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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just a chat

replies: 2

Hi I am 40 and I have depression i just can't do much or think no more

New member

replies: 3

Hi there I'm new to this community and not usually one for joining these kinds of discussion groups. I have been treated for major depression for almost 20 years. I have an extensive familial history of mental health issues and have been on antidepressants most of that time. We've recently had a close family member commit suicide due to depression. I'm the only one (thus far) who hasn't required an inpatient admission for treatment from the immediate family. I'm quite high functioning, hold down a professional position in healthcare. Every minute of my day is a conscious effort to keep my head above water and over the last several months the depression and anxiety has been relentless. I guess I have joined this forum as a way to offload and share experiences and effective treatment modalities that have proved helpful for others in a similar situation.

Lost & confused

replies: 5

My partner is suffering through a severe depression at the moment & has moved out of our home because he says "it's the only way I know how to fix myself". He is not seeking or wanting any help from anyone, especially from me let alone a professional. He's medicating himself with alcohol & only leaves his parents house to go to work, where he tries to put on this macho manly exterior but his colleagues can see that he is struggling; but again doesn't want to talk to them about his depression. One of the last things he said to me was that he didn't know what I wanted from him because he's "dead inside & only feels empty." When I tried to assure him that I loved him, cared about him & wanted him to come home, he said that he wasn't coming home because he didn't want my help & wanted me to just drop it. I am feeling so torn because I want to help but he doesn't want anything to do with me & I'm concerned that he's just drinking himself into oblivion or seeking the help that he needs or in the very least getting support from his parents, since their coping mechanism for the dad's depression is to not talk about it.

Greetings from WA

replies: 6

Hello, I am 50 years old, Transgender and a waste of space. My only two worthwhile contributions to society are grown up and I'm incredibly proud of them I'm no good at my job, I never finish anything and following my transition, that I dreamed about for years, I now resemble an all in wrestler doing a drag act in a local rugby club for laughs. My miserable, freakish existence is a burden to me, and everyone who knows me, even though they try hard to accept. I'm Overweight, (Obese) I have a mouth full of rotting teeth and head full of half learned subjects. In short, Ugly, Fat, boring, bad company and mostly useless. I like classical music, reading, and riding motorcycles. Other facets worth mentioning are that I am an Atheist, a Pessimist (who would have guessed) and fan of Arthur Schopenhauer. I'm still breathing because I am too cowardly to make good on my frequent intentions. Feel free to ignore me, address me as Tranny Trash, (as the rather charming lady did the other day in the Pet Shop) or engage in conversation about Motorcycles or Philosophy. Thanks... S.

Shani66

replies: 4

Hi I am new on here and would like to start by saying I have manic depressive disorder and it affects me everyday even though I hide it from people sometimes I do things that have caused me grief and others around me

Waves Hello New to Forums

replies: 5

For some time I've been in need of a forum that might give me support and advice about managing teen anxiety and depression and I found myself here tonight, so hi there folks. I am a mum to a teenage girl with anxiety and depression and have a history of depression myself. I have also been battling chronic fatigue for over 10 years so it can be a struggle to look after myself and my family. My husband is generally supportive but after a year of focus on our daughter I worry that he's feeling a bit neglected and stressed, especially as his job is frustrating and unfulfilling and I only work casually. Money can be tight, especially around this time of year. I am a librarian, have two dogs and two cats and love doing family research on the computer for fun. I also read a lot of rubbishy fanfic but don't hold it against me.

Hello from a first timer :-)

replies: 4

So, I'm a bit nervous and found it difficulty to find the START A NEW POST or NEW POST button which I thought I should find. So, it made me more anxious and made me want to run and stop using this forum but then I stopped and thought "well, this is why I'm here. I need to try. I'm looking for help and things are never easy." I've been told and I agree that such a small thing should not trigger any anxiety but then my 'shell' is weak and anything makes me anxious, fearful and, as a consequence, depressed. I really don't know how my husband wants to put his weight on me sometimes. He knows I'm not a strong person. When I was little I witness terrible domestic violence. My father, an alcoholic agressive man successful in middle-upper society would come home at night and would bit her up badly for no reason. My mother, in turn, would bit up one of my sisters (the rebellious one) and would try to beat up my elder brother too. My poor mother had 4 children and an abusive husband who threatened to leave us without income if she stood up to him. I was the little one. The nice obedient one. I will only watch what was happening. I couldn't do anything. I would just watch. I'm an adult now and all that is past. My mother 'escaped' from my father's reach and we went all into hiding. We grew older and mum stopped bitting up my sister. I left my country, married a good man and have lovely well behaved children. But, I've been left with a sense of frustration, fear and anxiety which shows in my everyday life. My problem is I cannot keep a job. I'm very nervous, always. I react with fear to anything that happens. Because my reactions are over the top, bossses look at me suspiciously. It makes sense to think that if someone has a strong reaction to you arriving when she's at the computer then she must have been doing sth funny in the computer. People don't react with what appear guilt or fear for no reason. But, I cannot tell everyone, "Hey! I'm messed up and I always react this way." So, why I'm here? it's because I'm starting a new job. It's only a temp position but it's something and I don't want to leave a bad/negative impression of weirdness. Also, the anxiety makes me hurry and I don't look at a document thoroughly and I can make several mistakes. I know that when I'm relaxed my performance improves almost hundred percent but I find it difficult to keep that constant calmness and cool head for a long period. Oops! I'm exceeding the word limit. Thanks anyway

Unsure what is going on

replies: 5

Hi I'm Dan. the past year has been waves of happy then felling so lost in my self overthinking everything thought would turn into facts loss sleep with the worry that nothing would get better and feeling so worthless. I would push it down and March on I knew deep inside something was wrong only just 3 days ago I felt unhappy lost confused scared again aND as I had done a few times I I thought the thing that was making me unhappy was my wife so I say I need to end this and push it on to her. her Hart breaks and goes out with some friends. I'm left with this hole that is getting bigger and I start to see that there is something wrong inside me in my head and it is so scary. I went to the doc and going back today. my wife and I have had a talk I opened up I told her all that was inside she really is amazing but can't seem to shake this felling she deserves better. I read other people's forms and blogs and my Hart goes out to them.

Newbie

replies: 2

Afternoon all, I have just joined BB community and can't wait to be a part of making every day a little brighter for someone. I have two beautiful young children and have had a fair amount of issues in the past. It is so great to be able to share sto... View more

40 year old victim of fate

replies: 2

Well I'm on here (new) so I guess something is not right, I mean it's taken the best part of 4 years to come the conclusion that I might be having some sort of internal issues. the struggle of life just slowly squeezes, bit by bit, not always tighter but never releasing. As you start to breathe again your air is restricted again by the pain of LIFE. It's not a bad pain it's just a constant reminder that your not free and once again the gasping of air starts. We know blood is thicker than water but no one will tell you that life is thicker than air. Deep breath.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

just a chat replies: 2

New member replies: 3

Lost & confused replies: 5

Greetings from WA replies: 6

Shani66 replies: 4

*Waves Hello* New to Forums replies: 5

Hello from a first timer :-) replies: 4

Unsure what is going on replies: 5

Newbie replies: 2

40 year old victim of fate replies: 2