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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 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

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Blazedrag20 Lost my first full time corporate job
  • replies: 4

Hey everyone I lost my first ever corporate job I had for six months after I graduated from university few days ago. I am feeling lost, shocked, and my confidence greatly impacted

Hey everyone I lost my first ever corporate job I had for six months after I graduated from university few days ago. I am feeling lost, shocked, and my confidence greatly impacted

bluish New member here
  • replies: 1

Hey everybody -- New member here. Not really sure what I'm seeking, maybe some likeminded or non-judgmental people to converse with.I moved to Australia a few years ago. Got married and had a baby, marriage has fallen apart, ended up in a women's she... View more

Hey everybody -- New member here. Not really sure what I'm seeking, maybe some likeminded or non-judgmental people to converse with.I moved to Australia a few years ago. Got married and had a baby, marriage has fallen apart, ended up in a women's shelter with my children for victims of DV recently for many horrendous reasons.It's been a real slog pulling myself together and starting again from scratch alone in a foreign country.Hoping to gain maybe a few online friends along my journey of healing.

indigo22 New to the Forums
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone, have just signed up and introducing myself. I am a woman in my 60's and have pretty much been through the works. I grew up in a dysfunctional family. Have been dealing with Dysthymic Disorder and Major Depression since my teenage years. ... View more

Hi everyone, have just signed up and introducing myself. I am a woman in my 60's and have pretty much been through the works. I grew up in a dysfunctional family. Have been dealing with Dysthymic Disorder and Major Depression since my teenage years. Have lost 3 family members to cancer, one family member and a best friend in road accidents, and another best friend to a rare disease. Have been married, separated and divorced (no children). Have had and recovered from a rare cancer. Have one sibling left who is a narcissist and has resented me from the day I was born, needless to say when I moved, I gave no indication of where I was going. I was already struggling emotionally when I started caring for family members during their cancers, my father died first but when my mother died just 10 weeks after my brother, I felt completely broken (like humpty-dumpty). My Major Depression progressed to Chronic status and had suicidal ideation for the next few years. I moved more than 300kms away to leave it all behind but after 1 year found out I had cancer in 2016. I am glad to say that I am doing much better these days and would like to put my many years of experience into helping other people not make the same mistakes that I made.

Keeping-On Newbie on this forum
  • replies: 4

Hello everyone - I haven’t been here before. Depression is my big issue and I’m hoping to both give and receive support

Hello everyone - I haven’t been here before. Depression is my big issue and I’m hoping to both give and receive support

H-app_y Young at Heart
  • replies: 10

Hello . Just joined the beyond blue forums. Thank you for having me. I've suffered anxiety depression ptsd for many years and recently went through a traumatic experience that had affected me so much that I feel I'm regressing instead being stabilise... View more

Hello . Just joined the beyond blue forums. Thank you for having me. I've suffered anxiety depression ptsd for many years and recently went through a traumatic experience that had affected me so much that I feel I'm regressing instead being stabilised. All suggestions welcomed of how to get over this . Thank you for reading.

Guest_96024612 Reaching Out
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I am a first time poster. I am 46(f) with PTSD and major depression. I am just trying to find support after a very difficult couple of months. I have been in hospital for a month (my 17th admission) and have had 16 ECTs and 98 TMS, and I don’... View more

Hi all, I am a first time poster. I am 46(f) with PTSD and major depression. I am just trying to find support after a very difficult couple of months. I have been in hospital for a month (my 17th admission) and have had 16 ECTs and 98 TMS, and I don’t feel as though I am getting any better. The emotional pain feels so physical some times, and with my last ECT tomorrow morning, I don’t know where to turn. I really hope these forums have people who have ideas on how I can start to get my life back.Thanks so much.

berry-waffle I need a friend
  • replies: 4

I am a 24F international uni student. I've been dealing with anxiety for a few years now and was recently diagnosed with depression. I do have some friends, but I am unable to open up to anybody about it as I don't really know what it is that would h... View more

I am a 24F international uni student. I've been dealing with anxiety for a few years now and was recently diagnosed with depression. I do have some friends, but I am unable to open up to anybody about it as I don't really know what it is that would help me. I feel very lonely. I have tried to step out and talk to people but it is always at a surface level and I find myself withdrawing very quickly. I tried therapy but I don't think I found the right counsellor to help me understand what's wrong with me. I am terrified of being left behind. I am very close to my family but they are far away in a different country. I have withdrawn from my friends back home too and now I am beyond the point of reconnecting with anybody. I feel miserable. I really need a friend and a tight long hug

Sienna_12 little intro
  • replies: 2

um hello i'm sienna i'm 12 yeah i know i'm still a kid i guess but yeah anyway i have ADHD and anxiety and in my first year of high school and i recently lost 3 friends over a stupid thing and honestly its hard because i feel like people never unders... View more

um hello i'm sienna i'm 12 yeah i know i'm still a kid i guess but yeah anyway i have ADHD and anxiety and in my first year of high school and i recently lost 3 friends over a stupid thing and honestly its hard because i feel like people never understand me at all . i did go to therapy last year and it did help a bit but i'm not completely better and yeah i like art , music and watching shows( ps : i'm currently watching house MD on Netflix and its a good show) i'm free for people to talk to if they need even though i'm young i listen and respect how people feel and thats about i thats my intro [ i'm sorry for any spelling mistakes i cant spell even if it was to save a life ] [ oh and imma put in a few jokes to cheer people up!] JOKES 1)What fuel does Harry Potter put in his car? Expecto Petroleum 2)How do the Malfoys enter a building? They Slytherin 3)Why can't Harry tell the difference between a cooking pot and his best friend? Because they're both cauldron 4)Dogs can't operate MRI machines. But catscan 5)Where do rainbows go when they've been bad? To prism, so they have time to reflect on what they've done. 6)Why doesn't Snape own a barbecue? Because he roasts his food verbally. 7) i got ketchup in my eyes now i have heinz sight Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything 9)What do dentists call their x-rays? Tooth pics

Frannie Just joined
  • replies: 1

So to be factual I'm 66, highly intelligent but born of elderly parents, only child. Mum had me on meds from an early age because i was anxious but the best thing i ever did was move out of home to go to uni! Mum tried to stop me doing that. Dad died... View more

So to be factual I'm 66, highly intelligent but born of elderly parents, only child. Mum had me on meds from an early age because i was anxious but the best thing i ever did was move out of home to go to uni! Mum tried to stop me doing that. Dad died when I was only 20. So first marriage - too early and I walked out on him as i was sick of his business ethics (or lack of). Second relationship 19 years, ended with him having an online affair four years ago. I kicked him out. All to do with development stuff (land). So I was saddled with a place I couldn't sell. All our retirement plans went up the spout . Under a hardship provision I just sold recently and am now moving. So much stress. So much a holding pattern. Settlement now end October. Hopefully a new chapter. But my wine consumption is bad. Unfortunately I don't get hangovers so not much negative feedback. But still trying to lose the 4 kg I put on earlier this year with my hip replacements. I'm normally a really fit active person. But I'm not that person right now - probably half that person. I'm not happy with myself.