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Pinned discussions

Sophie_M Meet your community champions!
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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 Be... View more

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.

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

All discussions

Not_dealing_with_life_iss Sad and not dealing with life's issues
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My sadness began with the loss of 3 grand parents my brother in-law and step father in the past 5 years my marriage broke down during all of this ,the main cause is me being a alcoholic ,is why my marriage broke down always angry ,mood swings memory ... View more

My sadness began with the loss of 3 grand parents my brother in-law and step father in the past 5 years my marriage broke down during all of this ,the main cause is me being a alcoholic ,is why my marriage broke down always angry ,mood swings memory loss and depression which has crippled me most of my adult life the last straw was yesterday for getting done for low range drink driving 0.084 I was at my ex wife's house we were all having a nice day together so I decided to get a few drinks it all changed when I got a little tipsy which for the life of me I'm still trying to piece together as my memory is bad more so when I have been drinking I just feel so sad and ashamed with myself .

Lionintheshade Parenting on empty and noise sensitivity
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I am new here..(and a fairly new parent) I had pre natal depression and I was doing really well mentally after the bub was born up until the bub started to become more active. Maybe because sometimes I don't know what to do activity wise. We play, re... View more

I am new here..(and a fairly new parent) I had pre natal depression and I was doing really well mentally after the bub was born up until the bub started to become more active. Maybe because sometimes I don't know what to do activity wise. We play, read books, sing songs etc but as the day goes on I run out of ideas and energy and I start to feel blank inside. Even though I love our baby, I feel sometimes I go through the motions without being engaged or present. There are sleep issues at the moment too which doesn't help. Is this what normal parenting feels like? Does anyone else feel like this? Also making things worse is over the past three weeks, the neighbour over the road has been playing music for 6-10 hours a day almost every day. It's loud enough for the bass to be heard inside my house and I can't go out into our yard unless I want to be fully blasted. The neighbour is only playing his music during lawful hours but it's the length of time that is impacting me. I don't want to judge a book by it's cover but most encounters with this man and his family have involved unfriendly stony stares in our direction. I feel if we were to approach them about this issue, their reaction would be to turn up the volume. Council information pushes the 'speak to your neighbour' solution. I did read something on another post about therapy that desenitizes you to noise but I can't find the thread. Does anyone have more information about this?

Guest927 Hey (warning: bad depressions)
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hi, my name's Juliette. (Y'know it's bad when you accidentally post a 2499 character post before your introduction. And that's not even scraping the top. I am so sorry about that.) But yeah. I got major depression, general and social anxiety going on... View more

hi, my name's Juliette. (Y'know it's bad when you accidentally post a 2499 character post before your introduction. And that's not even scraping the top. I am so sorry about that.) But yeah. I got major depression, general and social anxiety going on 3 years now. Have been in hospital once (best 2 weeks of my life). Currently looking for more diagnoses to make me feel less like an absolute pile of useless nothing, but so far haven't really got any. Just like....one symptom from each. Illness cocktail moment. 'Sorry', 'idk', and 'i hate myself' are 90% of my vocab. Came here because I have no-one else to talk to. My one best friend really needs some time when i am not ranting, I may have procured a very unhelpful team of psychologists and psychiatrists, and I can't talk to my family even if they are very supportive. No meds but fruiting want them. Very much trapped. Suicidal, never attempted. Self harm almost every day. Hate every part of myself. Used to enjoy writing g/t before my depression made it bad. Fun fact: I get super lucid dreams, i can't control them consistently yet. But can feel everything and make choices. It's very sick being spiderman Getting your hands cut off by doc ock is not so fun. Good to be here.

Tmay Tmay
  • replies: 2

I am 60 years old and my marriage is ending. I have nothing without him. I suffer from depression for many years. How do I start over when I have nothing. My husband never hits me but constantly yells at me and I have been walking on egg shells aroun... View more

I am 60 years old and my marriage is ending. I have nothing without him. I suffer from depression for many years. How do I start over when I have nothing. My husband never hits me but constantly yells at me and I have been walking on egg shells around him for years so I don’t get into trouble from him. Where do I go, what do I do, where can I get help...I have been so dependent on him for the last 20 years, I feel lost. How do I go on from here... I just don’t know what to do... I feel sick and having terrible headaches through stress. Has anyone else been where I am today?

Kina Mental illness and isolation
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I am carer for my son - a handsome, intelligent, dearly loved 27 yo - who has been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic with depression anxiety and social phobias. After 7 years of bravely enduring some truly nightmarish situations, he now has “insigh... View more

I am carer for my son - a handsome, intelligent, dearly loved 27 yo - who has been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic with depression anxiety and social phobias. After 7 years of bravely enduring some truly nightmarish situations, he now has “insight”. My boy is back. He can laugh again. His journey is not over but it’s a promising beginning on the next part. However, all his friends have drifted away or stayed away due to fear and ignorance. He says he is now mourning hus loss and his loneliness. I am afraid. How can I find friends? Community workers do not replace Nate ship - and have proved to be unreliable.

