Welcome and Orientation

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Meet your community champions!

replies: 12

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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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

miserble

replies: 4

I feel so miserable today. just seems like my life has been one bad road after another. I'm sick of struggling financially. My car isn't working... waiting 3 weeks for a part. I have no true friends. people are so selfish, greedy, running their own agenda constantly. My daughters home tomorrow, but with that is extra work, extra food. I'm so sick of being a mother, doing housework, solving issues, thinking for other people. I just want to sit and do nothing all the time. yet I have been cleaning, and washing. I'm not suicidal, but I'm just over it. I'm sick of being strong.

Struggling....

replies: 1

Hi Guys, Thanks for reading! I've struggled with anxiety and panic attacks for what feels like a million years. I got it hugely under control 3 years ago with the help of a CBT therapist and acupuncture. Was pretty much panic attack free until a month or so ago There's been a lot going on for me personally so I'm not surprised, I am aware that my natural response to certain stimuli is to panic. I am now reliving the debilitating, all consuming, hideous things again.... and I'm over it it's my birthday today and I had my daughters daycare Christmas party and as I entered the room filled with all things festive and surrounded by happy parents loving joining in with their kids, I felt that all to familiar rise in my gut, the hotness under my collar and my legs feeling like they were going to disappear beneath me. I want to be involved I want to do these things for my daughter and enjoy them but instead, I was holed up in the toilet rocking backwards and forwards searching for my sanity. I made a quick exit and am now home feeling like a failure and without any knowledge of how to gain my control. Im heartbroken. im exhausted by the effort it takes to deal with this hideous affliction day in and day out. I just want to enjoy my life and instead I can't even stand the most simple of tasks. Love to all those out there coping (ish) and are somewhere today feeling the way I am.

Help

replies: 9

Hi I would love to know how to start this could someone help me

First post - thanks for having me

replies: 7

Hi everyone, I would describe myself as having anxiety my entire life from what I can remember, even as a child. For me, anxiety is never being able to cope with working full time (or close to it), being extremely over-sensitive & over thinking. I am 25 y.o. & have just completed a diploma of nursing which is my greatest accomplishment to date. I am very proud of it. I just got offered my first nursing job & have completed the training for the site. I have felt so anxious & depressed but I'm not really sure how to explain it. they want me to start tomorrow & i have just ignored their calls as i feel the woman i spoke to today pressured me into starting tomorrow. I have another job which I absoloutley love (6-10 hours a week) that is completely stress free looking after children. I am unsure if it is stress free as I am on my own - well no other adults. I have never been able to accept criticism & that is something my nanny job offers. I am well respected by this particular family & love the children. For the 1st time in my life I actually look forward to my job. I have tried doing more than 10 hours a week but begin to fixate on those shifts & can't sleep. Anyway back to my current problem - I don't think I should have accepted this current nursing job as it is 1.5 hours drive my house (traffic / long drives make me very anxious) & it's not the sector I want to work in as it's very fast paced & I like to take my time / not feel pressured. Im really questioning myself as to whether I should have done the nursing course as I have never been able to deal with pressure / stress (Even though throughout my many jobs I have had, I'm told that I am an excellent worker). I feel really upset @ the though of doing so much study & then most likely I just won't contact the company again & will not pursue nursing. I feel as though my only option is to apply for the disability pension - which is hard to imagine for me, but I have never coped with more than 10 hours a week of work. I have tried many medications & fortnightly psychology appointments. But haven't really found much improvement. It is quite hard for those around me as they don't understand my anxiety. I have no idea what to do next. I really enjoy just being home by myself with my dog watching movies or doing a work out with my personal trainer.

Newbie

replies: 7

Hi to other people on this forum. Pretty new to this sort of thing but will sign in often to see what others have to say.

Gut wrenching angst

replies: 3

Hello fellow travellers:) I am a newbie here and having read some of the posts, I see I am not Robinson Crusoe in my situation. I am a (injury-forced) retired Murri (Qldr of Aboriginal descent) man, who has taken on the live-in care of an 18 yr old step-daughter who's been facing anxiety, depression and gender issues over several years now. This has resulted in several self-harm attempts. While I have organised various professional support groups/services for her, I recently found myself becoming over-emotional at any signs of strong/loving family images in books, TV shows and movies and realised that I also need some support and advice to stay strong enough to support any recovery. It's great to live in Australia and have the luxury of online forums to discuss my issues and hopefully support others in similar situations. May the Great Spirit of our wonderful land be with any reading this introduction.

Newbie to Forums but been fighting depression for most of my life

replies: 56

Hi all I write with some trepidation - after being diagnosed with depression almost 20 years ago and managed on one med with CBT very well, I recently have had a new major episode which has been absolutely crippling. On to my attempt at a 6th medication, with counselling and a fabulous GP, I have no faith in the psychiatrist who has seen me twice now. Main problem is sleep - averaging 4-5 hours a night. I react to almost every med I am put on and worst of all, I have felt my psychiatrist is not listening - saw him three days ago, gave me this new med and said It will be fine...see you in two months time. Do I look for another psychiatrist?

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

HELP..Am I posting in the right section? 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

miserble replies: 4

Struggling.... replies: 1

Help replies: 9

First post - thanks for having me replies: 7

Newbie replies: 7

Gut wrenching angst replies: 3

Newbie to Forums but been fighting depression for most of my life replies: 56