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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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I'm Caiphus and I'm awesome except for the mental illness part...

replies: 5

Hi. I'm Caiphus and I was first diagnosed with depression when I was 15 - I'm 33 now and although there have been a few patches of relief over the years in between I have spent the majority of that time on one SSRI medication or another and unfortunately with very little benefit.Despite struggling against a persistent depression for close to two decades I know there are a lot of positives about me and I can alleviate some of my symptoms occasionally by reminding myself (when it isn't so bad that I don't feel like I'm just delusional and lying to myself anyway.)The one thing that is equally a gift and a burden is my high level intellect and self-awareness. It is good to be able to absorb, analyse and deconstruct large quantities of information. At the same time the biggest problem I have to solve is myself so I spend way to much time internally focused and putting all that computational power into an unsolvable problem.In my late teens and early twenties I just wanted to party my way out of depression and that wasn't particularly successful. Like many of us I indulged in drugs and alcohol as a way to self medicate; was directionless and unstable and dropped out of uni twice.The next eight or so years were about working out how I could stay middle-class without a professional education so I tried to make money by working in transient commission sales jobs. I did quite well during different periods, but over all it was really something that allowed me to be unstable and not get fired. When I did perform well I blew all the money very quickly, and when I wasn't performing well it was easy to put down to a lack of "motivation". Pro tip: don't put yourself in debt trying to motivate yourself to activity - it doesn't work and definitely doesn't make you feel better.About five years ago I hit rock-bottom and I have steadily been building up from there. I have been in a mostly happy and stable relationship, I went back to university and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism (despite a few issues).The last 18 months after graduating have been hard as I have not had much luck getting in to my chosen career. I've been finding it hard to project an air of confidence and struggling with anxiety to follow up networks.I've just recently began ketamine treatment after a lot of positive media coverage. It's hard to say how well it works when coming off antidepressants at the same time.Running out of characters, so ask me anything: I'm an open book.

Hey name is Pip

replies: 1

where do we start..... I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder 11yrs ago and am still fully medicated. Its just nice to see other ppl going through the same debilitating illness... I don't feel alone.. even though at the time of the attack I do! Its also so much harder being a single parent, my mum and dad were my biggest support system regarding my kids, until the last year, my dad is very sick and mum is his full time carer... so feel very alone.. It would be so awesome to be able to set up a buddy system, as there is no way I would be able to get on the computer and type as the hit so quick and usually without warning.. Interested in what everyones thoughts are??

Workshops? Getting involved!

replies: 2

Hi, I'm Melly and I'm looking to get involved somehow. I don't know where to start but I have this burning passion inside my heart to help others. I have delt with depression and anxiety for the last 10 years of my life. ( I'm now 25) i have watched loved ones take their lives and loved ones struggle daily. I've had older women come to me for advice and I've used my struggles to help inspire those around me. I'm hoping there's more I can do to help bring awareness and unity through our hard times. Im based in Melbourne if there's anything workshops seminars anything to point me in the right direction I'd be so grateful Sending love xx

Introducing... Me!!!

replies: 3

Hi all, So, where to start, just through some of the threads I've looked over I'm seeing people in similar positions. I'm 31, married, 3 kids. Everyone tells me I should be happy and thankful that I have that. Which, for the most part I am. What I struggle with is that I feel like a failure, I don't seem to be moving anywhere with my job, I thought I had beaten all of my issues from growing up, but I hadn't. I don't have friends, too many bad experiences have left me finding it difficult to trust. All the people in my life see me as their rock, including those who should have been mine. My wife has her own issues which we have been working through for the entirety of our relationship (13 years). In recent times I've lost my centre and now everything I thought I had resolved for myself has started flooding out. I've not been diagnosed with depression, but I know that I am. I've not been diagnosed with asbergers but my family have decided that I have it. Everytime I do something or I'm not coping they chalk it down to asbergers. I'm hoping that I can start healing by letting out my frustrations, hurts and my feelings of being lost.

