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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Dealing with depression

replies: 3

Hey! im currently studying year 12 at school, doing dance after school and working. I’m starting to suffer from some serious depression and anxiety to the point where I can’t keep up and go to school dance or work. I feel like I’m spiralling and can concentrate on anything that I used to be able to do easily. I’m just isolating myslef laying in my bed and crying and I don’t know how to get out of it. Any first steps I should take? I feel sick of having to be that person who is always upset

Feeling constantly stressed

replies: 3

Hi all! I’m new to the forum. I really just want a safe space to just say how I’m feeling. I’m a single mum to a five year old boy who’s just started school this year. I’ve just started a new job too, and it’s full time for the first time since I have my son. And I’m struggling. Not so much with the work, with the routine. Even the seemingly simple task of getting my son dressed or brushing his teeth causes me stress. I find myself yelling all too easily and it’s not only affecting my relationship with my son, but also my mental and physical health. mid last year I was suffering from pins and needles all over my body. After a raft of neurological tests nothing was found, so I put it down to a stress reaction. And now it’s happening again and I can feel myself reaching the point of burnout again. Add to that, I’m sad. We moved back to Sydney after living in another city for 15 years - I lament my old life, I miss my friends and I miss financial freedom. I have a lot more going on in my head than I can write down right now, but I just wanted to reach out and say hi, and share my story.

I seem to find myself sad or angry with no cause.

replies: 1

So, for a fair few years now I will find myself in a angry or sad mood for no reason at all. Most of the time it's just at my own thoughts, memories, and over thinking. Sometimes while over thinking, I sometimes find my self staring angrily at nothing, most likely the wall, cracking the angry eye brows. This is almost an every day occurance. and I will Shut down, or close off to the people around me. I cannot talk about how I feel, even if I want to. I just can't get it out. I feel as if this has ruined my relationship and friendships with people closest to me. My son's father has past away in the last year, and I feel as if it has only gotten worse. I can sometimes identify in the middle of one of these moods that what I'm feeling isn't right, uunnecessary or fair on the people around me. But I can't seem to change the way I'm feeling no matter how hard I try. I think I might need mental health help, but i am afraid to reach out. Thats why I'm on this page. Im not sure if any of this even makes any sense. So I guess what trying to get to is to see if their is something wrong with me, what is going on? And what should I do. I hate feeling like this.and I'm not sure how to stop it.

Struggling lately

replies: 5

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I have an ex who is always causing stress in mine and my daughters life. My 8 year old is refusing to see him as I believe he is emotionally abusive to her now. We are in the process of getting her therapy. I have the introduction for her therapy session on Tuesday and I think that's why I'm so anxious. Her dad lies and therapists don't know if they should believe me or him, he's really good at putting on an act. If anyone can give me some tips, advice or even distractions I'd really appreciate it. I know its not a big deal the appointment because I'm telling the truth but it feels like I'm on trial so therapists can decide how to treat our situation and if they believe him then my daughter never gets the real support she needs! Thanks guys

Hi

replies: 3

Hi I’m new here, I’m a 59yo man that has come to reality about how I have felt for years and how it has affected my life. Not sure how to change this after so long.

Hello, I have just registered an account with Beyond Blue...

replies: 4

I have been suffering severe anxiety for years, more so when both of my parents died at a young age. I am here to seek support, but don't know how to start as I never seeked help before, thinking 'nah I don't need help, I'll be ok' but I don't think I am. Any suggestions where I can read about and hear stories of anxiety? Even any suggested videos would be helpful. Thank you.

Hello, recently joined this forum

replies: 4

Hi everyone, I’ve made some posts but just read the posting faq and as recommended am introducing myself. I’m dealing with anxiety and depression. I hope I can get some tips and help here and will do my best to contribute and encourage others too . H... View more

Dont really know where to start here.. so here goes

replies: 3

I decided I wont post my full story here because in the past (on other forums) ive described my history over the past 19 years and literally been banned or ignored because no one seems believes me. It is very complicated with about 3-4 (unrelated as far as I know) issues but ill do my best to describe them. Im a middle aged male who was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 17. I mention this because ive read elsewhere that the drugs I was prescribed can have side effects including depression, and related. ALSO, I dont think its related but Ive been suffering from 'random' explosive/anger episodes since I hit puberty around age 11. I wouldn't mention this normally but nearly 37 years later I still suffer from them. Ive also suffered from Depression (my main concern) and been diagnosed with Bipopar, having attempted suicide roughly 10 times over the past 15 years. Im already close to hitting my 2500 character limit without even describing anything ? so in short I dont know how to proceed ? No one in the medical community including psychiatrists, GPs, Mental Health wards etc. seem to be willing to offer help beyond offering me drugs. I dont want to put a strain on the hospital system and really dont know how to proceed ? I would offer a more detailed explaination but there is a limit on how much I can type here.

