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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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No counsellors, no meds, just good friends. My story.

replies: 1

hi everyone, my reason for registering here is to try and ease the load on people i care about. as my title suggests it's only my family and friends that keep my head above water. before you ask, i have no interest in finding a counsellor. had a few, didn't work out, i have no intention of paying a new person to be unavailable once medicare limits are met. You may have got the impression i am an angry person. you're not wrong. sometimes i think I'll exhaust myself being angry at the past. another reason i avoid counsellors. Basically i believe that i was born to be ugly. this is part of my karmic cycle and there's a place for ugly people in this world and if i can focus on doing good things it doesn't matter what my reflection looks like. My mother was an alcoholic, as was my sister. my dad was so scared of losing any of his relationships that he never pulled anyone up on anything. my step mother was extremely emotionally abusive. Ive been diagnosed with PND. i read articles, I'm on mothers forums. i have good friends. I'm going to watch a movie now with my husband. this is wasting happy time.

I feel that I can't manage my emotion well

replies: 2

Hi Not sure how to begin. Lately I feel that I can't manage my emotion well. I used to be able to tackle life challenges well, cope with stress (actually I rarely felt stressed in early life) but now I often feel anxious, and fearful. I couldn't get myself to relax. There were times i just got upset and angry 'unreasonably'. At this point, i could not quite elaborate my feelings, guess im not used to reveal and express myself. All i know is i often and easily get confused, unhappy, upset, angry and depressed, a kaleidoscope of negative emotions. I dont know exactly where these emotions stem from, I think it all started from years of working in a toxic and unsupportive working environment that I didnt know how to get out of, and now have no courage to leave. That may have impacted on my confidence and self-worth, hence anxiety and depression amongst other. I just dont know who I should approach or what can be done.

Hello, new here.

replies: 5

Hello one and all. I am new to the site. I am here looking for some info and hopefully some answers. I suffer from depression, that has kept me from work for over a month and due to pressure from my employer I have subsequently given notice. Which in some ways is ironic as it was the pressure from my employer, that caused my depression in the first place. His constant criticism, yelling and threats over many years finally took effect and I could not face going to work. I wouldn’t sleep, I gained weight, I would cry sometimes on the way to work in anticipation of the day ahead. In the end I couldn't take it any more and I went to my Doctor for a Medical Certificate for a day off and He recommended that I have counselling. Some days are harder than others, but I can feel it hanging over my head constantly. I sometimes find myself crying for no real reason, well none that would justify crying. Some days anxiety takes it toll as well . I hope that I will one day be on top of my feelings and my thoughts. Sometimes I feel like that I will never get that person I remember back again. But I truly hope he returns one day.

First Steps

replies: 4

I honestly don't know where to start. I have recently admitted for the first time to my wife that I have a problem. I have been silently dealing with Depression for 25 years. I've been married to my wife for 12 of those years. She had no idea...I got very good at hiding my issues. But on a daily basis I had a massive pit of emptiness. I still can't talk about it. My biggest guilt now is that I have a responsibility to my wife and my kids to seek help. The only reason I finally came clean to my wife was about 6 months ago she was facing issues of her own and asked me for help...I couldn't do it. I was barely keeping my own head above water and had nothing to give. I failed her when she needed me most. I had to come clean to her...I had to give her a good reason why...I couldn't hide it any more. Since then I have really done nothing and gone on ignoring it. She sought professional help and is doing well following her brief slump. Me...Im still denying it all and trying to move on as if nothing is happening. I can' t talk about it...I'm ashamed, feel worthless, wonder why I can't just deal with life. It's only life right whats the big deal. I feel weak for not being able to cope. I feel weak for not being able to get help. I judge my self so how can I expect others not to judge me if they find out. I physically can't talk when the subject comes up with my wife. I freeze, my throat closes over, tears swell up and I can't breathe. So I'm taking a different apporach and trying to share on here. Hopefulkly by typing it out I can get the words out that I need to and it will be a stepping stone to being able to talk about it, out loud. There's so much to my story I want to share but I don't know how. I want to share it all but it just wont come out...

