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Cyclone Alfred - Mental Health Support

replies: 0

Hey everyone, We acknowledge that many of our Forums members here are currently facing the impacts of Cyclone Alfred and might be feeling uncertain, afraid and overwhelmed. We wanted to create a separate post here to come together during what may be a distressing time for many of us to support one another. Recognising that the impacts of a natural disaster can occur both before, during and after, we have prepared some resources which we hope can be helpful: From the Queensland Government, Useful information to help you get ready for a cyclone:Home | Get Ready Queensland Emotional Preparedness: Prepare your mind | Australian Red Cross Three-steps-to-emotionally-prepare-for-the-disaster-season.pdf What now? Coping after the event: Coping after a crisis | Australian Red Cross Maintaining wellbeing in the face of long-term stress | Australian Red Cross Emergency preparedness guide | Australian Red Cross As always, if you wish to speak to a counsellor, the Beyond Blue Support Service is available via phone 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via beyondblue.org.au/get-support for online chat. Stay safe, everyone, and take good care of yourself during what can be a deeply challenging time. Kind regards 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 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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new member wanting to just chat.

replies: 10

Hi im a new member with depression, anxiety and isolating myself from everyone and finding it hard to physically talk to people and hopefully i can find some people on here going thru the same thing, and just talk about our issues.

Newbie :)

replies: 3

Hey all. Not sure where to start so ill give it my best shot.Ive battled with depression since '07 when my uncle killed himself. It was really unexpected and i was only 13 so i didnt totally understand and i didnt want to accept it because we were so close.. Many moons later i fell pregnant with my first baby and thats when i started getting horrible anxiety & pnd. That eased the older my baby got but November '15 i got a call that nobody wants to get... My father, at just 41, had decided he had enough and was missing my uncle so he too killed himself. It was a total shock. I was and still am stumped. Two brothers, plenty of broken hearts.... d.r.s & c.k.s xo Please talk to someone if you need help. ~feenxo

I am a new member

replies: 10

Hello - I'm Yamba Girl and just getting started with the forums etc. Just thought I would say Hi.

I'm new to this

replies: 1

Hi, first ever post I'm in my mid 20's and recently became depressed for the first ever time. Late last year I resigned from my job of 5 years - I enjoyed my job and liked what I did. The reason I left was due to only working on a part-time basis and as i'm getting older part-time work just isn't enough. I made the decision to look for full-time work and after months of applying and one failed job interview I was successful in getting a full-time position. Whilst I was happy I got the job I feel I didn't prepare myself for the new job - I adored my previous job and it wasn't until the second week of being in the new job I realised I made the wrong choice. In the third week I was struggling and had some dark thoughts - I told the manager how I was feeling and later that day I spoke with a counsellor. I told my parents what I almost did to myself and it was difficult to do but I had to tell them. They were shocked but they listened and told me they love me. I went in to the new job 2 days later and said I won't be continuing. I went in to my previous job and let them know that I quit and if my old job was available to let me know if it was being advertised. In the weeks that passed I become sad and didn't want to leave the house. With no income I was struggling to pay for little things like getting a coffee. Fortunately I live with my parents and am single & childless so my overall expenses aren't too much. I have since heard from my previous job and they let me know my job went to someone else. The good news is I've had a job interview recently but am yet to hear from them. I don't know how long I will be unemployed for but I don't want it to go on much longer. I liked working so being unemployed has been quite the struggle for me.I've accepted that I can't have my old job back but i'm really scared as i'm not sure when i'll have a job again. It's only been 2 months but it feels like it's been much longer. I'm seeing a counsellor soon and hopefully i'll feel better after that. I think it's what I need as i'm feeling sad a lot and I just want to be happy. Thanks for reading

Introduction

replies: 3

Hi there I'm Kieran I'm 25 and I've been dealing with GAD for just over 2 years now. I have always been a worrier, but it started when I was living overseas in the U.K I was working a day shift at the restaurant and I was pretty hungover from the night before, I was in the process of taking some drinks over to a table when I started to get chest pains, heart rate started increasing, and the rushes through the body. As someone who had never felt anything like this my brain could only think of 1 logical answer....heart problems. Everything went downhill from there, I had got stuck into a cycle of thinking I was gonna die from a heart attack at any given moment when in fact they were just constant anxiety attacks but because the attacks had the physical symptoms that were mostly chest related I kept thinking it was a heart problem and thus around and around it went, for weeks I slept a couple of hours every night, I'd go to bed fully clothed because I didn't want people to find me in underpants if I died during the night, took my self to casualty in the hospital numerous times has the ecg tests only for the doctors to tell me my heart was fine only for me to trick myself into thinking that they just didn't do it right. It started to calm down after a while when I my aunt told me that I had anxiety, turns out it can be genetic and turns my mum, both aunties and my Nanna all suffer from either depression or anxiety, not so severely any more so I was oblivious to it growing up so I had no idea, once I got into my head it was anxiety and not heart problems it calmed down a little bit, I still had anxiety attacks and it was always in my mind that everyone else was wrong and I did have a heart problem but it was manageable at times. A year later I came home and within a couple of months I was put onto medication to help me deal with it, my anxiety is still there but it's not health related anymore and it's not debilitating like it was, it's just like a constant nagging in the back of my head constantly keeping on edge, I tried some therapy but I didn't really find it was for me, I find that talking to my mum, aunt and my Nanna calms me down more than anything. That's my story so far I hope it wasn't too boring and someone out there can find some solace from my experiences and no that they aren't going through this alone.

