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Cyclone Alfred - Mental Health Support

replies: 1

Hey everyone, We acknowledge that many of our Forums members here are currently facing the impacts of Cyclone Alfred and might be feeling uncertain, afraid and overwhelmed. We wanted to create a separate post here to come together during what may be a distressing time for many of us to support one another. Recognising that the impacts of a natural disaster can occur both before, during and after, we have prepared some resources which we hope can be helpful: From the Queensland Government, Useful information to help you get ready for a cyclone:Home | Get Ready Queensland Emotional Preparedness: Prepare your mind | Australian Red Cross Three-steps-to-emotionally-prepare-for-the-disaster-season.pdf What now? Coping after the event: Coping after a crisis | Australian Red Cross Maintaining wellbeing in the face of long-term stress | Australian Red Cross Emergency preparedness guide | Australian Red Cross As always, if you wish to speak to a counsellor, the Beyond Blue Support Service is available via phone 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via beyondblue.org.au/get-support for online chat. Stay safe, everyone, and take good care of yourself during what can be a deeply challenging time. Kind regards Sophie M

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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Need to start the healing somewhere (first time poster - long time reader)

replies: 3

Hi, I'm not sure where to start or if I'm even eligble for help. I have been suffering since 2008 with varying degrees of the full gamit of mental health issues. I suppose tonight I am writing just to hear someone say it's going to be ok. I am in my late 30's, have 2 lovely young kids who I love more than life itself, and a very understanding/resilient wife. In 2008 at the age of 22 I was diagnosed with kidney disease which while technically not terminal (at least in the not short term), threw me for a 6 and was the beginning of my journey with depression which led to my relationship with the rest of the menatal health Issues. At the time I was diagnosed, i was transistioning from the best job i've ever had in the Victorian High Country , to one that was fairly soul destroying in the central QLD coalfields. One of the issues or coping mechanisims i have is thinking that life was so much better before my diagnosis and thus have a possible unhealthy desire to return to where i was before i was before i was diagnosed in the hope that all my pain and suffering will dissapear. I know it will not and will possibly destroy my positive cononatations of the High Country in return. This sort of sets the stage of my current thinking, just wanting to go home to make it all better, but in my rational brain i know it pobably wont work. After this I worked for a company who were conastanty changing plans as to where i would be working and living and other variouos things (i dont do change), and i developed an anxiety of telephones and people in general form this experience. At the same time i was a victim of a violent crime and although not formally dioagnosed, im sure i suffer/ed from some level of PTSD. I still have trouble walking in to some public places. Added to this, as a young child i think i may have been a victem of sexual assult over many years from a kid who was a few years older than me (not old enough to fit the sexual abuse criteria), and although i knew happened, i've kept it buried from myself and everone else until a friend of mine revealed he went though a similar thing. I got rejected from a very positive work (new career option) oppurtunity recently due to my kidney disease, and to be honest i feel horrendus, and have been on a downward spiral since... there are other t(job related - working underground) issues at too, but i feel very DONE with everything, and cannot get time off to see a Psycologist, I just need help

Introducing myself and looking for some guidance

replies: 3

Hi everyone, my name is Ally and this is the first time I’ve posted on a beyond blue forum. I’m a little nervous sharing what I’m currently going through, but having read through some of the other threads it’s given me some confidence seeing the support and positivity and respect everyone shows each other. I have anxiety and depression, it was first diagnosed 3 years ago when I lost everyone in my family. At the moment I’m with my partner of 6 years, but I need to leave. He’s addicted to drugs (for some anonymity I’m not going to name which one in particular) and although he’d been doing great for a while he’s back on them. Because of this we can’t afford our rent, his behaviour is so manipulative and emotionally abusive that I just can’t do it anymore. The instability, mood swings, disappearing for days, letting me down constantly and excusing his drug use by blaming me for it. Recently he even said he planned and was going to kill himself after we had a fight, but got high instead and he said if I hadn’t put him in that state he wouldn’t have had to get high. I can’t keep doing this, I’ve been struggling for so long trying to help him but I can’t keep doing it anymore and I need to get out. But I’m so stuck, I don’t have enough money to leave and get my own place. He’s destroyed my credit rating so I can’t even get a loan to help me. I’ve tried multiple non profit organisations for a no interest loan to set myself but I’ve been knocked back everytime. Im starting to feel like there’s no way out. I don’t have family I can go to, my closest friends are living interstate and I’m terrified that I’ll be stuck here forever. if anyone has been in a similar situation and knows where I could find some help I would be so grateful. I just feel so lost and alone.

New and decided to ask for help

replies: 8

I'm not even sure what to say. I have problems and I'm just so tired of them. I have agoraphobia since the beginning of the pandemic. I'm diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and OCD. I take medication like I'm supposed to but I feel so numb. I have been staying up all night insomnia which makes me feel worse. I think I'm binge eating. I need some type of help but I don't know where to begin. I just want to feel better.

