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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New and trying to help myself

replies: 5

Hi, I'm new to this sort of thing. I have never talked to anyone about how I feel before but looking through some other forums I'm convinced this a good start.

Bi polar, living with a Rubix cube brain!

replies: 2

I am 37yrs old. Diagnosed with Bipolar 2 only 3 yrs ago.My last job finished 3 months ago, a job in pharmacy and I held that for 3 years. Was honest with my boss about my illness and she was very honest and supportive. In 3 years I would of had 7 breakdowns, very small to medium ones except for last one which ultimately destroyed chance of employment, I verbally attacked her and walked out.She was not at fault, it was me who caused a fight. My G.P and Psych put me on sick leave. The bipolar brain to me is a Rubix cube. You are forever trying to get moods to match up, click, click. You can finally get it right and then the brain twists again even if you had it right. Happiness is so fleeting, I am on a high dose of medication, it stops the manic highs but does not treat the lows. But there are days where feeling just ok is good enough. I will always have bi polar and realise that having 4 good days out of the week is better than 4 bad days out of the week, it's all about how you see it and approach it.

Hello

replies: 2

Hello...my first ever here. Looking forward to much learning and understanding in the course of this!!

Computer Problems

replies: 7

Hey guys. Whoever can help me. This is a really weird problem. Quite often when I'm replying to a post, my computer 'locks up'. It won't move up or down, the cursor completely disappears. I've shut down, then re-booted to no avail. At first I thought it was me, then a friend laughingly suggested 'Divine Intervention'. It doesn't happen every time, and I never know when it's going to occur. I can start replying, then I'll scroll to the original letter to make sure of the facts, that's when it happens (if it's going to). My computer isn't that old and it never happens with emails, just BB. Has anybody else experienced this? HELP.

hi

replies: 5

Hi, well um i have no idea where to stert or how to do this... i guess its an intruduction to me so here goes I have severe depression and major anxiety issues and have been trying, and failing, to cope since my early teens, so thats over half my life, wow i only just realised that. Im also an alcoholic who desperately wants to never have another drink again but no matter how many times i try to quit it just doesnt work. Im also a mummy to the most wonderful happy healthy smart (i could go on for days) 15 month old little boy

Reaching out to others with Borderline Personality

replies: 1

Hi I'm new to this live chat and hoping I can get talking to others with borderline personality disorder I have done DBT and CBT and looking to see if anyone can help in how to explain what it feels like to live with it to other loved ones family fri... View more

Wondering why sometimes new threads don't get labeled as such

replies: 1

I wrote a new thread under treatments yesterday hoping to get some response from others of how they dealt with things so I could get some ideas. The thread was posted but labeled as a new thread so it seems to be hard to notice. Just wondering if the... View more

Hi....this is my first time here.

replies: 11

My nick name is... 65 I'm aged in my mid 60s I've been married to an amazing person for 25 yrs, my rock and my strength. We have a little dog who we dearly love. I was diagnosed with severe depression about 25 yrs ago, but I'm sure I had it all my life. I take... wait for it... 82 anti depressants ... a week !!! Yeah, even that surprises me, I still have "episodes" from time to time, but I do my best to stay strong. I attend a weekly support group which also helps me. I have joined Beyond Blue in an effort to find even more help. I try to be an easy going person most of the time, I don't drink, smoke or take drugs.... apart from my prescriptions ones. I'm a breast cancer survivor of 5 years.

Hello and I apologise for being me

replies: 7

Well hello!...I'm not really sure what to say or where to begin so I apologise for the ramble. That's the first thing you'll notice about me, apologies for everything, I even apologise for breathing (literally). I've been diagnosed with depression and anxiety for nearly 2 years now but I guess I've been this way my whole life. I found this forum after a particularly severe breakdown/crying session. My partner tries to help the best he can but a lot of his solutions are "man up" "you're an adult sort it out yourself" and "it's not the end of the world". I'm hoping that as I'm with people going through similar issues you will all know that these do not help but instead make me feel even worse, apologise profusely and feel so worthless I'm in physical pain (or cause myself physical pain). So there I am crying my eyes out, begging for him to not leave me, feeling as small as a mouse and not knowing what to do. He's telling me to meditate when all I want to do is run into a black hole. I'm on medication, not sure its doing too much but absolutely kills my libido (which was already diminished after a "date rape" incident I won't get into here) - yet another strain on the relationship. I'm originally from the UK and have lived in Australia with my partner for about 2 1/2 years. This means no family and limited friends, difficulty in getting a stable full time job and a lot of dependence on my partner for my visa, a place to live and at times money. I feel like a worthless leech giving him no benefits at all and just causing him pain. I try to voice this and he tells me I'm being stupid (I know it's an attempt to cheer me up but my mind twists it into another negative quality of mine to add to the list). I'm not always this self deprecating leech, sometimes I have a purpose and some value. I guess all I'm looking for is someone to tell me I'm not abnormal for not being able to "get over it". Any advice, small steps, tips or tricks to help me improve would be appreciated. I'm not sure if its depression, anxiety, homesickness or just a case of the grass is always greener but I thought I'd join the community. I'm hoping somehow I can help someone else and also feel a bit less lonely myself. Thank you for making it to the end of my ramblings and I (guess what) apologise if it's not relevant, boring or worthless.

irish angel

replies: 6

Hi Everyone I was diagnosed with Bipolar II (BPII) in 2012 after a suicide attempt. When I came out of surgery the Dr & his best mate, the security guard, stood at the foot of my bed & offered me 2 choices - voluntary or involuntary. I took the 1st option & spent the next few months in supervised care. 18 months ago I didn’t fell I was progressing. The meds got me to a point, was seeing a psychologist regularly, but I wasn't feeling as stable as I felt I could be & the impact included not being able to function in my role as a health & safety officer in the resources industry. I sought a 2nd opinion psychiatrist who listened & then said "I want you to read this", he gave me a large fact sheet on Borderline Personality Disorder - what a page turner! At the next appointment I was in tears. The fact sheet could have been my biography. He diagnosed Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with BPII traits. As with BPII I immersed myself in understanding of BPD, including treatments. Prior to 2nd opinion I sought a clinical psychologist trained in schema therapy - it was the best thing I did and in lieu of BPD it was appropriate move I didn't realise at the time. A change in consulting availability with my current psych I researched for someone who could continue with either schema or dialectic therapy; I start my new sessions in a couple of weeks. 12 mths ago I began to open up on BPII, I wasn’t yet ready to talk about BPD aspect even though it is the dominant illness. Though 2 weeks ago I spoke to my sister about BPD. We had a good cry. She was stunned when she asked did I love myself and for the first time I said to someone outside of a clinical environment, not all the time. This surprised her, as I'm seen to be such a generous supporting person to others, how could I not feel love for myself. I said to her, I hope I figure that out at some point. All in all, I've returned to work successfully. I lead an active life & plan things to look forward to. I went back to uni and am studying marine science to couple that with my diving aspirations. Diving is my mental yoga. I’ve come to own my mental illness instead of it owning me. Sometimes it’s a battle of wills. I celebrate 2 birthdays – my actual one and the date I decided to live. Thanks for listening ange

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

New and trying to help myself replies: 5

Bi polar, living with a Rubix cube brain! replies: 2

Hello replies: 2

Computer Problems replies: 7

hi replies: 5

Reaching out to others with Borderline Personality replies: 1

Wondering why sometimes new threads don't get labeled as such replies: 1

Hi....this is my first time here. replies: 11

Hello and I apologise for being me replies: 7

irish angel replies: 6