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Sophie_M 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 Be... View more

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.

Aaronsis 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 th... View more

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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Kordunasica_AU Why this life is so bad
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone I don't know why I am here ... I just need someone to talk to as I feel so alone ... even people next door have a party ... and they invited me ... but I felt so out of place that I left early .... and they are now having a great time ...... View more

Hi everyone I don't know why I am here ... I just need someone to talk to as I feel so alone ... even people next door have a party ... and they invited me ... but I felt so out of place that I left early .... and they are now having a great time ... and I want them to stop ... that's very mean I know .. but every minute that continues I am having a harder time not to scream .. although I am already crying for an hour ... my apologies for any mistakes ... English is my second language and sometimes is hard to express myself ... I used to have really bad times in my life before but somehow I got up and get out those situations ... but I am tired now ... and don't want anymore to get up ... I am just tired of living ...

PerlaSjogren Emotionally unstable
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I’m new to the forums, but have rung beyondblue by phone many times. Today I rang in sick to work as I’m a sobbing mess again and don’t even want to leave the house even though I really need to get food from the supermarket. I have been in ... View more

Hi there, I’m new to the forums, but have rung beyondblue by phone many times. Today I rang in sick to work as I’m a sobbing mess again and don’t even want to leave the house even though I really need to get food from the supermarket. I have been in bed all day and haven’t eaten. All I can do is cry. I’m worried I won’t be able to hold down a job like this as I’m often “in the pit.” I just started seeing a psychologist on a regular basis and have a referral to a psychiatrist. But how am I going to get through these days by myself? I’m barely functional when in the pit. Where can I go for help/support outside of psychology appointments?

creativevibes94 Friendships & Social Media
  • replies: 1

Sometimes, social media can be a really hard thing. As much as you claim not to be playing the comparison game with the number of people affirming posts, you never really escape it. You can show people the kind of affirmation that you want, but never... View more

Sometimes, social media can be a really hard thing. As much as you claim not to be playing the comparison game with the number of people affirming posts, you never really escape it. You can show people the kind of affirmation that you want, but never get it back. I am one of three fairly outgoing siblings. I’d say we all are good at making friends. But my sisters never went through the same course of youth as I did - being brutally bullied and not having many friends in high school. In adulthood, I’ve always been really frustrated that I’ve never been able to make up for this. Barely any of my friendships have been permanent and what hurts the most is always welcoming people to your home only to later scroll past photos of them all hanging out together, without you. Seeing how effortlessly others get affirmation and love from friends on these platforms puts salt in that wound. I feel juvenile. In my late 20’s and still asking “If I’m always so friendly and outgoing, why don’t people like me enough to show it and what do I need to do fix that?”. I feel like people don’t see me or care about me unless I force myself into their field of attention. I’m not someone that anyone thinks about when I’m not standing in front of them. And I know that perhaps I need to reach out and show that kind of love first - and I do! But it gets so exhausting when you try and try and try and get nothing back. I just want to know what I have to do to have long lasting friends that actually remember that I exist.

opplevelse Advice needed: Moderating social media
  • replies: 2

So I am a moderator on a very large forum. Occasionally we get posts indicating depression and one such post has appeared recently. I wont repost it here as it would then become searchable, but needless to say it indicates a depressed individual who ... View more

So I am a moderator on a very large forum. Occasionally we get posts indicating depression and one such post has appeared recently. I wont repost it here as it would then become searchable, but needless to say it indicates a depressed individual who is threatening self harm. This person has said very similar things over a very long period of time (probably 15 years or more), and has a very confused and odd look of the world, is full of conspiracy theories and I suspect he has some other serious mental health issues. Over the last 15+ years various people have tried to help him on the forum, but none have been successful, and to many it appears his posts are nothing more than attention seeking. "It's tough to help someone who actively does not want to be helped. Complaining about his lot in life is such a part of his identity at this point" as one other moderator put it, and I tend to agree. I'm actually not so worried about him self harming, as this has been going on for over 15 years, but I am concernmed about the potential impact his posts may have on other more vulnerable people. I guess I am looking for some advice on how to handle situations like this, do we let his post remain unedited? Do we post a warning / suggestion to contact BB / Lifeline etc? Any other strategies to help people like this? Sorry if I have put this in the wrong place, please feel free to move if it should be elsewhere! James

chrisw01 Afraid of getting STIs and being alone forever (NFSW)
  • replies: 16

Sorry, it seems a little bit too much going on last month. Maybe not a big deal compared with other people's issues, but I just need a space to talk about because I don't have any friends that I can share with, and I don't think it is a good idea to ... View more

