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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A Dumb Question? Go For It!

replies: 11

Hello Everybody! NEW POSTERS/READERS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME! A few years ago I had a staff member that said 'I have a dumb question' relating to a query from a client. This puzzled me as I always had an 'open door' policy where staff were always welcome to approach me about any matter they wished to discuss. I did mention to my staff member that there was "no such thing as a dumb question" and go ahead and ask..she was very relieved after I mentioned that. There is no difference with depression/anxiety or any mental health problem. Even if a person is a new poster or just reads the BB forums and is hesitant about posting or asking a question..please go for it. There are many kind people on the forums that can help. You are not alone.. There is no such thing as a dumb question Paul

New to the site and thought I would say hi. Suffering feeling alone and really depressed.

replies: 4

Hi everyone, My name is Will and I thought I would just say hi. I am finding I am going through some pretty bad depression and nothing I can do will help me feel better. I look forward to meeting some new people

This is all new to me, let me introduce myself

replies: 11

Hi, my name is Sarah, recently i have visited my local GP, where he informed me i have severe anxiety and depression something i knew was coming, but didn't want to hear. Hearing it being told me, was heart breaking to know it was true and that i had a mental illness, made it feel more real. Off lately its been overcoming me, I constantly have breakdowns, crying on my break at work for little to no reason at all, just feeling overwhelmed. Crying to my partner all the time, makes me feel guilty, I'm not that happy fun person he feel in love with. Over the past year my anxiety and depression have gotten a lot a stronger through certain circumstances in life throwing me curve balls. I constantly feel alone, like i have lost all my friends. I use to be so social, something on every weekend, birthday parties, bbqs, pool parties my life was fun, how it should be in your 20's. Then as i'm learning friends come and go and we take different paths, but its something that is chewing me up, i cant get over it and therefore its leaving me constantly down, wondering if i did enough, should i have done this, should i have gone to that party. I have lost my two closest best friends, and although i have an amazing boyfriend you need that balance in your life. I recently reached out to these best friends to be blanked - No response. This was my worst fear in the beginning but i bought up the courage to do so only to get nothing in return. I constantly feel lonely, like i'm looking for something else, i have a great life a great home, a great partner, a good job, a cute puppy but i keep overthinking and dwelling on the past, i cant move forward. I will constantly check their Facebook and snap chats to see all my friends hanging out without me like i don't even exist anymore, it really hurts. Some days i will want to make more effort say yes to every invite i get, make plans with the friends i do have, but when the moment comes to commit, i bail, i'm nervous, i'm less fun now (I think) I'm just not my happy self i was a year ago and i'm really struggling. This is the first time i have ever posted on this and i hope it has a positive affect, i want to be the person i know i'am deep down.

Introducing myself!

replies: 7

Hey there everyone, I thought I would just share a bit about myself and why I joined this forum since I’m new here. I’m a 17 year old from Perth, I am a huge fan of gaming and music, and I love talking to people. I’ve been suffering with; Anxiety, Depression, and Social Awkwardness for multiple years now (3-4 to be precise.) and it’s generally been a pretty rocky path for me over those past few years. It can be a bit hard for me to get through things sometimes because of not having any friends or a supportive family, and in the past that has lead me to do some pretty outrageous things. I’ve tried my best at making friends in the past and trying to explain things to my family, but my social awkwardness and panic attacks leave me pretty hopeless when it comes to explaining things. I really find it hard to talk about my problems to people without sounding like I want pity or sympathy from people, and that really irritates me as I think I’m a really nice person on the inside but the general stigma around mental health issues like Anxiety and Depression leave people not wanting to talk to me. I joined this forum to hopefully get some extra support as well as try and support others as best I can using some scenarios I’ve experienced in my life to hopefully stop people making the same mistakes I have in the past. I’m really happy to finally be a part of this community!

Right... here goes

replies: 5

Hi everyone and thanks for reading my intro. I'm one of those people who is more than likely depressed in some way, but who hasn't got around to doing something about it. But I'm about to and thought that coming on here was good way to find some reassurance and confidence for taking the next rather large step. Six years ago I hit a double whammy of despair when my wife unexpectedly walked out on our marriage. It was out of the blue and horrendously surprising and shocking. I won't bore you with the details, but on a scale of 'I didn't see that coming' it was a 10. Around the same time my 5yo daughter was diagnosed as having a major disability. Coming to terms with both these events was very difficult and I feel that although I've dealt with and accept both on a day-to-day level, I really haven't gotten over the trauma. Add to this my recent diagnosis and ongoing battle with diabetes (the chronic nature of which goes hand in hand with depression) and there's a three pronged attack on my mental health! The good news is that I'm 'ok' with the marriage split now, my daughter is doing well and my diabetes is almost under control - however my mental health is shaky at best. I present well and on any given day can rise to the occasion and nobody would be the wiser. But I'm over sensitive, tired, irritated, short tempered and easy upset and saddened. My current relationship is suffering because I get annoyed by the smallest of things. This overrides all the good in the relationship, which is plenty. I'm ready to see my GP and have researched a good psychologist in my area. Enough is enough, I'm sick and tired of myself and want to go back to the more stable me, not the crusty sad old bloke I'm on my way to becoming.

