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Aaronsis 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 th... View more

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

Chris_B Introducing...the community champions
  • replies: 22

Hi everyone, Some of you may have noticed that a few of our members are labelled ‘Community champion’ and have a beyondblue National Roadshow bus badge, like this: This thread explains who these members are and what they do. Community champions are v... View more

Hi everyone, Some of you may have noticed that a few of our members are labelled ‘Community champion’ and have a beyondblue National Roadshow bus badge, like this: This thread explains who these members are and what they do. Community champions are volunteers within the forums who: Have the time, skills and empathy to support other members Make an effort to welcome new members Are regularly and actively engaged members that help set the tone of our community as a place of hope and recovery. Click here to find out more about how you can become a Community Champion! As this is a peer support community that includes members under the age of 18, it is important that we ensure our peer support community leaders have a current 'working with children' check as part of due diligence. In an online environment with anonymous posters, it also provides Beyond Blue (and the community) with some security as to the identity of who is posting as a community champion. We ask our community champions to spend at least 2-3 hours a week posting and responding in the forums, but in reality they go far above and beyond this. Like me, they’re not psychologists or counsellors, just regular folk like yourselves who have experience with anxiety and depression. I’ll leave it to our champion volunteers to reply below and let you know a bit about themselves. PS. If this is your first time on the forums and you'd like to introduce yourself, please start a new thread rather than replying in here.

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AJ_23 Just a little lost
  • replies: 3

Not sure how to start this, not the expressing type of person to people easy, the one person who I did trust and there was nothing off limits recently passed away in an accident and I am feeling so lost and alone. Despite everything that was going on... View more

Not sure how to start this, not the expressing type of person to people easy, the one person who I did trust and there was nothing off limits recently passed away in an accident and I am feeling so lost and alone. Despite everything that was going on past and present, he just had a way of calming me down with just a hug, and now everything I've been dealing with (I have ptsd from being abused as a child, I grew up with violent family members, I was kidnapped by a parent , I didn't know my parents until I was older so to me they were strangers, I've had every family responsibility just dropped on me ,robbing me of a normal childhood whatever that may be. And now I've lost the one person in the world who was my normal My calm . And I haven't slept in weeks , I cry at just the thought of breathing , which I can barely do at the moment, I'm just so tired. I've been trying to keep myself busy with things but I've honestly lost interest in so much of the things I usually do. I want to crawl into a ball in a corner and just stay there . I am going to see my Doc this week as he picked up something was wrong and I'm just feeling like I've let my depression win if I get back on my medication but I also know I'm not coping and now I'm causing myself more anxiety . I'm just a little lost at the moment , I'm not even sure what I'm looking for. Maybe some advice .

SecondTimeFailed Loved, Lost, Left.
  • replies: 3

I recently ended my second serious relationship after 4.5 years. I felt I was unloved and unappreciated. I became what I think was just another household appliance. Fix this, make that, do this and in return I received nothing. My ex partner has 3 yo... View more

I recently ended my second serious relationship after 4.5 years. I felt I was unloved and unappreciated. I became what I think was just another household appliance. Fix this, make that, do this and in return I received nothing. My ex partner has 3 young adult and teenage children, her excuse was that she is a mother and she works and has no time for affection. I myself work 70 hours a week, yet I always tried to be a loving, caring partner. Now that I have left the relationship, she wants to make it right. I see here sincerity, but how long will this last, a day, a week, a month, a year? My heart is blackened and I have no more love to give. A loved her and the kids more than I have loved anyone or anything in my life. In my head the best thing for me to do is move as far away as possible and start a new life. Am I being selfish or just doing what I need to do? Please help, thank you

Skywatcher New Dad . . .harder than I would have thought
  • replies: 6

Hi, I am a new Dad (6month old baby). My wife does most of the heavy lifting in terms of looking after the baby while she is on maternity leave, but for some reason I still feel overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted and so on. I try and help out as much as... View more

