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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3 years & first step

replies: 3

Hello all First post, first step in seeking or offering support of any sort. 3 plus years since lost my Son and time to face the bigger word. Not sure how this will pan out but wow, I’m here:) mum who needs to remember AND be happy. gees, it’s emotio... View more

In need of space

replies: 5

Hi, I am at a point in life where I have to transition from being a single independent woman to living with a life partner and his family. I am feeling anxious about this as I am a person who absolutely loves my space and doesn't like the chaos and drama involved in the family. I'm a thinker and an ideal space setup for me is a desk, a notebook and a pen. I could spend hours working in office or in my study area doing my artistic work or studies. My partner understands this and he is very accommodating to my needs. That is why he suggested me to move in with him for sometime to see how it goes. I think I will be able to manage living with him but the real challenge would be to live with his family and I don't speak their language. I fear being left out and not being myself any more around them. I fear losing my space. I also love spending time with my partner but I find myself wanting to spend time with myself more so that I can recharge and give my best to my partner. I see married people around me and most of them say that women have to adjust and sacrifice. This dialogue is a bit disturbing for me. I have no problem adjusting but all I need the most is my space. I think I'll need my own space even after being a mother. I don't know if I'm being reasonable here but for me my self protection and self preservation matter the most. Is it wrong to want my own space even after being a wife, daughter in law and a mother? How do I develop my personality so that I can live with a life partner and his family? How do I tackle this great turning point of my life?

Anxious about posting

replies: 6

Hello everyone, I'm new to this Don't really have the best idea of where to start but I'll say that I've been dealing with mental health problems on and off since adolescence. It's gotten a lot worse especially during the last 5 or 6 years. What I'm anxious about is misrepresenting myself and also if what I say can be harmful to others. I was originally planning on posting on the suicidal thoughts forum but was scared maybe if I said the wrong thing I'd make things worse for someone. Maybe even mentioning suicide in this forum is inappropriate. (To be clear I'm safe at the moment and have no intention of harming myself/others) I think having an interest in philosophy during my teens had a negative affect of on me. Books like The World as Will and Representation and Blood Meridian had completely warped my perception of things and I don't think I gained anything from reading them. Again even expressing specific thoughts on those books may be harmful, even to myself. I am trying extremely hard to explain but I can't and I worry about being incoherent.

Disappointed

replies: 2

I had what I guess was psychosis earlier. I had just reached the bottom of my stairs, and my music was playing quite loudly, when I realized the band was singing completely different lyrics. They were clearly singing about a group of men who were coming after me and what they'd do when they got hold of me. I've had recurring nightmare's since I was 11. I'm now 52. The only thing that's stopped them for the past 10 years, is my medication. Though I still occasionally have one. Anyway, I realized after, that what was being sung was what my nightmares were about. When I first noticed the lyrics I don't even know how to explain how I felt. I was trying to make sense of what I was hearing. Then I thought maybe I was asleep and dreaming, but I just couldn't wrap my head around what was happening. It's really hard to explain everything I was thinking and feeling, but I began to completely panic. In order to work out if I was asleep or crazy or whatever, I went outside to go to my friend and neighbour's. She was asleep though so I came home and rang my friend. He was able to put my feet back on the ground and calm me down enough that I realized I'd had like a 'psychotic episode'. It was horrific, it really was. It took me hours to stop feeling crazy and having weird tourettes like movements and doing this weird moaning, groaning noise. I realize that after 40 years of carrying all this shame and pain around, I have to start seeing a psychologist and try to work out a way to deal with it. Quite clearly I can't move forward without doing that. It's like I'm rupturing, and the memories are starting to seep out, but they've become rotten and diseased and all the more painful. It feels disgusting, and I'm praying there WILL be a way to work through this. If anyone has had any similar experiences like my episode tonight, and has had counselling, do you have any tips on how to manage? Or general comments about whether you found it helped or didn't help? I'd appreciate it.

Covid and teaching in WA

replies: 5

I'm scared. I live in WA and for the first time the threat of bringing covid home is really real. I don't want to sit in a room with 200 colleagues and have meetings. It's not logical. I care for my elderly father and am scared I will ultimately kill him. He hasn't had booster yet. Kids don't socially distance. Our classrooms are not ventilated well. Is anyone else feeling like me? It's like a I'm running into an inevitable brick wall of fear that others don't seem to understand. Love to know it's not just me.

My partner has stage 4 COPD and doesn't have long to live

replies: 2

My partner has stage 4 COPD and doesn't have long to live,I was posting on this forum page recently but she requested that I didn't any longer because she thought it was an open public forum where proper names are used,after a long discussion with he... View more

I think I need this

replies: 3

So, hello! I'm Mochii. It's nice to meet you all, I hope I'm welcome! You might see me in the forums a lot ^^" I Think this website would be good for me, as I have quite a few issues I'm dealing with (mostly everyday). Though I'll leave that for the ... View more

What do I do about my disturbed neighbour?

replies: 7

Hi all! Firstly, I'm sorry if my title sounds judgmental. We're all a bit disturbed from time to time. I have my share of mental issues too. But my next door neighbour, who lives in very close proximity, rants, yells and swears almost every night to his imagined guests. He's in his 60s, lives alone, and I don't know what to do about it. I care for his wellbeing but am afraid to approach him directly. The sudden outbursts are a bit scary, I live alone, and don't want to get him offside. He's calm and friendly when I see him in the daytime. I did report this to my real estate agent and she said there was nothing she could do, and suggested I call in the CAT team, which seems extreme! What would you do? Bette

Self Introduction-New memeber

replies: 4

Hello everyone, Let me introduce myself. Myself Farzana. I am a Registered Nurse, specializing in Dementia and Palliative Care. I graduated in Nursing from ACU, North Sydney. I have worked for nearly nine years in different Aged Care facilities in Sydney and in the countryside of NSW. Currently living in Sydney. Currently, I am out of practice and focusing on my Post Grad study in Public Health specialization in Communicable Disease for my career change, from clinical to the non-clinical sector in Healthcare. Aged Care and Mental Health always remain as my two favorite and most passionate filed of the health sector. In my personal life, I have and have been always prioritizing the importance of Mental Health. I talk about and try to raise self-awareness about the importance of Mental health in between my friends and family. In my personal life, I am a victim of mental abuse twice and self recovered once. For the second time, I am continuing to keep fighting to protect myself against any sort of mental abuse. To help people around the community, I have decided to extend my helping hand to raise awareness and to change the perception about mental abuse, to help people through education how to protect themselves and fight against depression, anxiety, and prevention from suicide. Thanks

Taking the plunge

replies: 4

I’ve never posted on here. I’ve found myself wanting to and then holding back. I guess I need to do something now. I’m in my early 40s and am a registered nurse. I’ve dealt with depression since I was 15. Most days I take my medication and cope just fine. I’m finding it harder to cope at the moment. I’m not struggling with nursing through a pandemic, I’m struggling with loneliness. It’s weird to be lonely when you work full time. But I am. My two closest friends are moving interstate and I’m starting to realise that I have very few friends that I can relate to or lean on for help. My elderly father is my only family member and he’s concerned that I’m suffering from loneliness. I guess he’s right. I’m in tears as I write this. I should be well-adjusted since I work well in a stressful job, but I’m crumbling.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

3 years & first step replies: 3

In need of space replies: 5

Anxious about posting replies: 6

Disappointed replies: 2

Covid and teaching in WA replies: 5

My partner has stage 4 COPD and doesn't have long to live replies: 2

I think I need this replies: 3

What do I do about my disturbed neighbour? replies: 7

Self Introduction-New memeber replies: 4

Taking the plunge replies: 4