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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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lonely

replies: 8

Feeling weak n lonely tday .Have been living a lie and its eating me away

Lost

replies: 2

Hi, this is my first post. I have been reading lots of other treads and feel that I have no reason to be depressed. I have supportive family and an amazing group of friends who are always there for me. I have a good job and a beautiful home. BUT I have completely lost myself. I feel i cant continue to put all this nothing s*&t on to my family and friends. Most days I feel so lost and alone. I wonder why do I let myself get so low. Why am I not stronger. I know this is something I need to fix myself - others cant do it for me, but I dont know how. The hole is so deep and I just keep digging it deeper, that I no longer can see the top. Top, bottom it doesnt seem to matter anymore.

new to beyond blue community

replies: 2

I would like to be able to talk to others who may be experiencing anxiety. I am currently trying to complete my studies in community services, and I am a mum, but I feel I am snowed under with my studies, and now I have neglected my fitness, have let myself go and I only leave the house when I have to go to college, or to go the shops, I put less effort into feeling good about myself and don't really bother with image, and don't really go out and enjoy leisure activities fear of other people looking at me because I don't really put much effort into dressing like other people who have a good self esteem. I used to eat super healthy but now I don't seem to care what I eat. Has anyone got any advice on how I can bounce back? depressed, and sad.

i drink, im depressed, i can get anything done, feel worthless

replies: 7

Is this a familiar theme here?

Hi

replies: 18

Just wanted to introduce myself. Male, 29.. (sounds like a dating website) 2 year old son who I love more than anything in this life. Police Officer 6 years, just about to graduate as a lawyer. Had a rough time around December last year, admitted for a short time. But been suffering my whole life. Nine months with one to two appointments a week with a Psychiatrist later, you can say I know a little about whats going on. I don't listen to diagnoses, and to be honest they are a load of... but only you can figure that out. I have seven 'labels,' from that little book the DSM, but let me tell you when you have a psych that doesn't believe in medication or the way psychiatry is headed, you soon learn where your problems come from. If you really want to know whats going on upstairs and take control of your life, think causes, that's it. What caused the mood, what caused the anxiety? Sometimes the cause is so small or so stupid (perceived) we refuse to acknowledge it, and hence blame it on the label. Toss the labels, lets talk about causes and triggers. I tossed all the medication too, well the majority, but I don't know if I can talk about that here. Anyway, I want to speak with like minded people about life's challenges. Nice to meet you, Chris.

First time on Beyond Blue....

replies: 18

Hey, I'm Kaspa. I'm 37, a mum, in a de-facto relationship for almost 19 years and have had - in my humble opinion- more than my fair share of drawing the short straw. Every experience has made the woman I am today. While growing up, my ideals were polar opposites to my life today. I suppose we all have different views on how we'd like to be as an adult but to be so far off has me constantly frowning and asking "why?". I had my first child at 23. Compared to my peers, I was almost a geriatric mum. Unfortunately my mum was born decades too early and had children because it was "expected" or "that's how everyone was back then". Her words. Mum isn't the most maternal and told me more than once that a baby before marriage would be a deal breaker for her. Having our first daughter didn't dissuade her. It wasn't until my. Dad took me to have baby checked out for not meeting certain milestones by 8 months of age. They said she had a genetic muscle wasting disease that can't be cured. 3-5 years they told me. Mums not an ice maiden and this pretty much brought her back into my life until we lost our bub at 3 years old. Every pregnancy my defacto's and I conceive has to be tested. If we left each other it wouldn't be an issue unless we met others that had the same gene. We both have to have it for this to happen. That's my crux issue obviously. It's been 10 yrs but I can still see every detail of her last 24 hours. It's hard for me not to acknowledge her when askd about my kids. Am I supposed to pretend she never existed so others don't feel uncomfortable? Most my friends and family including my defacto thinks I should look at it that way. How? She grew inside me for goodness sake, even mums amongst my friends don't get it. I'm resigned that there won't be many that do but how am I supposed to function when everywhere I turn, I'm told to suck it up or get over it? I was diagnosed with chronic depression and social anxiety last year. I look at my kids and think they deserve so much better than this pathetic feel sorry for me poor excuse of a mother, even my mums lack of affection seems like xmas in comparison. I adore my kids I tell them I love them every day. Having kids saved my life and I'm not going to let anything else ruin our happiness. thats why I'm here. I hope this is the right place to be. I feel like I'm running out of options. thanks for taking the time to read this Kaspa

Hello, thinking it's time to share...

