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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Question for BB mediators

replies: 1

Hello, I read a fantastic article in one of the weekend papers and would like to know if it would be appropriate to share with the BB community. It's about one woman's experience of anxiety & depression and how it's affected her friendships. It offers advice to potenial friends on how to deal with people who live with D&A and is helpful, funny and insighful (& a little bit sad too) It really resonated with me and mirrored my own experiences with friends. I've been in contact wtih the author and she is happy to share her article with us. She has also provided a link to the online version. Please let me know if you'd like me to send you the link via email so you can read the article first. Regards Stitch

Can one have too much BeyondBlue?

replies: 18

I've been noticing of late, that I am devoting a lot of my time to the BeyondBlue forum. It is the first thing I check when I get up in the morning, and the last thing I do before I go to sleep. I wonder: can someone have too much BeyondBlue? Ps: I a... View more

Just to say thanks.

replies: 2

I would like to thank BB for sending me an e mail regarding the thread about Robin Williams. I appreciate your reminder of support. I am very sensitive to the topic of suicide and it's comforting to know I matter to the Forum Best Wishes to all, Hele... View more

Reading Writing And Arithmatic

replies: 1

HelloI'm SoulI'm new to BeyondbluePlease make me feel welcome RegardsSoul saying hi

Feature idea: tab that lists threads by number of replies (least replies first)?

replies: 1

I think that would help ensure posts don't fall through the cracks without getting replies, or perhaps only one or two replies that aren't constructive. I don't come on here very often anymore, but when I do I usually go by the "New Posts" tab and scan for threads with a small number of replies, for the aforementioned reason, and also because I don't think I have the time to invest in the very large threads with lots of replies.

Post has vanished - what happened?

replies: 1

I posted a lengthy reply in the "Supporting family and friends" forum a couple of days ago in response to a cry for help in the "Desperately Seeking Answers!" thread. It was quite a dense post so I understand that it may take a while for moderation. I reposted a placeholder the next day since my post hadn't appeared so that the OP didn't feel ignored but there was some really useful information (IMO anyway!) in my original post that would be a shame to lose. I've had no email that my post was not able to be published or required editing - it just seems to have gone into a black hole. My session had not timed out, so that's not it either. What's the story? It's a bit demoralising to spend so long writing thoughtful replies and then have them vanish into thin air without explanation. If there's a problem with my post I'd appreciate being told what it is so I can avoid that in future. On a different but related note it would be helpful if, when mods move a thread to a new forum, that posters are advised by email. I was getting very frustrated that threads I'd posted to were disappearing, until I read someone else's tip about checking "My posts" to find them (which, by the way, does not appear anywhere except the main forum page - a UI inconsistency that needs addressing).

Posts not showing properly

replies: 4

Hello BB Under "Depression" the post "It all gets too much" does not not show up when I click on it. Instead it goes to "Anxiety" "Not really know where to start"Can you fix it please? LING

Twitter Followers

replies: 1

Hi Christopher I'm pretty active on Twitter and notice BB don't follow back. I never follow anyone who doesn't follow back. I followed Kevin Rudd & even he followed me back. For BB to reach more people, it must follow back, just saying. Hope you don'... View more

my threads have disappeared??

replies: 2

does anyone know why 2 of my threads would have disappeared?? one was in the depression forum and had been active for a bit over a week, the other was in the other conditions forum and I just started it last night... now I cant find either of them an... View more

Hi Just joined. Here's my intro ....

replies: 5

Hi My name is Mark. I am 44 years old and originally from the UK. I have recently moved to Perth after living 15 years in Sydney. I use to be a corporate high flying project manager. And now I am not. In 2006 and had a motorbike accident in the UK which broke my leg and started a chain of circumstances which lead to me being diagnosed with major depression. After a period of denial and some extensive psychological testing I finally accepted I had depression and started taking a low dose of anti-depressants. I didnt like the side effects and hated the stigma of taking the drugs. After 8 weeks I took myself off of them and reverted to natural remedies of St Johns Wart, omega 3 and exercise. One day the black fog in my mind lifted and I thought the whole episode was behind me and I could move on with my life. I went back to my job thinking I could pick up from where I left off. But I wasnt the same person. My memory, my cognitive functions, my intellect where a faction of what they were. So now after a couple of disastrous work contracts and a couple of failed business attempts my career is in ruins and I need to reinvent myself. I also have to accept that I have never beaten the depression I have just managed it. And managed it badly. I would say I have mild to moderate depression now but I miss having the fully functioning brain I use to have. So following doctors advise, tomorrow I start again on anti-depressants but this time it will a higher dosage and a sustained period of at least 9 months on them. I want my brain working again. I hope I can give and receive support during this time Thanks Mark

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Question for BB mediators replies: 1

Can one have too much BeyondBlue? replies: 18

Just to say thanks. replies: 2

Reading Writing And Arithmatic replies: 1

Feature idea: tab that lists threads by number of replies (least replies first)? replies: 1

Post has vanished - what happened? replies: 1

Posts not showing properly replies: 4

Twitter Followers replies: 1

my threads have disappeared?? replies: 2

Hi Just joined. Here's my intro .... replies: 5