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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Happy to be here

replies: 12

Well, this is new for me and I won't lie - I don't really know what to say. It's been years since I've contributed to a forum and certainly never one around mental health. Anyway, this year is the first year I've decided I'm going to do something concrete about my depression, which I've had for a very long time. I am seeing a counsellor and talking to my GP, and am also starting medication. For the first time in living memory, I'm starting to feel hopeful. My life is getting rocky and things are not going well in terms of work and relationships. But I'm still hopeful for the first time in ages, and I'm looking forward to chatting to everyone here.

New guy. New guy. New guy.

replies: 7

Hi everyone. Something new for me. But Im having or going through a rough time so Im reaching out. Looking at new ways to support myself through this process and yeah happy to be here. Hoping to chat with people who have navigated through similar and... View more

New, seeking advice in hard times

replies: 3

Hi everyone. You can call me Miu or Miusu. For context, I am a second-year university student studying Secondary Education/Arts (English Major/Creative Writing Minor), I come from a relatively upper-middle-class family and haven't ever seriously worried about fulfilling basic needs like food and shelter of my own accord until I was 'forcibly coerced' out of my home just last month. My mother and birth father are divorced and have no contact; currently she has a partner and I have a younger brother in high school. I've lived through some nasty domestic disputes, been abused as a child and generally feel like I didn't have a childhood. You can see where this is going. My mother, her partner, and I have had heated arguments over my choices in how I live my life. I just want to be able to take things at my own pace and commit to studying full-time, but ever since graduation I have been pushed to take on part-time employment in order to learn how to 'assimilate into society'. My mother is unwavering on her stance about this; by her logic, it seems that I have to be constantly productive and have the work-life balance of a fully qualified adult graduate, otherwise I'm lazy, falling behind other more responsible people of my age and will crash and burn as soon as I graduate university. I was told that I was wrong for not getting a job when I promised to, but I felt like I had no choice but to agree, otherwise I feared that I would get kicked out from the tone of our arguments. I was later threatened with this verbatim, but with uni getting busier, I felt too mentally exhausted to find a new job after quitting my last one. I ended up not revealing that I quit, since I felt that it wouldn't be accepted as an 'excuse'. After many shouting matches, gloomy dinners, my mother being hospitalised for a fall off a ladder and me being caught in my lie, I was told that either I fill 5 days of my week with full-time studying and work or start paying $200/week rent or leave the house. I chose to leave; I didn't want to rent what used to be my own home. I might have made a bad decision. Centerlink assessed there was no 'extreme breakdown' in family condition, so now I'm struggling to pay rent with just Youth Allowance and one tutoring job ($25 short every week). There are 3 months left on my $250/week lease. I don't know if this is the right place to ask for such advice, but at the very least I just want to know how to feel less stressed and trapped in my situation.

Not so new but New

replies: 8

So I re wrote this 3 times, each time I felt like someone who had no right to have any issues when I wrote it down, I honestly thought coming here and writing down my thoughts and fears would help, but the more I wrote the more I felt I had no place here to complain or have an issue. I have been here before, in a very dark place, I somewhat changed what I thought was the problem, and it has improved somewhat, but the underlying thoughts and fears remain. its putting strain on my life, my relationship and I find myself tearing up when I think of the man I have become. I am 55 yet feel my life has no meaning, no fulfilment or Joy and yet I should be happy with who I am and where my life is compared to millions of others in worse situations. Not here to ask questions, more here to write publicly some of my thoughts and fears and somewhat bare my soul. I cant kick the darkness inside, I know its there, I suppress it but I cant seem to remove it. I know many feel this way, many have worse situations and at times feel I have no right to feel this way, but its something I cant hide from, I just dont know how to treat it.