Lightfoot Understanding ASD and repetition of sentences
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Hi All, My partner has a degree of ASD and repeats requests or direction over and over again until I get quite frustrated. Is this an ASD trait? Or potentially another coping mechanism for a childhood wound? Thank you

Hi All, My partner has a degree of ASD and repeats requests or direction over and over again until I get quite frustrated. Is this an ASD trait? Or potentially another coping mechanism for a childhood wound? Thank you

Saffi *(Trigger waring: Eating disorders)* Teen girl not eating
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Hi, I have a 15year old daughter who has pretty much stopped eating in the last week. All the signs of an eating disorder beginning are there. Wanting to eat in another room, saying she doesn’t feel well, using delay tactics, pushing food around the ... View more

Hi, I have a 15year old daughter who has pretty much stopped eating in the last week. All the signs of an eating disorder beginning are there. Wanting to eat in another room, saying she doesn’t feel well, using delay tactics, pushing food around the plate, taking minuscule bites, etc. Tried getting her to open up about any fears, concerns, things that may have been said, to no avail. Next therapist appointment not for a month. What else can we do to support her. This is now affecting my son & myself physically also, due to the stress of worrying.

Puppee Feeling lost as I my wife decided to separate ...
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This has got to be worse than the pandemic ... my wife decided to leave me with very little warning. I am trying for counselling but it is really tough to make it through each day. Too many memories in this house which is empty.

This has got to be worse than the pandemic ... my wife decided to leave me with very little warning. I am trying for counselling but it is really tough to make it through each day. Too many memories in this house which is empty.

JustineW Hi Introducing Justine
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Hi All this is my first time posting here. I am in my early 40s and been a single mother for 7 years. My so recently moved out home age 19 and my daughters nearly 12. She has ADD and anxiety. She is very clingy to me. She sees her father twice a year... View more

Hi All this is my first time posting here. I am in my early 40s and been a single mother for 7 years. My so recently moved out home age 19 and my daughters nearly 12. She has ADD and anxiety. She is very clingy to me. She sees her father twice a year school holidays. Any single parents out there can relate to the challenges. I met a guy middle of last year who is nearly 19 years my senior. We like each other a lot but my daughter won’t accept it. Maybe because it’s the first time seeing me with someone. She has been giving me such a hard time that I had to end the relationship. My daughter was hostile to my boyfriend and made him unwelcome so he stopped coming over and I’d go alone to visit him. Was not an ideal situation. I miss him and he misses me but I don’t see a way to make it work when my daughter was so angry and upset every day because I was seeing him. I want her knowing she’s my priority and nobody will take me away from her, but it’s also hard to lose a man I love. Im wondering if there’s any advice out there.

Old_Fossil Losing my battle to mental illness. It’s been 7 months since my very close friend (was a girlfriend at the time) had a proper conversation with me
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It’s been 7 months since she last had a proper conversation with me. I’ve been ultimately confused about why she’s not been talking with me. At the 3 month mark she friendzoned me and despite that we still had a good night catching up and talking a l... View more

It’s been 7 months since she last had a proper conversation with me. I’ve been ultimately confused about why she’s not been talking with me. At the 3 month mark she friendzoned me and despite that we still had a good night catching up and talking a little bit. It’s been 4 months and 1 day since I’ve heard from her. A month and 1 day ago she randomly blocked all of my social media out of the blue. During these past 7 months, my mental illness has been really crippling me since her presence has gone and has allowed difficult events in the past 7 months to really depress me and pile up on top of the other things that are making me feel worse everyday. I’ve tried to communicate to her how I’ve been feeling while she “ghosted” me and she never responded. I was told that this was trauma dumping but I only learnt that a day ago on Christmas Day when it was one month since she blocked me. I’ve identified that I have very severe cases of Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Bipolar Disorder, Suicidal Thoughts, Self Harm, Eating Disorders, etc. I really miss her and I want to apologise to her about how I’ve been acting and feeling during this whole 7 month mess. We’ve known each other for 4-5 years and dated for 2 of them and it’s really been a really confusing 7 months and I don’t understand why she randomly stopped talking to me for 3 months, friendzoned me, ghosted me for another 3 months, blocked me and now we’re here at the 1 month 1 day mark and I’m literally on my knees begging her to come back so we can discuss what’s going on and finally move on from this whole seven sh*tty months. I’ve been feeling extremely suicidal during this time and I’m honestly thinking of planning my suicide after my 18th Birthday. She really meant so much to me and gave me someone to talk anything about to and someone who can help me with my mental illnesses. Now her disappearance and many other events in this time period are leading me closer to suicide. I feel nothing without her and I feel as if I need her in my life and I obsess over her (this is where I got my OCD from) and do weird things like pretend that she’s with me and pretend to hold her hand. I’m worried that she’ll do something really bad to herself because she’s feeling mentally crap too and I want to help her but we can’t see each other because of her parents and because she probably doesn’t have her P’s yet. The only way I talk to her is on social media but that was going to change this summer but now that I’m blocked idk :,(