Welcome and Orientation

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Sorted by:

Start a discussion

HI!

replies: 3

Hi everyone, My boss suggested a few weeks ago that I might need some help. But for someone who not only has anxiety but an intense fear of most medical professionals it's hard for me to start. I have always been described as somewhat "dark" in my thinking but I have seemed to deal with it up until now on my own. I feel really alone now and like if I don't get help I'll be fired. I'm a very self sufficient person and always was the person taking care of everyone else. My friends all came to me as "fixer uppers" homeless, jobless etc. They are all successful and happy now and I feel left behind. I don't know what exactly I have to change to make things better but I want things to get better. I dislike martyrs or people falsely playing the victim so the feeling of victimisation I am experiencing is causing a whole lot of intense feelings that I am struggling with. Over the past few years I went from what strangers see as completely happy, to someone who would burst into tears at work and now someone who internalises everything and that's not good. My friend circle has diminished and I am ashamed of that not that it is really anyones fault. People grow up and grow apart. I think I have had to say goodbye too many times before and the reason I am really struggling now is because it's not a good excuse, moving to different countries, death etc those are good reasons for friendships fading. Not being too busy. Ok so that felt a bit narcissistic but good to get out. I guess I am here and that's step one so something in the right direction. All I ever wanted from life is to be "Happy" so I'd like to find that.

Hi everyone I'm new!

replies: 6

Hello! I'm so relieved to have discovered these forums. I'm 27 years old and I have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for about 13 years. My first panic attack came out of nowhere and I have struggled with them ever since. They started off as being very physical - the racing heart, shaky limbs, etc. I spent a lot of time as a teenager not wanting to go out due to the fear of it happening. I feel like they have changed a lot as I've gotten older, a lot more scary. The last major one I had a couple of weeks ago was the scariest yet. I had just gone to bed and I was completely fine one minute and then the next I was absolutely terrified (no idea why), I felt like I was going crazy and that I was going to die. My head felt tight and dizzy and I thought I was losing my mind. I was lucky my partner was with me - he's very supportive, but I still struggle explaining it to him because he doesn't ACTUALLY know or understand exactly what it feels like. I feel like this last panic attack has been a major setback for me. Up until now I had sort of worked out how to control them - I would recognize the symptoms and tell myself I was fine. But now I just have an ongoing fear that I'm going to get another terrifying one and I won't be able to control it. I'm just so over feeling like I'm going crazy, and like I'm the only one who feels like this (even though I know I'm not!). I just want to be able to get on with life and do normal activities like everybody else without these weird feelings that are always in the back of my mind holding me back. Unfortunately I can't even remember what that feels like!! Anyway, there are clearly a lot of people on here who understand exactly what its like and I look forward to talking and sharing experiences with you all

New Member

replies: 4

Hello my name is Shilou I have joined beyondblue to be able to speak to other people going through depression and panick disorder. I do not know anyone else around me with a mental health issue, so I would like to meet people who understand the condi... View more

Introducing myself

replies: 1

My name is Bianca, I am new to the forum. I want to talk about my life story in suffering and to raise awareness and help others

newbie

replies: 1

Hi everyone, I am new to beyond blue. Ive been suffering depression for several months now along with anxiety and panic attacks. I am seeing a psychologist and am on medication but am going through a episode that i cant pull myself out of right now. I have just gotten engaged to the love of my life and feel so guilty for feeling like this. I work part time and the times im not working i want to curl up in bed and eat.. emotional eater all my life.. Just wanting to reach out to others who understand this situation and dont want to 'fix' it. My fiancee is a fixer and i cant talk to him about how i am feeling because he just wants to fix it instead of just being with me in these feelings.