Sorry, it seems a little bit too much going on last month. Maybe not a big deal compared with other people's issues, but I just need a space to talk about because I don't have any friends that I can share with, and I don't think it is a good idea to talk about anything related to STIs with my parents. I am a 28 years old man, who is extremely introverted and always feels insecure about myself, especially my below-average size (I could elaborate more if needed, but I don't think it is necessary), and the way I talk to people. One day, I decided to go to visit a sex worker. After a brief moment of satisfaction, all I bring to myself are nothing but the constant fear of having Herpes (From what I know, they can live with your body forever and wait until one day to have an outbreak) or any other STIs and possible prostitution addiction. I feel so pathetic and sad about myself for ruining my life and body for a moment of fake happiness. Sometimes I don't even know what I want. I want to have a meaningful relationship, but I am too afraid of facing rejection and getting hurt because of the things I am feeling insecure about. When I was young I feel like things will just happen, or I didn't have this sense of urgency. As I am getting older, I couldn't stop wondering if I am missing something important in my life. I become anxious and uncomfortable at the thought that I will regret not doing something right now, but I have no idea what should I do. Am I going to find someone that can understand me and accept who I am rather than get annoyed by my self-pity? I feel so lonely and I feel like I am wasting my life right now.

Trans22 Hi
  • replies: 4

I had been existing for almost 52 years in a world filled with confusion, which turned into severe depression (self diagnosed) around the onset of puberty. I was/am confident of my diagnosis because I cannot remember too many days where I didn't wish... View more

I had been existing for almost 52 years in a world filled with confusion, which turned into severe depression (self diagnosed) around the onset of puberty. I was/am confident of my diagnosis because I cannot remember too many days where I didn't wish for my existence to end, but I was never brave or selfish enough to do anything more than self harm. I only ever sought help once and was prescribed anti-depressants which didn't help much because they were treating a symptom rather than the root cause. In mid-late 2021, work placed me on a series of coaching sessions with a psychologist. My psychologist identified the root cause to my problems and my life started to turn around. However, the root cause placed me in a group of people with really bad mental health related statistics - depression (>70%), anxiety (~65%), self-harm(~80%), & worse (~50%) above average. I'm sure that most of you have now guessed that I am transgender - its embarrassing for me to admit that the word transgender didn't exist in my vocabulary until Sep-2021. I started living authentically on 1-Jun and my transition has been outstanding so far. Almost everyone has accepted me - it seems that almost everyone already knew/suspected that I wasn't a boy/man between my ears. I am seeing a psychologist because of the residual pain associated with my previous existence. I have also seen a psychiatrist and am now on HRT. My choice to live authentically was the best decision of my life, my choice to start HRT was the second best (mostly because of the mental health improvements). It also seems that my body is very receptive to hormones, because physical changes started occurring after just 4 weeks (not supposed to happen before 3-6 months) - would love to find out whether there is a medical reason for this.

Terry_Jane_1960 Phyciatists
  • replies: 6

I went to a psychiatrist and got no comfort once no check ups or anything how am I supposed to get help

I went to a psychiatrist and got no comfort once no check ups or anything how am I supposed to get help

john_happy Hi Everyone
  • replies: 4

Hi Everyone, I am John and new to this forum. Been feeling really sad lately to see my teenage son going through deep anxiety that he cant sleep at night. I felt I was to strict in my parenting and often blame myself for what has happened to him. I a... View more

Hi Everyone, I am John and new to this forum. Been feeling really sad lately to see my teenage son going through deep anxiety that he cant sleep at night. I felt I was to strict in my parenting and often blame myself for what has happened to him. I am struggling to forgive myself and this has impacted me mentally. I want to move forward and looking to support others in my journey.

BindiL I'm worried about my friend.
  • replies: 6

Hello. I'm completely fine, but it's my friend that I'm worried about. I'm twelve years old, and my friends are the same age as me. Last week, I noticed that one of them had been self harming herself on the left arm. When I talked to her about it, sh... View more

Hello. I'm completely fine, but it's my friend that I'm worried about. I'm twelve years old, and my friends are the same age as me. Last week, I noticed that one of them had been self harming herself on the left arm. When I talked to her about it, she said she wasn't comfortable and refused to get help. Her parents are also on the verge of divorcing which is putting a lot of stress on her, and she harms herself to punish herself. Even though I told her to talk to her closest friend (who also self-harms but is getting therapy) about it, I don't think she will. To add to that, one of our friends is annoyed at her because she wants to be depressed and self-harming to look 'cool' but my self-harming friend is actually needs help, and that friend tells herself that my self-harming friend is a show-off and talks behind her back, which my self-harming friend found screenshots of. Our entire friend group has choir, and because of School Spectacular lunchtime rehearsals she's been alone at lunch often. She's under a lot of stress and she keeps harming herself, and I don't know what to do. She doesn't want to get help and I don't know how to help her.

Ali75 My daughter has high social anxiety, refuses school and now refuses medication to help.
  • replies: 17

I just am so stressed and frustrated and sad. My daughter is flat out refusing school most days. We have tablets for her to start taking but she is scared about taking them. Im really worried about her. And don't really knoe what to do anymore. She h... View more

I just am so stressed and frustrated and sad. My daughter is flat out refusing school most days. We have tablets for her to start taking but she is scared about taking them. Im really worried about her. And don't really knoe what to do anymore. She has seen a psych but doesn't talk.