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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everyday the dinosaur

replies: 3

I had a minor stroke several years ago which affected the right side of my body. I am a self taught artist and lost the ability to pursue my dream of becoming a botanical illustrator. Shortly after I developed a severe form of arthritis. In recent years, I have developed tremors in my neck and left arm. The only way to get relief from tremors is sitting with my head on a pillow. I recently took up card making and have spent a fortune buying supplies that I just stare at all day as I've lost what little motivation I had to pursue it. I used to sew a lot, making artistic quilts, now all I can manage is making childrens dresses to donate to charity. I don't even feel like doing that anymore. I use to cook a lot but now live on prepared frozen meals. I do have a Support Worker twice a week (NDIS has been very helpful) and I try to spend some of the time on outings to local places just to sit and watch the world go by. I don't even want to do that anymore. I took up art journaling as a way to do art therapy (there are no art therapists near me so I have to go it alone). I lost my long term mental health counsellor last year and am having trouble feeling comfortable with his replacement. I HATE talking to GPs (they are more interested in money than health these days). I had my COVID vaccines last year which interfered with my arthritis medication and now I have chronic eye inflammation and repeated joint pain. My arthritis had been under control for several years before COVID. My GP gave me a referral to the RAH Neurological clinic to investigate my neck tremor but they kept giving me two days notice of appointments; I can't drive anymore and need to arrange a Support Worker to drive and to assist me through the mega-hospital. After several cancelled attempts, the RAH has cancelled my referral and taken me off the wait list. So I can't get medical help. I've now lost all interest in everything and I see no reason to keep living. I've got no-one to talk to that I trust and that I think can help, and I am stuck at home because I am afraid of getting COVID. What's the point???

Continuing Moving Forward at a Snails Pace 🐌

replies: 13

Hello All, I'm new here, rather nervous, and cautious. Don't know what to say in my introduction without feeling foolish. I had read interesting things, sad things too. I'm an older person well up in years yet always have a young at heart outlook in life. I suffer PTST, anxiety and depression for almost 50 years. Am on meds, have professional counselling, so on. I'm on these forums as I'm a great believer that we all can learn from each other: older, oldies and elderlies can learn much from the younger generation and visa vversa. Just saying "Hello" to All

long time no post

replies: 7

Its been quite a while since I posted on here , mostly using SANE forum. Forgotten how to get started. Just asking ,has anyone experienced SADS yet. Its been much colder here in SA in the last week or so, woke up this morning feeling very depressed and weepy and immediately thought Winter Depression,to me it seems a bit early,just wanted to know am I the only one,or are others starting to feel it. Intend to get myself out in the sun today as long as possible ,rain on the way. Regards Ruralite

I need advice

replies: 5

Hey , so my girlfriend got upset with me because she feels I was criticising her , she has alot of family over at the moment and I felt a bit neglected when I went to bed at 3:am and no idea what time she came to bed , I had foolishly assumed that because she wanted me to stay that night we would spend the following day together which wasn't the case , I told her how I felt and now she is upset with me and told me she needs a few days of space . I love her so much and she says she is inlove with me but I don't see how someone inlove could so this to their significant other . I can't help but feel hopeless and I'm full of anxiety , I know I'm have control issues but right now I'm scared of losing the woman I love because I used the wrong words . Please help? I feel like the walls are closing in and pushing up on my chest .

my husband has had major depression for 14 months and I am struggling

replies: 5

Hi. I am married to a beautiful man who is struggling with depression, now for 14 months. He is 57 and this has come out of nowhere. He has tried three different combinations of medication and nothing is working. His psychiatrist is starting to talk about ECT. I feel very alone in my role as his carer because he doesn't want me to talk about his depression to anyone. Mostly I keep myself busy but I am finding that my emotions are getting more intense and I occasionally say things that I regret. I know he is doing everything he can- wondering if our life will ever return to the way it was.

Hi

replies: 3

Hi all my name is kelly, I am here for a lot of issues, and I don’t know where to start treatment of healing

new here :')

replies: 3

not 100% sure how to use these forums yet so bear with me, but i thought i'd introduce myself. i turned 18 recently and have been living with mental illness for as long as i can remember. i have mdd, bpd and adhd, and am trying to cope with chronic ideation and harm. asking for help and reaching out have never been easy for me so i try to support others using my lived experience almost as an alternative. living has been very difficult lately but i'm trying to hold on. i hope anyone who reads this is having a good day.

Anxiety and Feeling Lost

replies: 2

Maybe a little history to explain where I am coming from, there's been grief in my life, a failed marriage, the death of my eldest son, mental health issues, and an alcohol problem. I learnt over time to stop feeling guilty about my marriage break down, I learnt to live with the death of my son, I learnt to deal with where my brain goes sometimes, and I had Rehab to help me with the alcohol problem. In February this year something happened with my youngest daughter that triggered my mental stability and has me getting uncontrollable shakes now when my daughter rings me, to the point where I can't answer the phone. The last time we spoke Tuesday this week I tried to explain that I wasn't well but she cut me of with what her needs are. I've been off work for medical reasons and am looking to get back into the workforce. My daughter and granddaughter moved and now live an hour and a half away, but she doesn't want to be by herself, I've gone down to help her as much as I can. My daughter has a friend with two girls who lives at home with her parents and her parents are looking after the two girls while her friend does what she wants to do, that's what my daughter expects of me and has brought it up every time I go to see her. I love my daughter and grand daughter dearly. Im at a loss at the moment to know how to handle this situation because I getting shut down each time we speak because Im not doing what my daughter want me to.. this is where my anxiety is coming from its like im being backed into a corner and i dont like the feeling of being trap, my daughter has starting to use my grand daughter to have me feel bad. I dont kknow how to handle this situation,??????

Hi everyone,

replies: 3

It is the first time that I have posted in any forum. I am a refugee, and English is not my first language. I want to vent as I have been feeling sad lately. I have self-doubts. I think I am a shadow of my previous self. I do not have friends, and I am always exhausted. I am old, and I think a group of young fellow students is bullying me. I feel so stupid even to write it down. I hope tomorrow I feel better, and I hope whoever reads this has a nice night.

out of the blue

replies: 11

i find my self to burst into tears for no reason. has anyone ever felt like this and how did you deal with the crying. then the next day i can have a good day.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

everyday the dinosaur replies: 3

Continuing Moving Forward at a Snails Pace 🐌 replies: 13

long time no post replies: 7

I need advice replies: 5

my husband has had major depression for 14 months and I am struggling replies: 5

Hi replies: 3

new here :') replies: 3

Anxiety and Feeling Lost replies: 2

Hi everyone, replies: 3

out of the blue replies: 11