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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 to this

replies: 2

Just struggling with anxiety and depressive moods together sucks

Dipping my toe in the water.

replies: 3

Hi all. This is my first attempt to reach out to the Beyond Blue community. I don't know where to start, but lately I've been conscious that my anxiety and depression is starting to take a hold. There have been many times that I've visited this website and always backed off, afraid to go any further. I've almost logged in to a live chat, but that familiar beast in anxiety won't even let me do that. I've even spent hours tonight contemplating whether or not I should post in a forum. So this is me, tentatively reaching out in the hope that I can start to interact with others that may be feeling the same way, and slowly get myself the help that I know I need, but am to afraid to do so. This is my first step, which I'm hoping will lead to getting the help I need to live the life I know I can live. It's already somewhat helpful to read a few of the forum posts, which have given me the courage to start looking for help. At the same time, I read other posts and think that I have it easy compared to them, so should get over myself and think myself lucky. Although I've been vague in this post, I hope it is enough to start me on my first steps to becoming the person I know I can be, and not the hopeless one I feel now. Anyway, if you've read this far, thanks for taking the time.

Hello there I am Ann.

replies: 2

I am nearly 61 and thought that as I got older my depression would get better but the opposite seems to have happened. My last child is about to leave home and that will leave me alone for the first time in a very very long time. I feel like I have endured way to many losses in a lifetime and I do not want to have anymore. My health is not great I have a few problems that all cause me pain and that so gets me down but I have to soldier on and go to work 3 days a week. I am not sure what else to say at this time so will leave it here for now.

Hello

replies: 1

Hi, New to this forum and hoping i can get the help i need. I do suffer from depression myself and have been on meds for 2 years. My happy bubbly strong partner is struggling though so i'm here for advice on how to be there for him. Looking forward t... View more

hi new to this

replies: 2

Hi, new to this, not sure what's happening

Can't find your post? It may have been moved

replies: 0

Hi everyone, With thousands of new posts on the forums every month, a lot of housekeeping is required behind the scenes to make sure that threads are organised into their correct categories, not only so people can find the stories most relevant to them, but to stop people being triggered by more traumatic material that they may not wish to read. You can help us out by thinking carefully about which section to post in before you hit the send button. If you're new here and you can't find a post you have made, it could have been moved from the section in which you originally posted it. The easiest way to keep track of posts you have made is to use the "My Threads" tab, which lists all the threads you have contributed to or started: Below are some sections where we commonly need to move posts to: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition - Any posts looking for support on behalf of a friend, family member, spouse or partner. Young people - Any threads started by members under 25 (this forum is mirrored on our Youth Beyondblue website here) Suicidal thoughts and self harm - Any threads referencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm. PTSD & Trauma - Any threads relating to PTSD, domestic, sexual or childhood abuse. Relationship and family issues - Any threads relating to struggles with relationships or family. Long term support over the journey - Threads which have gone past 100 posts. Hope this helps.

new and looking for advise????

replies: 4

HI i have never posted on any of these sites and after hiding my illness from the world for the past 2 years i'm nervous about posting! I have been suffering with ocd for the past 2 years and i'm at a loss as to how what to do. i am hoping that someone can give me some advise! you always hear people using the expression oh i'm a bit ocd i like to have clean house or an organized pantry but thats not really ocd the term gets used so much without people understanding there is so much more to ocd than that and it makes me and im assuming other people struggling like me feel belittled and week. I struggle everyday and i know it sounds silly or strange but just parking the car can be a stressful ordeal when having a bad ocd day. its exhausting. from what i do understand about ocd everyone is different and have different symptoms. for me the ocd rituals are not to bad and i cope ok with them even though it takes me half hour to get from the couch to bed at night because of some of them. its the intrusive and horrible thoughts that try to get into your mind it feels like a constant battle against them and its exhausting. people don't seem to understand this illness and i'm not sure whether to start being open and honest with friends and family about it or keep it hidden. it has isolated me as things have become to hard to hide so i just avoid people my friends have gone and gotten on with there lives without questioning me orcontacting me as to where i've gone. the very small amount of family that have figured out what's happening just made it sound trivial and don't understand the hell it is to live with ocd. I am putting so much pressure on my amazing husband and i feel terrible over the past 2 years i am nothing like the person i was before the ocd i have 3 beautiful children and i want nothing more than to give them there mother back!! i am so angry that this illness has taken so much of my life and i'm searching for answers i've seen psychiatrists and had ocd diagnosed but im nervous about medication as i've had conflicting advise from the 2 i've seen part of my ocd also is a massive fear of medication anything you consume. if anyone has had treatment that has worked i'd be so grateful for your help. Sorry i've rambled a lot but the last thing i think worth saying is this all started around a very stressful time in my life and then an operation to have hysterectomy i'm not sure but i believe this all triggered my ocd.