Just wanted to say hi

replies: 3

This is the first time I have ever posted on ANYTHING. I thought that I should start speaking with others instead of hiding in my shell. I've been battling with depression for 20 years now, just trying to keep my head above water. Learnt a lot in that time and would love, not only to receive support, but to support others in any way I can. Maybe then we all could feel a little less alone.

Hello!

replies: 2

Hi I have just been diagnosed as having severe anxiety. Just thought I would join in here so I can have people to talk to who have been going through similar issues.

Hello from Ellu

replies: 1

This is my first post, so it is a bit intimidating. I have had bi-polar disorder since I was 15 (I am 63 now) and have been trough all the treatments including medication (which I am still on), hospitalization many times, ECT and psychotherapy. I have been seriously depressed for the past two years, but in the last couple of months I have come outof it and am feeling pretty good. There is always the lurking fear of relapse there though, isn't there? A week ago I started psychoanalysis, and it has already helped me enormously. It is already helping me deal with aspects of my life which I didn't realise were affecting my mood. I have 4 children in their 20's, and remembering my own experiencewith depression in my teens and twenties I am particularly keen to talk to young people who might e making that transition to young adulthood with the burden of illness

It's been a long road

replies: 2

Hello everyone Where to start, well i'm 35 and still remember the first panic attack i had when i was 19 and it hit me like nothing else i had experienced or ever wanted to experience, then came the visits to the doctor to find out what was going on, well from then on i stopped playing football, cricket and other sports that i loved and slowly cut myself off from everything and everyone i loved, so now i am trying to catch up with all that i missed out on, but am still grateful i am alive and did not end it when i wanted to so many times, i am still medicated and have not had a panic attack for over ten years but still battle the negative thoughts and loneliness, but to everyone who takes the time to read this, life was meant to be a challenge and i am still up for the challenge. No matter how hard it all seems to be just remember we are all unique in our own way and we all belong on this great planet of ours, stay strong and never give up, thanks.

Hi there

replies: 9

Hi there all,im mike,38 and live on the gold coast. In june i was made redundant from my job of 11 years,and slowly have got lower and lower ever since. After pouring many hours of my life,and missing my children grow up,and being a honest reliable dedicated worker i was outsourced to visa workers who have no idea,and had more health and safety incidents in the first month than we had in a decade. I feel degraded,hopeless,and rejected,made worse by rejection after rejection in applying for jobs. I have suffered moderate depression most of my life,and about 5 years ago anxiety started creeping in too. Having an income helped to manage my condition,but now things are beginning to get bad. I have had a couple of job offers but its 1.5 hours each way on the motorway each day and mentally i just cant do it. I dont do busy or traffic very well,and im really starting to lose hope. Thats a brief run down.

Hello, new on here

replies: 3

Hello there, I am new to the forum. I have been feeling depressed to varying degrees for several years now. More recently, it has become a lot worse to the point where I decided to search for help and I came across this forum. At the start of the year, I decided to move to Australia and travel around the country in what I hoped would be a life changing experience. Although, I have got a lot out of it, I have also experienced feelings of loneliness and a sense of not making the most out of it. Although I have fleeting times of enjoyment, these are outweighed by down days and weeks. Another feeling I have is that now I know the world is much smaller, I feel like there is less of a light at the end of the tunnel as I have already tried moving to a different country for a fresh start. Anyway, that's probably enough for now. I'd like to chat to people with similar thoughts or if people have any advice, that would be great. Thanks, H.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

No counsellors, no meds, just good friends. My story. replies: 1

I feel that I can't manage my emotion well replies: 2

Hello, new here. replies: 5

First Steps replies: 4

Just wanted to say hi replies: 3

Hello! replies: 2

Hello from Ellu replies: 1

It's been a long road replies: 2

Hi there replies: 9

Hello, new on here replies: 3