A little thing

replies: 4

Hi Forgive the nebulous title, it's getting late and this post is written out of need, not desire. I am very good at one thing at least: listing my own shortcomings. We can start there. I am 25 (male) and would describe myself as a straggler. I have recently moved out of home, however am still heavily supported by my family. I have a license but wouldn't trust myself to drive, and have not done so in many months. My social life does not exist, however I may rely on one sibling (currently living with me) and a couple of colleagues for a small subset of social interaction. This is unlikely to change soon, because I am engaged in full-time study and lack both the necessary initiative and social skills. My attitude to my work could be described as "barely sufficient" and I struggle to meet expectations. I have no burning passions to draw from, however I do find certain things more worthwhile than others. Unfortunately, I have let myself go: I am plagued by low self esteem and succumb to bad habits. Among other things, this has caused a steady decline in many of my skills and is likely to have affected my physical fitness by now. Fortunately, nothing is ever quite so bad. I find myself lacking in almost all aspects, but not quite so much that my dependence on other people isn't able to keep me afloat. Sometimes, I wonder if life hasn't been cruel enough to me. But such thoughts are a luxury, and an attempt to shift blame away from myself. I am not diagnosed with anything, because I haven't really seen anyone, but I may suffer from some kind of high-functioning depression. I do not recall any dramatic onset event, it's more like I've been slipping into this comfortable darkness over a span of at least ten years. At first I had hope that I would find my way through. I am still wandering, and "hope" has become a philosophical conundrum. In case there was any doubt, I have never had any intimate relationship. Much of my youth was spent travelling. When related, stories of my youth often meet with amazement. Even now, my work is still prestigious in a sense. This makes things worse: how could I live up to the life I purport to lead? I feel like half the person I was ten years ago.

Depressed

replies: 2

Hey I m just so stressed feel like speaking to someone but I can’t Bcz to trust people is not easy for me , I m married but I don’t know whether I m happy can’t expect anything from him I feel for him I m only like money making machine I don’t think he cares much about how I feel we both want to start family we tried ivf 4 times out of which it turned positive 3 times but every single time I had miscarriage nd the reason for ivf is not like I got fertility issues it’s like Bcz we have intimate relations like once a year nd that is also he is not able to discharge I don’t know the reason and also in any way I can’t be dependent on him Bcz every single time I trusted him he proved me wrong whether it’s house mortgage or planning future but from me he expect to earn as well as do house hold chores perfectly like a housewife it’s so overwhelming for me Bcz of cultural thing it’s not easy for me to get out of this marriage it’s been 5 years I m married to him I start with a new hope every day but nothing positive happens everything is only about him he wants car so he want to credit of everything which I have done but in his he brags all that as his achievement I m not saying dat he abuses me our marriage doesn’t feel like marriage to me which is becoming major reason for my stress nd putting me into depression I m just losing myself I feel like i wanted to make home but I just live in a house where I m by myself so lonely I can’t spk to my mum about this Bcz she ask me to adjust nd she say it’s just little things , I want child but out of lov not ivf I dnt have problems to go for ivf but this is when we tried natural nd it failed every single time . I want him to take may be half of atlest financial responsibility but he doesn’t take he can go back from his words anytime wen it comes to financial Bcz I feel he is lazy to work he just work for himself he doesn’t work like married men who is ready or can responsibility of pregnant wife nd later child

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Dealing with depression replies: 3

Feeling constantly stressed replies: 3

I seem to find myself sad or angry with no cause. replies: 1

Struggling lately replies: 5

Hi replies: 3

Hello, I have just registered an account with Beyond Blue... replies: 4

Hello, recently joined this forum replies: 4

Dont really know where to start here.. so here goes replies: 3

A little thing replies: 4

Depressed replies: 2