get enough contributions, we're hoping to make a word cloud that we can use to promote the forums to others looking for support. Share away!

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.

Meet your community champions! replies: 14

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

Losing hope replies: 3

Intro anxious OCD replies: 1

Hi all - BipolarII/Other fun comorbid things replies: 1

Confusion. Help for clarity replies: 8

This is new.... I am feeling trapped in my marriage, and in a life I feel I have little control over replies: 5

Blue replies: 2

Hello replies: 2

Taken on a task and feel very overwhelmed replies: 1

One word challenge: what do these forums mean to you? replies: 38

Feeling depressed!! replies: 1