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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Torn

replies: 2

Recently discovered my wife has been cheating, I don’t want to leave, I don’t want her to think she’s got away with it unscathed, how do I move past it. So confused in how I really feel

New to Beyond Blue

replies: 6

Hi All, I'm new to this group and feeling very very down at the moment. I know that I can get taken down easily when something happens with a woman, it could be small like I have done something wrong and they are upset or they make me upset. And it could be a girlfriend or a friend. It gets me to a point where I can't eat and I'm feeling very tired. I'm a single parent with 2 girls and they notice when I'm down constantly asking if I'm ok? They see it very easily and I don't want them too. I find it hard to focus, get motivated and all I want to do is escape this place. I'm not hurting myself, but sometimes I do think about checking out. I find that when I talk to my friends, I take up a lot of their time and talk about my issues and not theirs. I feel like I use them all the time which is not fair. I never smile and I don't like it when people tell me to smile as I just don't see what there is to smile about. I have techniques to try and get me out of depressive moods that I get myself into but most times - it's just all too hard. This damp and dark feeling that I have I just want it to go away and never return. I know my depression mostly comes from feelings of loneliness and abandonment. But it's just constant. I don't think very highly of myself and I have zero self confidence right now. I'm hoping that there is someone that I can reach out too on this forum or give me a hand. thank you. Geoffik

Need a friend

replies: 3

I'm Gary & I suffer from depression. I have joined beyond blue online forum today & hope to get to know people. I'm very easy going,understanding & sincere & need in my life now interaction & communication with people no matter who they are or where ... View more

im the "New Guy" here

replies: 2

welcome me

Unsure

replies: 3

Hey, I may be new to BeyondBlue, but definitely not new to anxiety/depression. I’m currently 25 years old and first experienced depression in grade 9 due to negative thoughts and minor bullying. At the moment I am in my 2nd year of nursing, working a permanent part time position at a hospital, studying full time and on top of that, having to step up and be a step mum every two weeks for the whole week to my partners son. I have been calling in sick quite a bit lately due to constantly getting whatever is going around the town, and work isn’t happy about it at the moment. I always feel horrible calling in sick, but the few times I went to work sick, I just felt more drained afterwards. Last night I woke up early in the morning having a mini anxiety attack and couldn’t go back to sleep. I’m not enjoying nursing anymore, I’m struggling to keep up with my uni work, doing odd hours at work and looking after a child. I am starting to feel like a failure and it just makes the anxiety attacks worse. I look at my siblings and they seem to be on top with their careers, married, travelling, so forth, and I’m scared to pull out of nursing to try something else, as this would be another change down the line of careers or study I’ve tried over the years. I don’t want to be the girl who “just keeps changing jobs”. But I’m so tired of being mentally and physically ill all the time. I use to be active and exercising 5-6 days a week and eating well, where now I maybe exercise twice a week and either don’t eat or just eat non stop. I’m also scared to talk to my partner about it as he would say he’s always stressed and doesn’t like his job either but still manages to go. We bought a house not long ago, and I just don’t want to add to his stress if I’m not contributing my share in the payments or bills. I feel to ashamed to seek professional help as I feel like my problems are just silly. But I’m at the stage where I just want to give up.

All new to me just saying hi 👋

replies: 6

Hi This is just a bit of an introduction of who I am and a bit about me. I am having alot of anxiety and panic attacks lately and wanted to connect with people who will understand me. The last 4 weeks has been exceptionally hard...I don't know how mu... View more

New to Beyond Blue

replies: 5

Hello, New to these forums. Only jointed today, 26th September. I've tried googling online therapy sessions, however, not quite sure if they are same or scams. I've heard of Beyond Blue which is Australian Anyway, what brings me here is that I'm hoping to get some friendly advice/help as I'm feeling quite depressed at present. I was in a 4year relationship with a man who was a narcissist. After 4 years, his packed up and left and I am struggling to cope and trying to be strong and not contact him. I've watched so many youtube video's on what not to do when a relationship with a narcissist ends, however, hard carry out the advice that is recommended. I was wondering if there is anyone out there who has had any experience with a narcissist person in their lives? Alicia

First timer with multiple diagnoses

replies: 4

Hello friends, I’m feeling quite alone. I don’t know where to begin. I’ve suffered a major depressive disorder since I was a teen. Tried different medications over the years. Some worked better than others. Anxiety was there in the background through my childhood, teens, early adulthood. But it has spiked in the last 5 or so years. I’m now 43. I’m finding it harder to believe things will get any better at this stage. I’ve also had many physical health issues which flared up like never before after I had my second child 10 years ago. Some symptoms have improved, but the majority are getting worse. I was diagnosed with POTS a few years ago but I’ve always had this feeling there’s something else going on. But maybe all my symptoms can be attributed to that diagnosis, and there just isn’t enough clear information out there to confirm or deny this. I cannot keep living in this nightmare. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I’m struggling today and so I’m not even sure if I’m getting my msg across coherently.

New to group

replies: 5

Hi. Im Carolyn and new to this group. I’m feeling very isolated and my partner is cruel to me and my dogs and is a compulsive lier. He keeps bending conversations to make himself look good. He leans over me and out speaks me. I’ve learnt not to say m... View more

Firstly to Acknowledge…

replies: 6

Hey there, Stumbled across these forums and thought perhaps I needed to connect with people who may understand how I’m feeling. I find it incredibly hard to convey that to people because I don’t want to seem like a pre-Madonna; but I’m struggling!! I thought that perhaps if I just admit that to someone it would help start the recovery process again. So thanks for listening, I really appreciate it

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Torn replies: 2

New to Beyond Blue replies: 6

Need a friend replies: 3

im the "New Guy" here replies: 2

Unsure replies: 3

All new to me just saying hi 👋 replies: 6

New to Beyond Blue replies: 5

First timer with multiple diagnoses replies: 4

New to group replies: 5

Firstly to Acknowledge… replies: 6