replies: 9

Hello all, I have joined the community because I think it's important for me to share my story. Why, because often I think that to feel depressed and anxious we must have experienced one significant turning point in our lives such as death, loss of job, separation etc. Well, I don't think this is the case with me, I'm someone who is experiencing all of this because of the day to day pressures that we are often faced with in today's society. I'm not sure where to start, so here we go. I think anxiety and depression is something I have probably dealt with for longer than I have been diagnosed (diagnosed about 5 years ago). At the time of diagnosis I felt ashamed and embarrassed because of the social stigma that is sometimes attached to anxiety and depression. I questioned why me, what have I done to deserve this? I am a good person with a big heart that cares a whole lot about the wellbeing of others. Since diagnosis I have naturally tried to find the answers to some of my questions around why me? Through the help of a psychologist and through my own drive to reflect on why, I came to the understanding that as a child I was always shy and lacked confidence in myself, would never speak up because of fear and rejection and always avoided conflict with others. Moving through my teens and early adulthood I avoided social situations, they made me feel uncomfortable because I felt as though I was unable to contribute to discussions and had nothing worthy of sharing. Moving into my mid 20's I graduated from university and achieved a Bachelors degree. It was when I started working in my chosen profession that everything came crashing down. The work pressure was getting the better of me as I started to think that I wasn't capable of completing the relevant tasks. After many tears and discussions with my very supportive boyfriend he said I think that you need to go and see someone. I ended up taking his advice booked into my GP and had my BF I decided to do something about how I was feeling and ended up really started to experience depression and anxiety. The pressures of work, work and more work left me feeling like all I did was work, because I started neglecting all of the other things in my life, such as my loving family, friends and boyfriend, exercise, sewing, shopping, going for coffee etc.

And so I go back to the meds

replies: 3

I haven't posted on here before. I think I'm what I recently saw described as a high functioning depressive person, no one knows about my condition except my husband, and yet it cripples me. When I get really bad I re start my meds. I know I should probably not stop them but I'm massively forgetful so once I've forgotten them for a few days and feel ok I usually leave them in the box until the next bout. I've had depression since I can remember. Although only officially diagnosed 3 years ago. I tried a therapist but she kept talking about my physical health and I just didn't feel I was getting anything out of the sessions. I'm hoping to use this as a sounding board, depression is a lonely place but even more so when no one knows so you have no shoulder to cry on. Bad day today

Hello new friends, I'm just gonna start here.

replies: 7

I have visited Beyond Blue now and then over some years, and am determined now to get involved. It's intimidating for me and I'm "feeling my way through the darkness, guided by a beating heart...." Oops, slipped into song lyrics already. Anyway, "I don't know where the journey will end, but I know where to start." This post is it. I was first diagnosed with Depression in 1997, and it is something that has effected my whole life. I've been diagnosed with epilepsy (as a child), Post-Natal Depression at times, Major Depressive Disorder, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, and Dysthymic Disorder. My father suffered from and died from Depression, and my mother returned to school when I was a teenager and is now a Clinical Psychologist who has practiced for about fifteen years. I've often believed that I have developed skills in dealing with my mental health disorder, and am reaching out now to become involved in discussion and with a community to help me remember this. I hope I can connect with some of you, and feel helpful while continuing the my quest to reorganize my inner world and tame the dialog of self-doubt and fear that the black dog has again permeated my mind with. This is a quote that helps me at the moment as I can believe it and feel it... “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars” ― Max Ehrmann, Desiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life Also, as a inveterate caregiver I believe: "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." — Lao Tzu and I could sure use both of those things right about now. What about you all?

Acknowledgement of Country and an invitation to celebrate National Reconciliation Week with me on Beyond Blue.

replies: 3

I want to start with acknowledging I am writing to you from Wiradjuri country, I acknowledge elders past and present, and pay my respects to all Aboriginal people and those who are reading this now. Where are you? If you are not sure check it out on this map here I'd love to have a roll call of country (Just the country from the map and not the name of the settlement you live in). Here on Beyond Blue we make no shame out of mental health, we are all people with our own story to tell. We talk, and yarn, and support each other. I have been incredibly lucky in life to be here in Australia and to have had the opportunity to be friends with and learn from people who are Aboriginal. If ever I need some listening and a bit of direction I have Uncles and Aunties that are there to help. I love how they make me laugh, how they work with me in my professional life, stand up for Aboriginal people in our community, and how they unwind with me on a Friday night. Being proud Welsh (Cymro am byth!) I love talking my culture and other cultures too, it is what keeps me strong, I care about what has happened in our history. We have just recently observed National Sorry Day, it is a difficult day for me knowing families who are still working things out from the generations of their family taken away. I work with families for a living and have had to face up to what was done and the ongoing impact. But those very same people give me hope for the future we share together. I recon reconciliation is about the stories of our country being told. Some are hard to hear, others are uplifting. All of them are about people, family, and culture. Let's celebrate our stories. Rob.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

lonely replies: 8

Lost replies: 2

new to beyond blue community replies: 2

i drink, im depressed, i can get anything done, feel worthless replies: 7

Hi replies: 18

First time on Beyond Blue.... replies: 18

Hello, thinking it's time to share... replies: 9

And so I go back to the meds replies: 3

Hello new friends, I'm just gonna start here. replies: 7

Acknowledgement of Country and an invitation to celebrate National Reconciliation Week with me on Beyond Blue. replies: 3