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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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Hello I have bipolar and feel lost

replies: 2

Hello. I am new here. I have bipolar along with anxiety, narcolepsy and physical disabilities that make life hard. I lost my psychologist in 2018 when the government decided they didn't need so many of them. Recently I discovered through someone special to me that my bipolar is not as well managed as I thought. After a major manic episode I went to the doctor and have been waiting to be seen by a psychologist and psychiatrist. Being in the bush there is little support here. Having an extremely abusive daughter and ending a relationship with an alcoholic who I knew for 23 years and being played by someone I've helped alot, 2 surgeries, loosing 2 cats to cancer and almost loosing my grandmother has taken its toll. Lost, lonely, no clue what to do. I'm broken. I have 1 friend in this small town, and another in a town 100km away. Finances are bad so travelling is hard. My family are in the city. To be able to talk to people who understand this illness and can give me advice would be great. I look forward to meeting new people here. Thank you

Welcome to my World, I promise it's better than it sounds.

replies: 3

Hi there. I'm feeling pretty lost and stuck at the moment. Isolated and undersupported. A friend made a joke about how the challenges that I've faced in life are me travelling through 9 layers of hell. It felt rather apt at the time, and gave hope that there might eventually be an end to the struggle. I know that's not really the case, that the fight doesn't end; it merely morphs into a different battle. Anxiety, depression, ADHD, complex emotional trauma- the list goes on. My latest struggle is finding a new home after being sexually assaulted and having my partner of 6 years leave me for cheating in the aftermath. Money is tight, stress is high, and I don't feel like I'm making any headway. I've never lived on my own, don't feel prepared to do so, but moving back in with my parents isn't an option. It's terrifying. I'm in pretty bad shape to be starting such a journey. I want someone to hold my hand, encourage me, believe in me and help me push through it all. I just don't know how to become that person. How do you build yourself up when your own mind works against you?

Husband has left should I be angry or worried?

replies: 2

Hi, thanks for the join. Hope I can get some help as so confused. husband of 26 years has suffered depression for a few years. Since he set up his own business this year and me being overseas for 4 months, he has hit rock bottom. he moved out October to stay with friend as he said me and adult son and the house made him feel trapped. We have not trapped him at all. Christmas week we found out he had fell out with friend and was sleeping in car. He came back home. He said he’d not been in contact with me, his sons or our new granddaughter as he’d contemplated suicide and didn’t want to get close to us. he stayed here for a week and went for a drink with friend on Thursday and said he was staying over. I texted and rang him as was worried as how he is, couldn’t imagine him conversation with anybody or drink. He was really off on the phone so an hour later I texted r u seeing someone. No answer but following afternoon he texted yes I am sorry. I’ve met with him and he said he’s known her a few months but only seeing her 2 weeks. He’s moved in with her.sleep in same bed but done nothing as he can’t perform and hasn’t been able for a few years. he said she has had mental health in the past and he can talk to her. she knows he’s married. should I be angry or worried about him. He’s chosen a woman he can’t perform with over his family.had us all worried about ending his life. so sorry for the long post x

Down the Rabbit Hole...Again....

replies: 13

Hi I suffer from severe anxiety and depression and health anxiety. Over the last three months I have been sure I have had some awful condition due to multiple symptoms. Initially started as chest pain. Had xray which was clear. Then the pain began in my neck and throat. I have seen two doctors WEEKLY since October and they have checked me thoroughly and stated my throat is fine and there are no swollen lymph nodes. I have had a full blood count which came back unremarkable. I am just back from yet another embarrassing doctors visit whereby I again burst into tears and stated that I feel bad as I can't believe they are correct as the symptoms are crucifying. Today my GP actually wrote a letter to me to read when I freak out...stating that he has seen me weekly for five weeks and checked everything and in his opinion there is nothing physically wrong but that I am suffering major anxiety. He has prescribed some medication for me. I am in such a state. I barely sleep and I feel almost dissociated from life as every waking second is concerned with the multiple awful feelings I have...which are relentless! Pain in upper back, neck, ear, throat, behind ear, around eye socket....I have been 'diagnosed' in the past with Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia; Temperomandibular Joint Dysfunction and now to add to the list...Sternocleidomastoid Syndrome! I believe all the doctors are thoroughly sick to death of me and I don't blame them; I am sick to death of me too. I spend all day stretching, taking remedy rescue and covering myself in tiger balm and lavender oil...drinking gallons of water to try to quell the dry mouth and throat...googling remedies for all of my supposed conditions.....I am at my wit's end. If anyone can help me I will be very grateful.

Sad and not dealing with life's issues

replies: 3

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 .

Parenting on empty and noise sensitivity

replies: 3

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?

Hey (warning: bad depressions)

replies: 11

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

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 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?

Mental illness and isolation

replies: 2

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.

Understanding ASD and repetition of sentences

replies: 5

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

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hello I have bipolar and feel lost replies: 2

Welcome to my World, I promise it's better than it sounds. replies: 3

Husband has left should I be angry or worried? replies: 2

Down the Rabbit Hole...Again.... replies: 13

Sad and not dealing with life's issues replies: 3

Parenting on empty and noise sensitivity replies: 3

Hey (warning: bad depressions) replies: 11

Tmay replies: 2

Mental illness and isolation replies: 2

Understanding ASD and repetition of sentences replies: 5