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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Self loathing and self doubt

replies: 8

Hello, how normal is it to often have self doubt and strange feeling of self loathing.? Do other people have this or is it just me? My siblings are all confident and probably quite arrogant and I seemed to have missed out on that gene. I am humble to the point of having no pride. I wish I knew what pride felt like. I feel like an alien and an imposter. I am very lonely and although people are friendly to me in the small town I have moved to - people have very established friendship groups. And people don’t think to include me because everyone assumes that everyone has friends. I am always welcoming to new comers and I have noticed that not many people are. People are always having get together s end socialising- but but me. I have solid friendships with people who tony live here- but I have only managed to make aquaintences. . I live on my own with my child age ten. I do not have a job at the moment but not from lack of trying either. I am u der enormous stress with my ex. But I realise others go through this too. I ended up in a dv relationship because of my low self esteem .

Thoughts racing, my own harshest critic

replies: 6

Hi there. Just found out I originally joined in 2018. My mind is on repeat of my last week with highlights of a stuff up with work colleague who has already forgiven me. She said to move on and I am trying but the isolation of our world is making it harder. Forgive myself, what a foreign concept I have worked on for 30+ years and still can't do.My down moments are increasing. My partner has become even more of a hermit resulting in my days either at home or work. Home used to be my happy place, even in the rentals I have lived in for the last 15 years. I could always make homey, welcoming and safe. Now it is just a house. I know I need to return to counselling and be more active. The joys of living with chronic depression .... fall in a black hole, knowing physically actions needed to get out, no motivation to do said actions, wearing a mask of happiness to the world.

Am I signed in? My Alcohol/drug support worker recomennded I try beondblue as I'm on my way to a lengthy jail sentence

replies: 6

I have no idea if if spent the last hour cursing at this phone or the site. I'm finding it difficult to um..navigate. I need help, I was ready to check out now im feeling worse. Why do they make it so difficult to ask for help? I'm one of luck ones that learnt to type. Most blokes my age refuse to learn so ,where would they go. I'm at a loss why people hold beondblue so high when an year 10 educated man finds a big pot of nothing just like rest of gov run bandaids.

Hola everyone

replies: 7

Hola everyone, I am more that happy to join in this community. I am Lorena, from South America. I have been living in Australia 6 years and I really love this country. I am social communicator but once I moved to this country I had to start from the beginner, initially as I could not speak english I was very afraid about everything here, but the life has been showing me how strong we can be and how with perseverance and patience we can adapt to new environments. I love animals, meditation, yoga and dancing. I strong believe is important give us at less 5 minutes everyday to connect with ourselves and also I enjoy having time with friends and family. As a part to find my purpose of life I realised I want to study community services - mental health. Supporting people and listening diferents perspectives is what make me happy life, that is why I am here. Hoping we can have lots conversation around. Chao, Lorena

Taking on everyone else's worries

replies: 5

Howdy, Just feeling like I have fallen into a role at work, where I am the platform for everyone to offload onto. I am manager at work. Dealing with staff, people above me and clients. I am exhausted. I have been avoiding even going to the supermarket just in case i become a close contact and have to be tested. I cannot have a day away from work as my responsibility to everyone is far greater than what I need for myself to keep going.

Introduction

replies: 2

Hi everyone, been diagnosed with anxiety 8 years ago,thought it was about time to stop being quiet about it and speak up and share with like minded people.

Hello

replies: 3

Hello, I've opened this account a while back but this is my first time interacting here. I'm not very good at explaining what my issues are and unironically that's one of them. What I do know is that I need help with so many things and letting them out may take time for me. Though I can say is that I can't find reasons to stay motivated and all of the simplest tasks feel like an effort to me. I'm hoping I can get something out of this, I've been in a pool of despair for as long as I can remember and I need reason to carry on with my life. I look forward to meeting new people here.

Feeling Helpless

replies: 8

Hi there, This is the first time posting on here, but I feel desperate. My husband has depression and anxiety and it has slowly been getting worse in the last 10 years but only really noticing it more in the last 2 years since he retired and Covid hasn't helped either. He has pushed away most of his friends and some family, but the most upsetting thing is communication has broken down between his eldest daughter and himself, whom he has always been very close to while she was growing up, but since she got married things have not been good and he cannot tolerate her husband. He has been to four psychiatrists over the years to try and get help, but it is so hard to find one that he can connect with and feel like they understand him. He also was seeing a counsellor but that hasn't helped either. Now his daughter has had enough and he just feels this barrier between them and he gets anxiety and just wants to melt away when he actually does see her. It is so sad and hard for me to watch him shut down and I try really hard to support him and let him know that I am here for him but he just shuts me out too. I am so worried about him and I want him to try and get help again but he doesn't want to. He stopped eating and drinking this time and I have managed to make him eat a bit and have some fluids, and I thought he was starting to come out of the depression , but today he is shutting down again. I feel like I am walking on eggshells most of the time, I leave him alone because I know he wants to be very quiet, but its so hard, I feel like I have lost my husband and he is just an empty shell. He said he doesn't want to kill himself but he just doesn't want to be here anymore, that's why he stops eating and drinking hoping he will fade away. Usually when he has a downer it lasts 3-4 days but this has been going on for about 8 days now. I just feel helpless and not sure what to do anymore. Just wondering if anyone else is going through the same thing and how they cope.

Name 3 things that you like about yourself

replies: 10

During this time of uncertainty with covid and all the lockdowns we have been experiencing lets share some positivity and self love. I will start with my 3 things...... 1. I am caring 2. I am smart 3. I am healthy Your turn!

Email counselling

replies: 5

Hey everyone, this might be an odd request, but does anyone know of any free counselling services done by email? I sometimes find it hard to express myself, so email would be best for me to communicate my issues. Thank you in advance!

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Self loathing and self doubt replies: 8

Thoughts racing, my own harshest critic replies: 6

Am I signed in? My Alcohol/drug support worker recomennded I try beondblue as I'm on my way to a lengthy jail sentence replies: 6

Hola everyone replies: 7

Taking on everyone else's worries replies: 5

Introduction replies: 2

Hello replies: 3

Feeling Helpless replies: 8

Name 3 things that you like about yourself replies: 10

Email counselling replies: 5