Medical Personnel

replies: 9

Hi there, I joined this forum a few weeks ago hoping to connect not only with other people that might be suffering PTSD, but specifically I was looking for other medical personnel or first responders, that have seen and know the things I'm talking about . So far I have had one amazing man respond to my posts (thank you John), but is there really no one else out there who works in a hospital, police, fire, paramedic???? I really do find this hard to comprehend as there are thousands of us out there and I know it takes its toll eventually on all of us. Even the strong ones! I just thought I would repost on the off chance that someone new may want to chat. Cheers

Hi I am Marc

replies: 3

G'day, I am 51, being bought up in childrens homes for 1967 til 1980, suffer fromn anxiety, depression and god knows what, wanting to talk with others with similar experiences. Yeah, I am a mess at times, though have a uni degree now working in aged care, (god forbid), Just really seeking someone who understands. Currently undergoing counsellingh, but yeah we know what that's like. I have no contacts nor outside friends.

KEEPING TABS ON POSTS & REPLIES.

replies: 3

Is there some easy one-step way I can check on my posts and any replies, or do I have to remember every comment I've made and then re-find the original thread? (This is certainly one hard site to navigate).

Gi'day world.

replies: 1

Decided to join this "Beyond Blue" thing ... see where it leads. To confront my "depression", caused by a severe head injury with permanent frontal lobe damage (where all of those feel good endorphins were once produced) I began writing down my thoughts and revisiting my life (even the darkest parts that I'd pushed to the back of my mind and locked in a box and placed in a deep dark dungeon ... or so I'd thought). Rediscovering that box and unlocking its contents not only released the memories but it also brought back to life the ghosts and demons that embodied them. Mine hasn't been a "Wonderful Life" but hey - it's what I was served & it's all I have ... and facing my demons has brought me to a place of understanding that I wouldn't have attained any other way. The following is one of my first poems expressing my depression, as I began that journey of self-discovery. Reading it now I hardly recognize the person I was when I wrote it, but I know it was just a slightly younger version of myself at my most fragile and desperate. That is both the joy and the pain of changing and growing and becoming someone more than one once was. Sometimes the tears still come, but they are no longer tears of desperation. For those of you still going through this phase, please know that it will pass if you allow it to. Depression can actually become a friend and mentor on the journey to ones own self enlightenment. Never give up. ‘BEYOND BLUE’ 2006 "They say it’s blue - I know it’s grey. I see no colour, there is no day -- It’s dull inside, my mind’s a fog -- It’s all the pills they’ve got me on. I can not sleep I dare not wake, This hurt inside just wont abate -- And so I stare Into my dark and find in there a dying spark. It is not hope, all hopes been crushed -- but it is life If only dust. I am that dust, from rock well worn -- torn from mountain eaten by worm. I am the sea in every vein, From river flows and gentle rains -- I am the air with every breath, So even dead I am at rest. And when I die I will return, Eventually Another Form. " Many poems and stories now fill books and novels that I hope one day will be published. If not they have still all helped me to come to a place of acknowledgement that, like you, I am also a unique and gifted individual on the same path to greater self awareness and enlightenment.

My anxieties as I felt them one night come on full blast

replies: 2

Mines a long ramble, which I will break up into parts

PTSD?

replies: 3

Hi, I'm new to the forum thing so don't really know where to begin. I was wondering if there is a dedicated chat room for PTSD?? I know there are many aspects of PTSD that are the same as depression, anxiety etc, but its also so very different. It would be nice to chat to others that KNOW what I'm talking about. I can find heaps of sites in the U.S. but the time difference makes it hard. Waiting with anticipation, Thanks

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

I'm Caiphus and I'm awesome except for the mental illness part... replies: 5

Hey name is Pip replies: 1

Workshops? Getting involved! replies: 2

Introducing... Me!!! replies: 3

Medical Personnel replies: 9

Hi I am Marc replies: 3

KEEPING TABS ON POSTS & REPLIES. replies: 3

Gi'day world. replies: 1

My anxieties as I felt them one night come on full blast replies: 2

PTSD? replies: 3