I feel alone all the time

replies: 1

I have just been told I am manic depression does anyone know of groups in cairns that I can get some support

Hello From A New Member

replies: 3

Greetings to you all. My name is Silenus. I've been living an interesting life with bipolar. In fact, no, let's say an "interesting" life... For a few decades, I was undiagnosed. I worked an at-times high stress job, and would bounce around in what I now know was a hypomanic high. I would often take on too much at work, and there would be long hours and lots of deadlines. Which of course my hypomania would love, triggering it ever higher... Then, usually after about 2 years, I would fall into a major depression. Nasty stuff. It would last anywhere from a month or so to about 6 months typically. The worst one I ever had lasted about 2 years. That was also the one that led to the breakup of my marriage. I thought I was at rock bottom before that. Hah! I went into freefall... Finally, after so many years of ignorance and believing that I could just think or logic my way out of depression, I went to see a GP, who referred me to a psych. I was diagnosed with depression, and engaged in talk therapy for a while to help me past the current life events that were triggering me so very badly. It wasn't until a good while later that I had a big blowup with my father, and my moods started to rapid cycle. I went to see another psych, who diagnosed me with bipolar. Since then (about 3 years ago), I have been learning as much as I can about bipolar in general and how it manifests in me in particular. It's an important journey, and self knowledge and awareness is such a crucial part of that. Anyhoo, that's just a brief intro to my life journey so far. I look forward to meeting you, fellow forum members. Hugs and happy vibes beaming to you... I might try to post some poetry. I write a lot when my muse grabs me. Some of it may even be readable... hahaha...

Hi All :)

replies: 3

Hello Everyone! Hopefully I posting in the right area and not really sure how to start this either, I guess this is good way to try and get across what is going on in my head. I've previously been diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety over 4 years ago, main cause was bullying. Today I feel like my anxiety has grown out of control somewhat, I've been having more and more uncontrollable Panic attacks that leave me hating myself, everything I do or say I regret. I even find myself saying in my head over and over again "How am I going to do this" meaning how can I handle going through this one more time/right now. That all sounds pretty bad and I'm not saying my whole life is bad and that I'm even considering suicide, I having a loving fiance and she lets me know that she is always there for me and that I was the reason that she no longer has Depression and anxiety herself, she wishes what I've done for her, she can do for me. I want that too, but for some reason it's not working that way. I'm struggling in my head, I even sometimes think I'm going crazy, I get these pictures of me going completely insane in scenarios throughout the day during my anxiety moments. It's scary. Am I going crazy? Do I need to be seen just in case I go completely bonkers? I got a lot to talk about and I will be seeing a Psychologist soon hopefully, to talk about these issues but tonight I felt like I needed to go somewhere. Not sure if this is how an introduction is suppose to go. Thanks for readig! - Michael

Introducing myself - waves

replies: 3

Hi everyone While I'm new to this particular forum, I'm not new to depression. I'm in my 30s, female, married with fur-babies and have had depression and anxiety since my teens. In my early 20s I was diagnosed with bipolar type II. I'm still learning how to respond when different aspects of this illness arise, but I figure after 10 years of many different forms of treatment, I might be able to offer support to others and help share what I've learnt. I know I will continue to have dark days and there will be many times I will come here seeking advice. But, I wanted to make sure when I introduce myself that with me, it's a two-way street. I'm here to give advice as well as ask for it. Because I'm new, I may not jump into the conversations right away - I like to get the lay of the land before I put myself out there. But I just wanted to say hi and that I'm looking forward to being part of these very important conversations See you around! Lana

Tell me about your beyond blue name...

replies: 47

There are some great and creative names being used on beyond blue. I am really interested in getting to know some of the stories behind them and getting to know you the process. I thought I'd introduce myself through explaining my name. Gruffudd. It is Welsh and pronounced Griffith. I have found a sense of place and belonging in my Welsh background - it has always been there but I never really owned it or thought much of it until the last couple of years. Exploring it has helped me learn about my dad, and answered some of the questions about him like why he thinks and does some things. It is not my name, rather a family name from my grandmother's side. She was perhaps the biggest influence growing up, she had us kids after school and taught the fine traditions of making welsh cakes and was just the best listener, drank litres of tea.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

HI! replies: 3

Hi everyone I'm new! replies: 6

New Member replies: 4

Introducing myself replies: 1

newbie replies: 1

I feel alone all the time replies: 1

Hello From A New Member replies: 3

Hi All :) replies: 3

Introducing myself - *waves* replies: 3

Tell me about your beyond blue name... replies: 47