Husband cheating

replies: 2

Hi I have just discovered my husband phone had texts messages asking how much for a full service and do you have any appointments today. . They have replied then I can't see any reply from him . When I checked his search history it was for brothels escort those hook up sites. I am absolutely gutted. He says nothing happened but I don't believe him. He had even looked up brothels in another state before going there for work . We have 3 children and have been married for 22 years. I feel useless I can't eat if I do I feel sick . I haven't spoken to any of my friends about this as I can't seem to bring the words out of my mouth. I had to go on antidepressants and I'm seeing a psychologist this week.

New to the forum

replies: 2

Hi everyone, im new here today so I hope I’m doing this right? im a long time sufferer of anxiety and panic attacks and hopefully can find some answers and ways of dealing with it through chatting with you all here on the forum. min looking forward t... View more

So much worry

replies: 4

Hi. I have overwhelming feelings of dread and fear. I have a gambling secret that I am getting help for now but I haven’t told my wife and I’m scared she will find out. We have a little girl as well and I am petrified that I will lose her. i am sure ... View more

Im new here.

replies: 3

Hi everyone I’m new here and I’m a bit nervous about post for the first time. i have severe anxiety disorders, chronic depression, adhd, c-ptsd, ocd, agoraphobia, bpd traits, anxious attachment disorder and more. I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed lately. I’m a mum of two beautiful girls and I’m trying to get back to being the mum they deserve. Am I alone in this or is anyone else struggling right now??

Want to read good threads about certain topics... Ask others for recommendations

replies: 2

Hi everyone and especially all new members, The forums can seem a bit of a daunting place and for now (updates to the forums are in progress hurrah hurrah) the search option is quite limited. Sometimes we're not quite ready to start a thread of our own and that's ok. You can still join in and give input to other threads that appeal to you. So... If you are looking for a thread on a particular topic why not ask? We're all happy to try steer you to exisiting threads to read and join in. Hint...The key to joining in within an existing thread is keeping on topic. Remember that the thread creator usually decides what they need to discuss. Hope this helps even one person. Nat

Feeling stuck

replies: 2

Hi everyone, Just to start with my name is Yamini. I have been feeling very stressed lately it’s to do with my work where my life is going what I’m doing in my life it’s just not what I had imagined and I know that your life does not always go the way that you wanted to go but I’m stuck doing a job that I do not like I live in a house that I do not like I have not seen my family since almost 2 years now I broke up last year which was pretty bad but I still got over it somehow and I just don’t know what I’m doing in my life any more. I just need some kind of help but I don’t know what I want to do. thanks for listening

New to Blue Voices. I am Carolyn and this is my story.

replies: 4

Hi, I am Carolyn and I have recently joined Blue Voices here at Beyond Blue. I am a 52-year-old woman who has had many years of mental health issues. My mental health story started around about the time I was 16 years old when I started to believe that I was not as good as my peers, not as pretty, not as slim and I became sad and withdrawn overnight. These feelings were validated by my own mother who often verbally, mentally and emotionally abused both myself and my younger brother. I was a few months post 21 when I attempted to take my own life for the first time. I was hospitalised for some time but nothing was done to help me with my thoughts and I was diagnosed with a situational crisis, no referral to any Mental Health service, just back to my GP who was also our long term family GP. I was started on my first anti-depressant. The anti-depressants made me extremely hyperactive and increased my mental health symptoms. To cut a very long story short after 3 - 4 years I met my now-husband and things were fabulous for a long time, that was until after we were married and had our first child. I felt that my mental health deteriorate very quickly after our first child and I was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression but I thought it was much more than that. After seeing a new GP I went to the local mental health service and was put on anti-depressants and had cognitive therapy and counselling which did help although I was still hyperactive and at times suicidal I believe was due to the anti-depressants. We had our second child in 2003 and this is when everything came to a head. I again got postnatal depression but had psychotic episodes and was my thought processes was all over the place, I was also having auditory and visual hallucinations. I was sent to our local hospital which was a terrible experience as I am a nurse and at the time I was employed by that health service. Post this episode and several other similar episodes I was diagnosed with BiPolar disorder and commenced on medication and psychiatric treatment plan and for once since aged 16 I felt like I finally had an answer to what was wrong with me. Having a diagnosis of Bipolar has not been easy and I have had many ups and downs during the years. I have joined Blue Voices to discuss my experiences with others and help those who are having difficulties, to be there as a support person and to listen.

Cyclone Alfred - Mental Health Support replies: 1

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Need to start the healing somewhere (first time poster - long time reader) replies: 3

Introducing myself and looking for some guidance replies: 3

New and decided to ask for help replies: 8

Husband cheating replies: 2

New to the forum replies: 2

So much worry replies: 4

Im new here. replies: 3

Want to read good threads about certain topics... Ask others for recommendations replies: 2

Feeling stuck replies: 2

New to Blue Voices. I am Carolyn and this is my story. replies: 4