Hi feeling lost

replies: 6

Hi recently I had what I guess was a nervous breakdown due to a work incident. I have had a lot going on,coping with grief and chronic pain. Anyway with pressures of work this incident was the last straw. I'm usually very resilient and just push through but this incident was like the last straw. I have suffered anxiety and depression most of my life but I usually manage to work through episodes eventually. This time I really am having trouble. I have been trying to speak with GPs but feel they don't seem to listen or understand. Despite getting an MRI that had given a reason for my pain and having had new symptoms that were very worrying one doctor said it was all in my head. That triggered me and I had another emotional meltdown. Thankfully I regained my composure the following day and asked to see another doctor who sent another referral to a specialist to which I'm grateful. Yet I find myself with a supposed care team that is not communicating with each other effectively. I asked my psychologist if she had written a report to my doctor to find that she hadn't. She has been advising not to go back to work due to my mental health and the pain and hasn't advised the GP. When I speak with my GP they say they won't make recommendations about the pain until I see a specialist whenever that is and don't seem to understand that I've been suffering extreme anxiety due to work and that is impacting on my pain and in the process my mental health is crumbling. I know what my body is telling me but I seem stuck. This has sent me into a spiral where I've got to the point I don't want to fight anymore and that I am doubting myself. I have been feeling s.o low I just can't get out of bed and just feel like giving up. I'm not enjoying anything and my thoughts have been dark. I don't know if it is the medical centre that is putting pressure on doctors so that their capacity to really listen to their patients and understand is compromised or what it is? The process of going to the doctor's is becoming a source of anxiety in itself. I feel sick everytime I make an appointment.

my closest family have real struggles

replies: 9

Hello I am 46 struggling at bit at the moment, well alot. My brother just went through brain surgery to remove a tumour, the surgery went well but there is some permanent damage. My mother pass away a about 3 years ago and my father live with us, he has dementia and keeps getting lost. My My has Brest cancer and all the problems that go with that. Our relationship is very difficult at the moment, she told me she can no longer have sex. I feel overwhelmed and sinking I have no one to talk to because my closest family have real struggles

Autism

replies: 4

So I notice there are no specific forums for neuro diverse people? Where are my aspies at? I feel like it would be great to talk about the struggles with being non neurotypical in a dedicated forum?

Oppurtunity to join a Research Project!

replies: 3

Hi everyone, Beyond Blue are joining forces with researchers from Swinburne University, the University of Tasmania and James Cook University who are keen to learn about your experiences using the online forums. So, who can take part? They are looking for people to take part in a research interview who are over 18 years old, live in rural or remote areas, so places outside of the major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, and all other major cities. By taking part, you’ll be helping us to get a better understanding of how the online forums work for people in rural areas. What’s involved? The university researchers would like to chat for about 40 minutes by a phone call or Zoom call, whichever you prefer! Once you’ve spoken to them, you will also receive a Giftpay e-voucher of $50 as a thank you for your time. All responses will be confidential and they won’t use your real name when reporting their findings. If you’re keen to help out and share your experience using the online forums, click HERE Then, they’ll work with you to set up a convenient date and time for a conversation. Thank you!

Hi from a new member

replies: 4

Hi Just want to talk to someone that I can be open. Being anonymous might allow me to be open more compared to talking to family and friends.

Introducing myself

replies: 4

Hi there, I'm not really sure how to start this, or what to bring up. I know what I want to say, but can't think of an order and I don't want it all to just spill out at once. Ever since I left university 7 years ago from feeling homesick, I've gone deeper and deeper into a shell. No career, no experience, no friends to see, scared of everything even just talking. I spend most of my days in my room, feeling like a burden for my parents who look after me even though they have their jobs. What's worse is feeling guilty for all of it. The regret of not doing what I should have when younger. To be so far inside my own head that escape seems impossible. That now I'm in my 30's and have achieved absolutely nothing in life except consuming time and media. It's hard trying to contain it all, and that's what I have to do because any sort of change puts me on edge. Not being able to get the help I need because of limitations of resources is the cherry on top of the pain sundae I eat everyday. But I know I'm not the only one who feels this, so maybe that's why I'm crying while writing this. I've never been able to follow things as is, so if anyone has any tips I'd be appreciative. I don't want to give up on this, but it's getting increasingly more difficult finding my identity and worth, and not wanting to be a burden anymore.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Happy to be here replies: 12

New guy. New guy. New guy. replies: 7

New, seeking advice in hard times replies: 3

Not so new but New replies: 8

Hi feeling lost replies: 6

my closest family have real struggles replies: 9

Autism replies: 4

Oppurtunity to join a Research Project! replies: 3

Hi from a new member replies: 4

Introducing myself replies: 4