Anxious and finding it hard

replies: 2

My husband has told me its too hard. He has pulled away. I am trying to get strong, hard to eat and feel sick all the time. 3 kids that need me better too. Looking for stregnth, need to get some help.

New to the forum- introducing myself

replies: 4

Hi, I am a 33 year old female who has been managing depression, anxiety and PTSD since childhood/early teens. I feel like my life is a bit like a yo yo of ups and downs, sadly the ups at the moment are just 'barely coping' and the downs keep me away from work for long periods of time and unable to leave the house for weeks. I am lucky to have a husband doing his very best to understand and offer support but I can not escape the feeling that I am ruining his life and having grown up caring for a parent who was mentally ill and knowing how scary it can be when someone is suicidal/severely depressed, It just feeds into my feelings of guilt and worthlessness. What has changed and what has brought me to the forum is I've made a commitment to try and do small things every day/week that are different or could bring about some hope. I am also returning to work tomorrow and I have been in a state of high anxiety all day, so I thought maybe sharing these thoughts and introducing myself would be something useful. I look forward to engaging with you all further and offering support. Be

My Name is Sarah and I have been diagnosed with a mental affliction

replies: 6

Hi Everyone, My name is Sarah and I have a mental illness. I want to meet like minded people so I can learn from others how they cope with everyday Stresses and juggle a crippling affliction of the mind. I'm excited to hear from you. Sarah

Where did the joy go?

replies: 4

Hi everyone, I'm really just posting here to get some of my thoughts and feelings out of my head. I'm experiencing a lot of sadness atm because my brother is getting divorced. It has rocked me to my core and, as is typical with me, the anxiety and depression seep into every other aspect of my life. I feel the joy has left my life this year. I no longer enjoy the things I used to and find myself ruminating on the point of life. I hate feeling like this but I just can't shake it. It's been a long time since I have felt like this and I'm drawing on every strategy I know to keep going but I miss feeling happy. I miss enjoying my job and my sport. On top of that, a colleague died suddenly about a month ago which was also a huge shock. I have been told that experiencing more than 3 major life events in a 12 month period can cause depression and anxiety. I just wish someone could tell me, when will the joy return?

Well where should I start....

replies: 5

Hi everyone, my name is Harry. I'm 24, live in regional WA and recently I've found out that I have depression and anxiety over 3 months ago and I don't know how long I've been like this. I'd probably say it was from a bad break up of a relationship about 4 years ago that at the time I was in a mentally exhausting apprenticeship, living alone and I didn't had anyone close to talk to about. Living in a small town did made things a lot harder for myself and for the next 6 months, I've fallen to some bad crowds, hit the alcohol bad, I've almost wrapped myself around a tree while speeding on a dirt road. I thought it was a very low key moment of my life and even though up to now I've managed to cut out toxic friendships, changing jobs and did some lifestyle changes. There are times where I feel physically sick, stressed out where I'm unable to do anything productive or overthink about situations when I'm out in social areas. At the moment dealing with depression and anxiety now that I've accepted it, I trying out herbal supplements that helps me get through the day, trying to get in touch with people, regardless what I think they would say and keep my mind on projects, either on a hobby or volunteering. The hardest challenge is the anxiety where I tend to overthink about myself and friends...it still has a win once and awhile. Currently I enjoy my computer games, mainly RPG's and anything with a great story. Also I like my cars and do photography and making video content for a couple of gaming events in Perth. I enjoy my music from the 70's rock, 90's metal and some new indie artists, lately I've been listening to soundtracks from numerous video games where some scores still can bring me to tears! XD Anyway that's me for starters where I'm still trying to keep myself okay day by day. Thanks to anyone who'd read this and hope to hear from you soon.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

A Dumb Question? Go For It! replies: 11

New to the site and thought I would say hi. Suffering feeling alone and really depressed. replies: 4

This is all new to me, let me introduce myself replies: 11

Introducing myself! replies: 7

Right... here goes replies: 5

Anxious and finding it hard replies: 2

New to the forum- introducing myself replies: 4

My Name is Sarah and I have been diagnosed with a mental affliction replies: 6

Where did the joy go? replies: 4

Well where should I start.... replies: 5