Saying Hello

replies: 5

Hi, I have just joined and wanted to say hi. I've been in a really good place for about 2 years but the last month has been really hard. Struggling to find any motivation and to get out of bed. Today I spent all day in bed. Really bad as I'm usually a really active person. I'm hoping to do some reading on this website to get some tips and advice I can hopefully use. Thanks for reading!

Hello I'm New

replies: 7

Hi, my BB name is Annie Blue, I have been diagnosed with GAD and have been on medication for almost 5 months. I am open with my immediate family but they don't really understand. I have suffered with worry/anxiety/catastrophe thinking/uncontrollable thinking for as long as I can remember. However over the last decade or so things have gotten worse. I'm hoping to start CBT at some point. I am meditating several times a week but I still am getting anxiety attacks daily, sometimes several a day and some lasting for days. I'm hoping for a place to vent and get support from people who won't get bored or tired with the subject. Today I started feeling low and depressed, hopefully this will be a place o can heal. AB xx

I'm new to this

replies: 5

Hi everyone ! My name is Nikki. I'm 22 years old and just become a new mum to my beautiful baby girl Amethyst. I've been struggling anxiety on and off through the past years. Half of last year til now has been the worst.I feel completely embarrassed what I'm about to say but here we go.I live with my partner who is 19 and my baby girl who is 5 months. Where I live I have no family and friends, they're about 4 hours away.I'm pretty sure I have anxiety and depression because I've noticed what I do which is..I rarely ever leave the house. I'm scared to go to the shops or anywhere by myself. I can't make a phone call or pick up the phone. I have panic attacks in large groups. I just stay at home all day. I stress a lot and feel very worthless nearly every day. It's upsetting because I was never like this before I became pregnant. I was a completely different person but I don't want to blame my daughter for this, she is seriously the best thing ever in this amazing world. I can't explain my love for her and for my partner as well. Im upset and embarrassed because I'm meant to be a mum and I have to be a role model for my daughter. How can I do this when I feel like a freak and weirdo all the time because I'm just not a normal person because I don't act normal? I feel like I'm trapped and I just need to get out of this, I want to be normal, I want to be other to do things and live my life. I feel like I'm all worthless and I can't do anything about it.My partner gives me so much support and has now helped me to go on medication, an anti-depressant so I'm taking that at the moment. We have fights now and then and I think it's because of my moods, anxiety and how I'm always feeling. I feel that he deserves so much better but I do try my best. I think he is just over seeing myself upset and crying all the time and I have explained to him about this and he completely understands. I'm thinking about moving back down to family and friends later on just so I can try and get my life back on track and kinda chuck myself in the deep end so I can stuck doing normal things again and not being so scared of everything.I really appreciate the time you have taken to look over this. I hope you're also getting your life back together as well. We are all strong and can do anything. I would really appreciate some advice and help as well. Thank you (:

Hi, new member here just saying hi

replies: 3

Hi everyone, I've been a member of this forum for a while now but never formally introduced myself.. no time like the present, right! I've suffered from depression/anxiety on and off for most of my life. I've been treated with both medication and therapy. I recently switched to a new antidepressant and I think the readjustment is part of why I'm feeling so confused at the moment. I have periods where I feel like my depression is going away, but it always seems to return. I've had a lot of very negative thoughts lately and I've felt like I had nobody to turn to about it. I don't even feel like I can confide in my closest friends about it. So, hopefully I'll be able to find some support here. It seems like a pretty nice place.

Finally seeking help

replies: 3

Hi, I am a new member. I've been battling my depression and anxiety for a while. Im currently living with my family interstate, away from all my friends back home. I have always struggled to meet new people, and I know that my lack of a social life and the isolation is a big contributor to my health problems. Im working for the family business, dealing with products that I am not passionate about or interested in. The job is what has kept me interstate for so long, and I don't know what I would do for work if I quit to go back home. That's just a quick summary about where I am at right now. I have not sought professional help until now, and Im about to get in contact with someone from the Beyond Blue team. Hopefully I can get back on track, and even lend help to others here.

Cyclone Alfred - Mental Health Support replies: 0

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

new member wanting to just chat. replies: 10

Newbie :) replies: 3

I am a new member replies: 10

I'm new to this replies: 1

Introduction replies: 3

Saying Hello replies: 5

Hello I'm New replies: 7

I'm new to this replies: 5

Hi, new member here just saying hi replies: 3

Finally seeking help replies: 3