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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Great to know you're here!

replies: 6

Hi there Firstly, all I can say is wow! Before coming here I would never have believed that such a caring online community could exist! Kudos to you all and to BeyondBlue for this. I think it's wonderful. So, just to introduce myself. I'm a 44-year-old guy, married with two kids. By any standard I have a pretty amazing life. But I have been battling anxiety since I was a kid really, although I guess my depression didn’t really raise its head till my early 20s when I had what I can only assume was a nervous breakdown while overseas and then spiralled from there. Loads of therapy and spiritual practice later, I’m still somewhat prone to anxiety attacks and bouts of depression, but I’ve made a lot of progress. I’ve observed that a lot of my problems have come from faulty thinking patterns, whether it be setting impossible standards for myself and others, resisting what I can’t control, living in the future or past, or numerous other non-resourceful strategies. I’ve come to this forum because I have spent the past two weeks in a state of high anxiety, produced by something that I would never have predicted. My psychologist was booked out, and in desperation I rang the BeyondBlue helpline. The woman who answered was incredibly helpful and empathetic, and I’m very grateful for her time and patience. On the back of that, I came to the website today for a snoop around and found the forums. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone with my struggles, and great to know that I can access others to share my feelings. Peace Matt

New to beyondblue community forums

replies: 2

Over the past 5-8 years I've been apart of beyondblue and have in the last year been apart of the blue bash and managed to raise $850 through local community fundraising (and dying my hair blue for the month of January) I wanted to go outside of my comfort zone and dye my hair to start the conversation with strangers through my work-place and in general social interactions... I would say that with the amount that I managed to raise in my small local community and having those short 5-10 minute conversations with people has brought about a small internal growth, confidence and made me more comfortable in talking about my own grief in losing someone to depression and the battles with my own mind sometimes when I am feeling at my lowest.

New here

replies: 2

Hi, I'm new here and I'm not sure I'm even doing this right. I'm not having a great night. I should be asleep as I have work in the morning, but my head is switched completely on and thinking about all the things that are wrong in my life. I know I s... View more

Hi, new to the forum

replies: 3

Hello everyone, I'm new here and I don't really now what to expect from this site or what I hope to gain but I have to start somewhere.

Reaching out to others

replies: 4

Hello everyone I have severe depression, anxiety and suffer from paranoia like my father did I decided to give this forum stuff a go I've never really done this before. 2015 was a terrible year for me I lost my father to cancer, I lost the job of my dreams on my mothers birthday and I had a beautiful girl in my life who down the line decided to mess with my head, lie to me and other nasty stuff. I lost a very good friend which still hurts and everyday the memories run through my head which upsets me as I want to move on. One of the reasons for coming on here is I feel I cant talk to friends or family about it because I get the get over it or the you need to stop being dramatic routine every time I try to reach out. I feel empty inside and have no enjoyment in the things I used to do everyday its the same thing and I'm finding it hard to break out of it.

Hi new to forum/new beginnings

replies: 4

Hello to you all. I say I am new but first took a look in 2013, big gap and then in 2016. I have made a commitment to myself to reach out and not struggle alone. What I have been struggling with lately is lack of motivation, sadness and using alcohol/pokies as my escapism. I get angry at myself as I am being to understand that I have not truly accepted that I have depression/anxiety and I am taking medication. because I feel sad I drag up the past, or look for something to blame it on in my present day. My goal is to get to a place that I accept my diagnoses, be at peace with it to a stage of so what and put strategies in place to get thru what I call dark days. Can anyone direct me to the story of the Black Dog? Take care of yourselves Kay52

overcoming fears

replies: 2

can someone help me out, by helping me overcome my fears that I have in relation to mental Illness. I need someone to talk back to me to help me out. please.

Hey guys, I'm looking for support.

replies: 3

Hi everyone im new here and am trying to reach out in hope ppl feel the same as me. Im 18 in a week and have so much to look forward to yet, i constantly feel scared of everything for no reason and my brain just won't shut up, im scared of going crazy or something happening to me. I feel numb and wish I had clarity back. I refuse to take antidepressants as I only like natural supplements. I don't know what to do it's as if i cant calm my self down and im terrified constantly that something is going to happen to me, does anyone feel like this?

hello from within

replies: 4

Hi, my friends call me "Que",I live with depression. I take antidepressants and am aware that I will probably be on these for some time as I become majorly down and self destructive when I stop taking them. Basically I am a carer for my wife that has multiple sever health problems. Recently had a friend die by their own friend. I understand the grieving process and normal stages........still, there are times like this when your cup is full and overflowing. I have been promoting mens health previously and encouraging guys to speak up, rather than taking their own life. There are pressures on guys to "be strong, man up". But we are only human too. Basically, I am losing my voice (so to speak). Right now im at a place where I cant talk. I can write but I don't want to hear my own voice. Feel like crying but lack tears. This is a lousy intro, but I feel I am standing up in front of the world with my arms open and welcoming any hugs and kind words...whispering "please, help"

Hey! My names Liam. Bipolar | Depression | Anxiety

replies: 4

Hey everyone,My names Liam. I was diagnosed with bipolar, depression and anxiety in 2013. Since then I have been in therapy for 3 years and take daily medication.I'm 23, live in Sydney Australia and am a gay male.I work within multimedia as a head of department. A position I would not have been able to hold, unless I got my mental state in check. I feel like I am a completely different person to who I was 3 years ago. All I had to do was ask for help and now my life has completely transformed, I'm no longer afraid of the future. While I still have my daily struggles I have learnt to deal with them, and now, they don't seem so scary. So I'm here to share my experiences an help as many people as I can. I want to try and make sure you know that you aren't alone, and you can and will be fine. I'm planning on writing up a couple threads about how I have learnt to deal with mood swings, anxiety and depression but for now I am just here to say hi. Thanks guys, I'll see you around the forum soon.Liam

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Great to know you're here! replies: 6

New to beyondblue community forums replies: 2

New here replies: 2

Hi, new to the forum replies: 3

Reaching out to others replies: 4

Hi new to forum/new beginnings replies: 4

overcoming fears replies: 2

Hey guys, I'm looking for support. replies: 3

hello from within replies: 4

Hey! My names Liam. Bipolar | Depression | Anxiety replies: 4