Hi, I am a new Dad (6month old baby). My wife does most of the heavy lifting in terms of looking after the baby while she is on maternity leave, but for some reason I still feel overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted and so on. I try and help out as much as I can. Our baby is a treasure but I seem to be constantly struggle. Since she was born I had to put down my cat who died in my arms and that tore me up and then wanting to be always around I have given up all exercise which used to be important to me. My wife is very critical of me so much of the time, but with good reason, she is exhausted and worried about returning to work and the load she is carrying. Maybe it is also the state of the world at the moment but I have sensed my anxiety taking hold and my thoughts getting darker every week or so and whether it is my time, because I don’t feel like the great Dad I aspire to be, but then I look at the baby and I am right again. I have also thrown myself into work, likely as a distraction which I gather is pretty common, but it feels like it is all I do and defining me and just feeding more anxiety. I am trying to make a plan to make some changes based on some of the things I have been reading here from other peoples experiences, but the big thing is I don’t know whether to just start making changes to things like work and hope it starts to right things. Or if I should talk to my wife first. . . .I don’t want to add to her stress at all and fear I might in talking about it hence I am thinking to try changing the path a bit without talking. Finding time for exercise is the big one that I can’t do without talking to her. Take care,

Studio606 How to get help
  • replies: 2

HiI'm an older person with a dx of BPD, C-PTSD and anxiety/depression. How do people get help? I work part time due to my mental health. I have paid over $3000 this year in psychiatrists and psychologist fees and have got nowhere apart from broke. I ... View more

HiI'm an older person with a dx of BPD, C-PTSD and anxiety/depression. How do people get help? I work part time due to my mental health. I have paid over $3000 this year in psychiatrists and psychologist fees and have got nowhere apart from broke. I have spent 5 days, full days being passed from pillar to post trying to get help in the public sector. Apparantly because I have 'officially' a psychologist I cannot access a Qld Health service, so then I tried a NGO service who advertise a group but don't actually run the group and referred me back to the Qld Health Service. The took all of my info and then referred to the NGO who, under a different name took all of my personal info again, and then nothing ... for 2 months! Called them today and they told me "Sorry, you don't exist in our system". Then told me they will look at their process. I can't get NDIS because I havent had all the therapy available and evidence it doesnt work so I need to get a functional assessment. The functional assessment, without asking me any questions about what it is for is billed at 6-10 hours of work and will cost 2500 - 5000. So that is out. I was told by Qld Health that I should take private health insurance. I checked out this option to find out that it will cost $175 a week for my age and I have to pay $750 excess to start using it. So I ask, how does anyone get any help for their mental health? I am sick to death of people telling me how resilient I am and how strong I am. I need help, and I am fortunate, and privileged that I am intelligent and persistent enough to keep going, but I am exhausted from having to battle to be heard and helped.

Rose-1 Panic attacks
  • replies: 1

Hi. Wonder if anyone can help me get through these panic attacks. Feeling over anxious.Feeling guilty as I know people are worse than me. Thank you.

Hi. Wonder if anyone can help me get through these panic attacks. Feeling over anxious.Feeling guilty as I know people are worse than me. Thank you.

Savage-Black_Dog The Long Haul
  • replies: 2

HiI'm a long time sufferer of major depressive disorder, I am also diagnosed with complex PTSD & general anxiety disorder.Things have not been going well for me of late. I am having trouble finding a suitable job, my mother's health is deteriorating ... View more

HiI'm a long time sufferer of major depressive disorder, I am also diagnosed with complex PTSD & general anxiety disorder.Things have not been going well for me of late. I am having trouble finding a suitable job, my mother's health is deteriorating rapidly, my so-called friends have acted in ways that friends just wouldn't act.I have been sleeping 12–16 hours per day even though I have a lot of things that I need to get done, I just can't muster the energy to do them.I used to be on various antidepressants, that for me personally, did more harm than good in the end, I spent some time in a mental health ward due to this. I then weened my way off of them over a couple of"unpleasant"years.Though I have contemplated suicide, I can't take that way out, it would be unfair to my kids & my dog.I would like to try some of the newer psychotherapies that are available, being a truck driver (unemployed) there are some that are just not an option though.My regular GP, whom I liked, moved on to another town & I need to find a new GP. This has contributed to my overall deteriorating mental health too.There is much I have left unsaid here.I'd be willing to do some counciling but finding a councillor that I am comfortable with is not easy.Thanks for reading.

