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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Hello

replies: 1

Hi new to this so just saying hi, HI

what now

replies: 2

the radio and tv have been covering this for a while depression and anxiety. how dose this work how can it help. where can I go please

Question: Why is there no child abuse survivors forum on Beyond Blue?

replies: 3

Why is there no abuse survivors or PTSD forum? Huge number of adults were abused as children and as a result suffer from PTSD or Complex PTSD. Many more are just diagnosed with general depression and anxiety. Beyond Blue has said it acknowledges that child abuse causes mental illness. It is in fact a leading cause of mental illness. Why make forums to discuss only the symptoms (like depression, anxiety) and not one of the main causes: child abuse? Beyond Blue has said it supports the provision of more services for people abused as children, so why doesn't it lead by example? This is especially important as it has been shown that a trauma focus is essential to healing and recovery for survivors. Treating the symptoms does not work.

Introduction

replies: 1

Well where do I start? I've just watched last nights episode of Australian Story. To be honest, I'm feeling rather anxious and somewhat frustrated as I too can relate to Garry McDonald. The onset of my Major Depression and anxiety from memory, began in February, 2013. My bedroom was a place where it was dark and where I felt less anxious. I would not sleep, eat and would work until all emails and tasks for that day were complete. I could in no way settle had I not carried out my responsibilities. I just couldn't. I would think that if I hadn't, I was not doing my job. Not doing my job at all. I remember being totally exhausted. Eventually, I just couldn't do it anymore. That's when I had my nervous breakdown. It was around August 2013. I saw a GP and was prescribed benzo's. This helped me return to work as I was somewhat rejuvenated at night and ready to face my work once again. But I was unwell. Very unwell. In the past I dreaded holidays but in September 2013, I was relieved. Perhaps this was one of my early warning signs. It was like I'd fallen off the earth and with no return. I've been hospitalised 12 times since my illness was diagnosed. I have literally been to hell and back on many occasions. I've had Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with a psychologist and weekly Outpatient Day Program; Low Mood and Depression. I have fortnightly visits with my treating psychiatrist. I've had and will be having another course of TMS (Transcrannial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy) later this month. I am managed and maintained with two types of anti depressants and mood stabilisers. So much so, I am unfit to return to my previous employment. I cannot hold and quite often don't hear directions or conversations directed at me. It's like my brain at times, is to put it bluntly, fried. But, I have come such a long way from where I was 2 years ago. Like Garry, I too have to look out for the 'warning signs' and desperately try very hard not to focus on the negatives and train my brain to warn off horrible thoughts. My illness has been incredibly hard on my fiancé, my daughter and one of my brothers. For someone who was so confident, vibrant and even like Garry, funny to become the epitome of inescapable darkness only a fellow sufferer can understand. Without my fiancé, my daughter and one of my siblings and I must boast; the hard work I myself have put in too, I would not be writing this post today.

Little insane, mostly harmless... also new.

replies: 1

Suppose I should say hello first? Hello! Finally decided to take the plunge and see what Beyondblue was all about, plenty of people recommended me come here. Like a lot of people I suffer from a slew of 'stuff' that feels a little like that furry feeling on your teeth, without a toothbrush you can sit there for hours trying to use the old finger brush technique but still there's your tongue poking at that feeling about a minute later. Even with the right tools, you still find no matter how hard you work at it somewhere a little bit gets left over or slides on back in. Anyway enough with the strangeness, hopefully I'll poke around and see what there is to see!

Hi I'm new here how do I help people.

replies: 1

Hi all I have suffered from depression and Anxiety, and have had someone I love have cancer and is still alive, and I would love to help people with these issues. where do I start?

Hello.

replies: 7

Hello. I'm Veronica. Transgender. She/her/hers/they/them/theirs pronouns. I am new to the forum and just wanted to say hello.

Hi, I'm new here

replies: 2

Hi i'm Kat, i'm in my early adult years and suffer from Anxiety and Depression and some PTSD and i have done for 8 years now, since I was 13. It started from bulling at High School. I had to drop out of school after grade 10 and started to try other things such as home school/ getting a full time job. I was doing a lot better until my Grandmother who I was extremely close to passed away suddenly last December. Since then I have just gotten worse and it is affecting every aspect of my life. I have been at my job for almost 2 years now but I have had so much time off this year due to my mental health issues, which now means that I am struggling to pay off my car, my phone bill, do things with friends and do activities that I enjoy, which in turn makes me even more anxious and upset to think about what I am going to do. Currently I am trying to find a job that I can do from home so that even on days that I can't leave the house/ be around people, I am still able to earn money and work. Thank you for listening Beyond Blue Community

Newbie

replies: 1

I am nearly 43 and and suffered with depression on and off for years. Right at this point in time I feel like I am quite literally losing my mind. From the outside I have a great life, good husband, 2 beautiful girls, new puppy, beautiful house, secure job, wonderful friends and yet I feel cranky most if not all of the time, am ridiculously over sensitive, disconnected and for the past week have not stopped crying. I just made an appointment to see my doctor tomorrow - not sure if I'm depressed or if this is early onset menopause.....god if it isn't, i pray for the people who have to deal with me when that kicks in!!!! I have been on antidepressants before, however gained weight which I haven't been able to lose, which in turn affected how I felt about myself, which in turn made the depression worse. Not sure what to do to be honest, but I know I can't live like this anymore. Just about to have a conversation about it with my poor and long suffering husband.....wish me luck!

New to this forum and don't know which category to post my experience in...

replies: 3

I've been suffering chronic over thinking and over analysing for over 10 years and need to get it sorted as it's having a devastating effect. I want to share my experience and hopefully get some advise on it, but don't know which category to post it ... View more

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hello replies: 1

what now replies: 2

Question: Why is there no child abuse survivors forum on Beyond Blue? replies: 3

Introduction replies: 1

Little insane, mostly harmless... also new. replies: 1

Hi I'm new here how do I help people. replies: 1

Hello. replies: 7

Hi, I'm new here replies: 2

Newbie replies: 1

New to this forum and don't know which category to post my experience in... replies: 3