Welcome and Orientation

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Meet your community champions!

replies: 13

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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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?

Am a Health Professional and a mother and have nothing left to give.

replies: 8

Hi, am new to all of this. I work in emergency and deal with life and death. I am sick of being abused by the public. Trying to talk people out of suicide and then dealing with heart attacks or someone complaining about some fake disease just to score opiates. Have been doing this for 30 years and am a single mother of a special needs child. Work/management doesn't care that we are overloaded with patients. People just take and take and I go home mentally and physically drained. I need to have something left for my son and my self. I put him first and then collapse. With shift work the only thing I look forward to is my bed. People have become so acopic with basic living skills and common sense that I feel like a second mother to the whole state I work for. zzzzz

Newbie and mostly confused....

replies: 7

Hi all, I'm the another new kid on the block (I seriously hope I've posted this in the right place - eep!), I've had depression, with a side of Anxiety and OCD thrown in for fun, for more years than I can remember now and up until a few weeks ago it was being successfully managed by medication and my psychologist. I know when I was first diagnosed my mum and dad called BeyondBlue for help and I thought this time around I'd give it a shot. I'm not sure what else to add other than 'Hello'. Cheers D

Am I depressed or just feeling disempowered

replies: 2

I've never been on a forum so here goes. I'm a 52 year old male, work as a Paramedic, married to a supportive wife and have 4 great kids. all ok so fast. However I feel that life has lost a lot of joy and I find it difficult to get involved with leisure activities or even enthusiastic at home or work. I often feel defeated, tired and feel that people tolerate me because I'm family. i feel pessimistic often and flare up in anger easily and am defensive. The only time I feel good is after exercise such as regular running or cycling or hiking. i love my family but feel it is difficult to be spontaneous and engaging. I attend church which I value highly but I so often feel negative. do I have a bad attitude or what? I don't know what to think thsnks

Meet your community champions! replies: 13

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

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

Am a Health Professional and a mother and have nothing left to give. replies: 8

Newbie and mostly confused.... replies: 7

Am I depressed or just feeling disempowered replies: 2