Hello!

replies: 2

I have been diagnosed with Depression and medicated accordingly, for 14 years. I had to take early retirement. I and my siblings, who are both free of Depression, have a blood clotting disorder. This was found in 1996 or so and is called Factor V Leiden after the University where it was identified.My parents and I had the condition twice, meaning when we bleed we clot 70 times faster than 85 to 95% of the population. The condition causes clotting in veins, the low pressure blood return system. My parents self medicated with alcohol, most of their lives.Clots cause scarring of the vessels, which are muscular. Thus there are small amounts of pain every time blood passes an old clot site. DVTs can result, anywhere in the body. The worst place is in the lungs. The pain may build up and be called Fibromyalgia. "Pain from clotting". Those who are of Aryan descent, especially who came from South Sweden, are most likely to have the clotting disorder. Sicily and Lebanon are also hot spots as the Normans carried it strongly. The clots and scarring may be dissolved by enzymes but it is a long process. As at least 5% of the general population appear to have this condition, we must be careful to address it as a factor in increasing stress hormone levels, as a result of the pain of obstructed veins, the scarring and the poor drainage of important organs, such as the brain and gut, where Serotonin is expected to be found.For those with long term depression treatment should address the possibility of other disorders!I wish you all the best! Slow down, we are the best kind of people.

New to the forum - hello all

replies: 4

Hi all. I am new to the forum here and hope that whatever I can contribute will be worthwhile. I am a carer, as was my mother to my terminally ill father some years ago. We have other family members and friends who are carers as well. So life for us all is filled with many joys and tough days, like many other folks here. I have been a professional in the mental health field, but my passion is in advocacy and believing in those who may not believe in themselves. I also believe that carers and those they care for deserve compassion and understanding - something which is sometimes not easy to come by in the general community, and sadly, sometimes even in families. Believing I am a very positive and grounded person I hope that in the times I visit this forum, I can also offer some folks support and understanding of my experiences as a carer and as being one who has also personally had some tough times to deal with. My blessings and peace to you all, ShiftingSands.

Depression & anxiety sufferer here

replies: 6

Hi all, I suffer from anxiety and depression and it's hard to find people to talk to. When I'm anxious I do sometimes vent to friends but when I'm feeling depressed I can't tak to anyone because I don't want them to think differently of me. I'm having a bad time at the moment, my 30th bday is coming up and I'm just reminded how much I hate my life. I've been racking my brain trying to think of what to do to celebrate, 'what makes me happy?' Nothing. I can't think of anything I enjoy. I'm a single mum of a 7 year old and I've never been in a serious relationship. I'm so lonely. I don't enjoy anything. I don't even think I know what happy feels like. I love my son to death but I don't even enjoy being a mum and I hate myself for feeling that way. I've put on 30kg with this depression and a lot of that was while I was working as a personal trainer. I was disgusted in myself. I've always had body issues but it's worse now, I've been trying to lose weight and failing for years. I just give in to comfort food all the time. I just don't feel in control of my own life. i have seen a psychologist in the past but I don't feel like it helped much. I feel like I'm stuck in the wrong body/life. This wasn't how my life was meant to turn out. I look at people and I'm always jealous, my best friends can tell me happy news about there lives and instead of being happy for them, I resent them. I'm sick of hating myself and my life, I just want to be happy. We get one life and I feel ripped off, it's not like I get a do over, my life is wasting away, I can't live like this for the rest of it, I don't know how to cope sorry for the rant, these are just thoughts I have all the time but never say out loud

Cyclone Alfred - Mental Health Support replies: 0

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

New to this replies: 2

Dipping my toe in the water. replies: 3

Hello there I am Ann. replies: 2

Hello replies: 1

hi new to this replies: 2

Can't find your post? It may have been moved replies: 0

new and looking for advise???? replies: 4

Hello! replies: 2

New to the forum - hello all replies: 4

Depression & anxiety sufferer here replies: 6