ErinP My best friend is friends with the one that bullied me
  • replies: 1

It’s taken a bit to write in hereI have felt quite isolated and have so much doubt and shame my recent experience with being bullied has left me unable to trust people with any of my deepest feelings it’s soul destroying I don’t even know how to talk... View more

It’s taken a bit to write in hereI have felt quite isolated and have so much doubt and shame my recent experience with being bullied has left me unable to trust people with any of my deepest feelings it’s soul destroying I don’t even know how to talk about what has happened and is still happening to me Ad I’m always the strong one and I always brush my feelings aside and just deal with the situation but not this time

Ehmel Newbie
  • replies: 4

Hello Everyone,I am new to the blue voices so am here to introduce myself. I am a mum, wife and psychology honours student. I found myself on this path after suffering a sudden and extreme PTSD attack after the birth of my second child. If it weren't... View more

Hello Everyone,I am new to the blue voices so am here to introduce myself. I am a mum, wife and psychology honours student. I found myself on this path after suffering a sudden and extreme PTSD attack after the birth of my second child. If it weren't for my husband advocating for me then, I don't know where I would be now. As well as finding out that I had been living with PTSD, undiagnosed for over 20 years, I learnt that my "quirks" were actually severe anxiety and OCD. I wasn't actually a high-achieving, leader type, I just operated out of fight or flight constantly making me a chronic people pleaser. There is a lot more to this story, but suffice to say, through this I felt called to study psychology, and I love it. I can not wait for the day I can help others and I hope that this will afford me the opportunity to do that in a meaningful way, as well as advocate for mental health by telling my story.

Unicorn13579 New and Some questions
  • replies: 8

Hello. I have joined today as part of trying to move forward. I have just started counseling and have had a few short sessions in the past a few years ago. It has dredged up some dreadful memories of childhood that I have buried, and i don't know how... View more

Hello. I have joined today as part of trying to move forward. I have just started counseling and have had a few short sessions in the past a few years ago. It has dredged up some dreadful memories of childhood that I have buried, and i don't know how or even if I want to tell my counselor. I have admitted to myself and my carer that I have had thoughts about not wanting to live anymore and how much I do not want to be in pain anymore, but also that I love my life when things are good and want to achieve so much more. I have T10 incomplete paraplegia and the nerve pain is extremely bad at night when I want to be asleep. The problem is my counselor said I now have PTSD and I am having trouble sleeping, with nightmares. He has given me a sleep book. I want to know if I share this with him, about the childhood issue and feelings of the above will this remain confidential, even having discussed it here. It is not easy to talk about these things. My cousin Joe committed suicide a few years ago and that was an incredibly profound time as I was learning to walk again when it happened. No one knew how he felt. T cam very much unexpected and a shocm to his family.

Tkat Financial stressors
  • replies: 3

I'm betting a lot of people are probably in worse boats than me in that regard. I don't see myself earning enough to actually ever retire from working. My best bet is ensuring without fail I'm on $60k a year for an additional 23 years or 75k for 15 y... View more

I'm betting a lot of people are probably in worse boats than me in that regard. I don't see myself earning enough to actually ever retire from working. My best bet is ensuring without fail I'm on $60k a year for an additional 23 years or 75k for 15 years, no gaps, no unemployment, no taking a lower wage, obviously no plans on affording children or dependants on that figure. I work in a horrible toxic workplace in an awful industry, that job sure as ***" isn't going to last an additional 15-23 years. It's probably going to last another 2-5 years. I don't really have that many options for alternative employment. I have enough money to give up on life and probably unalive myself in 10 years if I move to a poor country and honestly that option is so tempting. It's been really hard to strike the balance of well let's try to make what you need to actually be able to retire in the future vs let's just work the bare minimum for bills and maybe one luxury a year.