Hi, I'm new.....kind of

[bridgeridoo]

Hey.

I first joined this time last year when I was deep deep in my worst depression.

I think I found it too overwhelming to really get involved, I feel sad for other people and used to feel guilty that I'm complaining when other;s have it so much worst.

I've come a hella long way in the last 12 months. My life's back on track, and overall, I'm feeling happy. But I'm also coming to terms with the fact that that doesn't mean it's over, I doesn't mean I'm done and am now invincible. I think that's why now I can view this community as something good for my life. A friend who doesn't look at you with sad eyes and say 'Ooooooh, are you getting sick again', or a mum who never falls apart when you have a bad day because she thinks you're falling again, instead of maybe just having a bad day.

Anyway, it feels good to be here. x

[Janey123]

Hi Bridgeridoo,

Sorry to hear you were in such a bad place 12 months ago, and it is really great that you've been doing much better!

You should absolutely only use the forums when it feels right for you, what is that saying..? 'Take what you like and leave the rest!' There will always be someone who has it worse than you, but that doesn't diminish what you are going through. Try not to compare (it is hard, I know).

I like to use the forums as a bit of way to get out of my head. A wise friend taught me that when you're feeling helpless, you help someone, because it shifts you out of that helpless space. So I come to the forums as a place to not only come for support when I need it, but a place where I can attempt to give it too.

It's awesome you feel good here now, I've found the forums are a great non-judgemental space full of compassionate people who really understand. I hope they serve you well 🙂

Janey

[blondguy]

Hi bridgeridoo!

Good on you for having the courage to post 🙂

Im Paul and have been on the forums since January last year after being made redundant with depression and long term anxiety.

I think you are amazing for having come as far as you have in the last 12 months....If and when you wish I hope you can share some of your coping mechanisms. You know that the forums are a safe and rock solid place for you to post.

I also found it overwhelming last year when I joined the forums. I am so glad I did looking back as I have gained so much by being here.

You have made my day when you said that 'it feels good to be here' and thankyou bridgeridoo

I like the forums as they are judgement free and have many gentle people that can be here too 🙂

Great to have you as a part of the Beyond Blue family bridgeridoo]

my kind thoughts

Paul

[Peppermintbach]

Hi bridgeridoo,

Lovely to have you on board 🙂 I would endorse what Janey and Paul have said as they have pretty much said it all.

I think it's wonderful that you have made so much progress in the past year. You clearly worked very hard to get to the point you are at now- much credit to you. Yes, I agree that this is a great place to just "be." It's okay to be up or down (or even both and anything in between) as we welcome the full range of emotions here.

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[geoff]

hello Bridgeridoo, all great replies from those above me and that's how this site works, we are not judgmental nor critical in any sense of the imagination.
Firstly you must never feel as though there is anyone worse of than you, and if you think this, then does it help you, probably not, so each post is taken on it's own merits and certainly not compared to person A or person B, however we might mention our own experiences just to give you an indication that you're not alone.
So much can happen within 12 months and for you to be where you are now must have been an extraordinary achievement, but once we have had this vile illness it stays with us, even though it maybe hidden away and not affecting our every day life, so we are able to get on with what we want to do.
When we're had depression of any type we have to avoid our trigger points, those that could quite easily start our downfall back into depression, but this doesn't mean that there are other situations or circumstances that could begin another trigger, and yes it's happened to me several times, but for me I know that within a couple of weeks it will disappear, however everyone is different.
It's certainly great for you to come back to us. Geoff.