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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First time forum user. Recently diagnosed with bipolar.

replies: 2

Hi, my name is nathan. I have been diagnosed with bipolar over the last month. I am looking for new ways to communicate with fellow people. I don't know anyone who has this.

G'day from the Whitsundays!

replies: 9

I go by the name of Bob . I AM 64 years old and have been dancing with depression since 1984. I AM now living my dream and I AM Content and I believe if I can do it, anyone can. From my own experience of healing the most important element has been talking about the problem in a safe, non judgemental and non advice giving scenario. The most beneficial qualities I have enjoyed on my journey have simply been acceptance and validation. Looking back over my life I now see depression as a gift for it provided the incentive to heal myself!. There is a growing movement now globally that recognises depression not as an illness of the mind but a wound of the soul and I AM part of that.Cheers Bob!

heĺlo

replies: 3

Hi. I'm kind of lost and found this forum. I hope i can contribute in some way and hopefully find a little support that i definitely need right now. I'm pretty shy but I'll do my best.

Hello all - I'm new here... Not new to the 'Black Dog'.

replies: 10

Hello all, I'm new here, although, I am not new to the scourge that it depression and anxiety. I completed 22 years in the Australian Army and was diagnosed with depression in 2006. I attempted a variety of treatments within the ADF, and dealt with it the best way I could for the final eight years of my career. In the end (2014), it became all too much and I left of my own volition. I accept that things have improved within Defence over the past few years - but my experience was traumatic. I have never felt so small or unwanted in my life. On many occasions, I was forced to bury what I was feeling in order to 'fit in'. It angers me when Defence officials state that they are doing 'all they can' in the treatment of mental illness within Defence. It might be a priority to the senior leadership group, but there is a significant stigma still attached at unit level. Things spiralled out of control when I left the Army. Although I appeared calm on the outside, I was at war with myself internally. Several times I considered ending it all. In the past, these thoughts frightened me, but during these occasions, suicide seemed a perfectly valid option. It was time to seek help. After a couple of false starts, I luckily stumbled upon one of the most caring people I have ever met. He assessed and diagnosed me with PTSD. The world changed for me (that was a year ago). I see this man twice a week and while I have a long way to go, I am in a better place. I am married and have two daughters. My wife and daughters are my rock and my reason for existing. Their love and patience has forced me to try and improve my lot in life. I was directionless when I left the ADF. I was angry and bitter - my long service wasn't acknowledged and the regular platitudes not issued. I know now that false praise is unnecessary and that I don't need it in my life. Photography has become my saviour. If I don't shoot for a while, I become quite depressed, but my soul is lifted after a day of shooting. I focus on the process - in fact, I become mindful when shooting a scene and I have found that I have improved dramatically. So much so, that, maybe there is another career in the offering. I come to Beyond Blue with the hope that I can help people. Perhaps people can find solace in art, and perhaps in creating something beautiful, find hope within themselves. Thanks for reading. Mick.

Newbie!

replies: 9

Hi All, I'm new here and newly diagnosed with anxiety and depression, arising from some stressful situations, including a workplace attempted physical assault, verbal assault and harassment via text and email, long work hours, demands of university studies and a very sick 2 year old in and out of hospital & seeing specialists near and far for a diagnosis which is still unknown. It's been an extraordinary time. I've never dealt with any mental health issues before until these issues arose in my life which I tried really hard to contain and deal with but it just got the better of me, I guess. Not sure if it's just a sign of weakness on my behalf or whether I could have tried harder. Anyway this is where I am today. I resigned from work, I deferred my studies and I'm focussing on getting my little two year old well and pain free. Whilst I'm at it I hope to improve my own mental health. I've just started therapy. Antidepressants were discussed but I've decided to give it a go without for a bit. As for the name 150lashes - let's just say I couldn't think of a screen name and at the moment I'm enjoying a refreshing James Squire 150 lashes beer whilst I type this. It seemed the perfect name I have quite a sense of humour which even through this I have been able to maintain. My GP and therapist think I'm taking things much too lightly and I use humour to cover up how I feel and what I am really going through. That may be true. My therapist believes she will break through the walls and make me cry.. We'll see about that I think this community is great and I'm looking forward to participating and going through this journey with some company along the way. Cheers

Hey!

replies: 4

Hi everyone, I'm a 15 year old who basically is currently an empty shell, i barely smile anymore. c:

Long-time sufferer, first time caller

replies: 6

Hi there,Over the years I've read so many threads on BB I've lost count, and I know the community here is genuine and supportive and non-judgemental, an amazing support network which is essential and something too many people lack or don't realise is there until you look for it, and can rely on it. I'm male, 32 years old, and have been diagnosed with GAD (generalised anxiety disorder), chronic depression, and insomnia. I had a nervous breakdown in 2006 after working for a telco, but went through a bad run of GP's, psychologists and medications until I was admitted to a psych ward in 2011. I have only in the last year finally found a psych and GP that are amazing and brilliant and almost worth the wait. Anyway: I feel like I've made more progess in the last year than I have in the last ten, but every step forward, the mountain I have to climb grows bigger and bigger and especially, at the moment, negative thoughts, anxiety, hopelessness, loneliness, guilt (all that good stuff) life is starting to become overwhelming. Things are incredibly unstable for me right now. My accommodation for the last 2 years has been especially unreliable, I haven't seen my psych and GP since July of last year when things started becoming clusterf*****d (sorry for the language) and I had to move to the other side of Brisbane. I'm back where my psych and GP are but my friend support network seems to be collapsing around me. I live with my best friend of 20 years and his wife, and though they try to hide it, their relationship is on the verge of ending.I have so many things that I want to talk about with them but my anxieties run so deep and I'm so internalised at the moment that we all seem to be throwing up defensive walls. I also have stuff I could go on for hours about but classic anxiety, I feel like "being me" at the moment is just bumming out all my friends, I feel like an emotional burden and don't want to dump my shit on them. I know this isn't the case but my brain won't let me think otherwise. I've always been a loner and generally just done my own thing over the years, but I'm feeling loneliness like never before. I feel such an overwhelming need to connect with other people I've never felt before. And I've been on the internet since I was 15, so this is a way I'm comfortable communicating and I think finally getting involved with this community is the way to go.Sorry for the wall of text, but if this isn't the place where is?

Great to know you're here!

replies: 6

Hi there Firstly, all I can say is wow! Before coming here I would never have believed that such a caring online community could exist! Kudos to you all and to BeyondBlue for this. I think it's wonderful. So, just to introduce myself. I'm a 44-year-old guy, married with two kids. By any standard I have a pretty amazing life. But I have been battling anxiety since I was a kid really, although I guess my depression didn’t really raise its head till my early 20s when I had what I can only assume was a nervous breakdown while overseas and then spiralled from there. Loads of therapy and spiritual practice later, I’m still somewhat prone to anxiety attacks and bouts of depression, but I’ve made a lot of progress. I’ve observed that a lot of my problems have come from faulty thinking patterns, whether it be setting impossible standards for myself and others, resisting what I can’t control, living in the future or past, or numerous other non-resourceful strategies. I’ve come to this forum because I have spent the past two weeks in a state of high anxiety, produced by something that I would never have predicted. My psychologist was booked out, and in desperation I rang the BeyondBlue helpline. The woman who answered was incredibly helpful and empathetic, and I’m very grateful for her time and patience. On the back of that, I came to the website today for a snoop around and found the forums. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone with my struggles, and great to know that I can access others to share my feelings. Peace Matt

New to beyondblue community forums

replies: 2

Over the past 5-8 years I've been apart of beyondblue and have in the last year been apart of the blue bash and managed to raise $850 through local community fundraising (and dying my hair blue for the month of January) I wanted to go outside of my comfort zone and dye my hair to start the conversation with strangers through my work-place and in general social interactions... I would say that with the amount that I managed to raise in my small local community and having those short 5-10 minute conversations with people has brought about a small internal growth, confidence and made me more comfortable in talking about my own grief in losing someone to depression and the battles with my own mind sometimes when I am feeling at my lowest.

New here

replies: 2

Hi, I'm new here and I'm not sure I'm even doing this right. I'm not having a great night. I should be asleep as I have work in the morning, but my head is switched completely on and thinking about all the things that are wrong in my life. I know I s... View more

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

First time forum user. Recently diagnosed with bipolar. replies: 2

G'day from the Whitsundays! replies: 9

heĺlo replies: 3

Hello all - I'm new here... Not new to the 'Black Dog'. replies: 10

Newbie! replies: 9

Hey! replies: 4

Long-time sufferer, first time caller replies: 6

Great to know you're here! replies: 6

New to beyondblue community forums replies: 2

New here replies: 2