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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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Hi, everyone. My name is David & I'm new.

replies: 6

I'm hoping to get some support and advice for my anxiety/panic attacks/depression as I contemplate suicide almost on a daily basis. I'm at the end of my tether.

Hi. New Here. I just can't today. I just can;t stop crying over the narcissistic abuse I ave survived.

replies: 10

I just can't today. I can't write without emotion. I am completely connected to the abuse that happened to me and this is a good thing, only when you write about this-I want to self-publish an ebook-they expect you to be rational and unemotional. I cannot be uneotional how can anyone who has been tortured be unemotional. I feel so much pressure to write as though nothing has happened. ON Amazon people write books and none of them are emotional. But I FEEL what happened to me. A counselor said this si good, and that people who do not become emotional are disconnected or compartmentalizing. But when I read Quora and see people who have gone through NArc abuse by a mother and elder sibling and they are totally disconnected i forget what the counselor told me-that they are either Asperger people, or disconnected. Anyway. i am crying right now as I write this because it hurts what my mother did to me. I wrote about my abuse but my post was removed. Sorry if there is no context to this post but suffice to say I have been tortured by several narcissists. scapegoated, sleep deprived, starved and gaslit.

Hi

replies: 5

Hi, am new here and hoping for advice from people who may know what I am experiencing because I am having trouble explaining it. My whole life I have struggled to show emotion. To let people in. I cannot remember a single time in my life i was able to express to anyone my feelings comfortably. I have suffered a lot because of it in the last few years first losing my children because I could not stand up for myself to my ex Narc husband and now most recently the love of my life and partner of 7 years. I make terrible mistakes turning away from pain and then don’t know how to even make up for it. Even now, it’s taken months for me to cry and it I broke down for half a second and it’s like my brain just won’t allow it and I just shut down and go into practical mode or defense mode. I’m so sick of it and really scared how it is effecting the people I love most. I have five young children who I love more than anything in the world but even to them I cannot show emotion. What is wrong with me. I feel it i just can’t express ir. I’m an ice queen and I hate myself and I can’t get away from me and I feel like I’m drowning

Depression and anxiety help

replies: 1

Hi, I would like some help and info on how to help my boyfriend whom has depression and anxiety. I dont have any experience with these and I am scared that I will say or do the wrong thing. I am trying to be encouraging and supporting but not sure if I really am. We are a very new couple and are still getting to know each other. I know he was on medication but has stopped taking them but I dont know when he stopped or how long he was on them for. I also know he wont speak to a counselor about it as he doesnt believe that they can help him. I would appreciate any help or comments I can get. Thanks.

Hi Everyone, First post.

replies: 2

A little about my situation, My husband was a heavy drinker for over 25 years. Drinking started everyday at 11 am, earlier if I was away from the house. Previous nights were forgotten by him in the morning. He also has Narcissistic traits such as gaslighting, manipulation, name calling and being very controlling. The last decade has seen me spiral into an all-time emotional low, I showed all the signs of anxiety and depression. I didn’t seek help although it was suggested to me by many friends. I guess I was in denial. Slowly I became stronger by reading forums such as ones found on quorra (similar to these). And found that I wasn’t going crazy and I wasn’t alone in this. I educated myself. Recently I felt I was about to slip down that hole I’d worked so hard to get out of...I left him three months ago. Less than a week after I left he stopped drinking. Now he states he’s a changed man and is begging me back. What brings me to this forum is I’m ready to acknowledge that my emotional baggage is bringing me down. I have left my family home and feel a tremendous sense of relief, a true weight has been lifted and I’m no where near as anxious and I’m happier. But I have a lot of anger and resentment. I see the negative when I have always seen the positive. And this is what makes me sad. And also confused. I don’t know what I am hoping for but this is my first acknowledgment and writing this has helped already.

Hi I’m new here and seek advice <3

replies: 1

Hey guys/gals I’m new here, so nice to meet you and thank you in advance for any help and information given to me on my next journey to save my youngest brother to not fall victim to mental health. 3 years ago I set on a journey to save a brother from ice addiction of 8 years. During this time he had endured jail and was released into my care , long story short I moved him from vic and now his been sober and has finally found a job and 7 weeks going strong in that job it was a hell of a ride I do have many many grey hairs now in 3 years but I’m so proud he is alive and well and has started to change his life for the better!! But now I have my baby brother with severe mental health needing my help and I don’t know where to start, he has finally decided to move to nsw and we have set a date (hopefully we will be out of lockdown) I know I have to wait until his here to start him on a mental health care plan so I need advise how to write down some future goals and set some boundaries the thing is my brother is going on 26, his never held a job and lives on a computer so where do I start without forcing and dictating? Any advice is going to be a great help thank you

i dont understand anything anymore

replies: 3

first time using this and asking someone for help but here we go so ive really been struggling with my gender identity lately and i figured i would like to use they/he pronouns but my girlfriend is a lesbian. im really scared to tell her because I don’t want her to dump me and I love her. i know im young but i don’t want to be alone again. any tips or ideas for this? also how do i stop thinking about intrusive suicidal thoughts, its really scary and i don’t want to act on them sorry if this is a lot

Hi Everyone

replies: 5

Just joined the forum after looking at it for a couple of days. I find it really hard to share and socialise with people. At the moment I am really anxious about I don't know what. I live alone, have had depression most of my life and have been able to cope the last few years without meds. I just wish I could understand what is causing the anxiety. During the day it's not too bad but of a night it just lets rip, I try to keep my mind occupied and the moment I lose focus it just builds and builds. Can anyone suggest some strategies to control it or mention things that works for them. Thanks.

Hiiiiii

replies: 3

Hi everyone I'm new here. I suffer from depression and anxiety, so if anyone wants to chat or anything I'll be here.

Think I am depressed

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I have been feeling like this for.a while now. I am ADHD so.am used to being overwhelmed by stimulus in fact the lockdowns have been welcomed in my mind. It has forced me to slow down without feeling guilty. But this feeling is different, I feel unmotivated, do not want to go to any social events, feel tired and almost flat, like I have no feelings. For example, today my partner has gone to the local pub to watch some live bands, I sit at home staring at my phone. I got my boots and jacket on and don't have the motivation to go for a walk. I have also been obsessing a bit over routine stuff like, brushing my teeth, cleaning the bathroom and am comforted by menial tasks like washing my face and squeezing the cloth.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Hi, everyone. My name is David & I'm new. replies: 6

Hi. New Here. I just can't today. I just can;t stop crying over the narcissistic abuse I ave survived. replies: 10

Hi replies: 5

Depression and anxiety help replies: 1

Hi Everyone, First post. replies: 2

Hi I’m new here and seek advice <3 replies: 1

i dont understand anything anymore replies: 3

Hi Everyone replies: 5

Hiiiiii replies: 3

Think I am depressed replies: 1