Members new and old, introduce yourselves here

[Chris_B]

Hi everyone,

This is (what will hopefully become) a mega-thread for members, new and old, to introduce themselves.  I'll kick off:

My name is Chris Banks and I’m the online communities manager at beyondblue. Basically, I’m here to help out, contribute to discussions, and answer any questions you may have about beyondblue. I work with a team of moderators behind-the-scenes who keep the forums running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

I’m 37, originally from New Zealand, and have worked as a filmmaker, journalist, and musician.  I’ve spent a good chunk of time working in the mental health sector too. I have lived experience of bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety, and have been living in Melbourne for nearly two years. In my spare time I enjoy movies, music, hanging out with mates, and I barrack for Hawthorn, much to the disgust of some of our regular members!

I’m not a psychologist or counsellor (although I have seen a fair few of them), so I can’t give medical advice. Like everyone else here, I can provide peer support only.
I really enjoy being part of the community and virtually meeting the many different people of all ages who come through everyday, even if they're not feeling the best when they arrive on the doorstep. Hopefully in your time here you'll feel less alone, and pick up some tips and encouragement for the journey.  

(passes on the talking stick)

PLEASE NOTE: This thread is for introductions only, if you have an issue you would like to discuss ongoing with the community, please start a new thread with your topic in the appropriate section.

[Jo3]

Thanks Chris for starting this post.

OK, My name is Jo, I am 48 married for 28 yrs and have 3 children (22, 21, 18). All living at home still plus one has their partner living with us as well. Oh and also my mother in law lives with us too.

I have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress as a result of memories of my childhood sexual abuse which happened over 40 years ago.

I enjoy reading, knitting, swimming, walking down the beach with our kelpie Jersey and catching up with friends. I also enjoy travelling and hoping to travel south east coast of Australia next year with my husband.  I work part time.

I really enjoy being on this forum because it helps me see that I am not the only person suffering. And it gives me strength to know that others on here are so supportive, genuinely caring and non judgmental.

I cannot recommend BB highly enough as the support given to me has made me stronger and I know that I have made so many friends on here. Truly amazing people.

Take care everyone

Jo xx

[AGrace]

Hi Everyone, 

My name is Amber,  I'm 34 years old, I'm not married but very happily living with my partner of 5 years and our cat Loulou. I'm originally from Adelaide,  however for work reasons I ended up moving to Melbourne about 6 years ago. I used to be a training manager for a luxury cosmetics brand, however I made the decision to leave my employment late last year to focus on my health (I now call myself the CEO of me!!)

I enjoy spending time with loved ones, reading, chocolate, travelling, walking the streets of Paris once a year (my partner is French), contributing, movies, and warm weather.

Mental illness struck me at 15 when I lost my first boyfriend to suicide. I ended up with Post Traumatic Stress and Depression. Since then I've been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety,  and Depression. I've come a long way since being diagnosed and now feel like it's my time to give back.

In joining the forums I feel so supported, and get a sense of achievement through lending an ear to listen,  or in some instances supporting others through my experience. 

Look forward to hearing more about each of you too.

AG

[Anali]

Thank you, Chris and Jo, for providing an opening for newbies - me being one. I've read a lot of posts/threads and couldn't decide where exactly to slot my intro/hello into.

I'm struggling terribly at the moment, however reading the online forums reiterates that although everyone's circumstances and experiences are unique, I AM NOT ALONE with the myriad of feelings, emotions and pain. Thank you EVERYONE for having the courage to trust and share. I wish there was some kind of emotional mirror I could hold up to reflect back the glimmer of hope I've gotten from you all.

Much appreciated....

[white knight]

Hi Chris and BB forum contributors.

I am 58yo and diagnosed with a cocktail of issues originally with ADHD and bipolar 1 in 2003 then 2009 correctly this time with bipolar 2, dysthymia, anxiety and depression. My life really commenced around 2010 after the correct medication took effect. I cant stress hard enough for sufferers to get the right diagnosis and medication to suit. It has made a BIG difference.

I believe my mother had BPD but her generation or denial meant we children had to seek the likely reason we were emotionally on a downhill slide. My sister and I werent aware until our 40's how moody, anxious and depressed were really were. We kind of just thought we always had reasons to get angry or sad. But we are well educated in this now and last year after leaving my business and retiring early my mental health has improved out of sight.....most of the time!! This has unshackled me somewhat enough to pass on my knowledge of my experiences...to help others in distress. By listening to others there is a 'silent' benefit in that you learn more and more about symptoms that in the end makes you stronger. 

There is a humbleness in helping an anonymous soul out there, someone that you never know, has picked themselves up and continued on...all because of words of support. That they dont have to suffer alone without others that can relate to them.

I have around 250 poems written over a 20 years period. It's my therapy, my outlet and my inner self...all on paper.  Most are sad poems written while in depression. The more I recover the less I can write.  I've been on this forum for only 2 months now and it is a part of me. I often think the posts here would assist students studying psychiatry. It is so informative.

I will never give up on anything. I've been to the hell that many people here have been to and survived. I WONT ever go back there. I am positive and have learned how to remain so. I hope I can, with my words, inject others with this contagious attitude. Yeh, life is tough and our illnesses are often here to stay, but it doesnt mean we cant make the most of a difficult place we find ourselves in through no fault of our own.

Thankyou Beyond Blue for this forum. 

[Progmaster]

Hello all, I'm Matt and I am 42. I live with my partner of 16 years and our pet greyhounds. I was first diagnosed with clinical depression by a GP when I was 25. Last year I was diagnosed as Asperger's which didn't really surprise anyone. I have also just been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder II. My interests are music, movies and books. I think this forum is a great idea and look foward to sharing my stories and learning from yours. Love and peace to all 🙂

[geoff]

dear Christopher, what a great thread to start and already we have 2 newcomers who have now joined us, so that's great.

Where to start but here I go, I have a twin brother who has never had any of the problems that I have been through, and I am so pleased for him.

I have had OCD for 54 years, and this year I'm turning 60 years old, and have been on this site for about 9 years, responding to many people with depression.

I sustained a head injury with a blood clot on the brain in '83, and probably my own depression had started then, maybe before hand, but let's leave it at '83.

I was diagnosed with clinical depression in '95 where I tried to end my life, so at that stage I was a builder/handyman with about 6 months work in front of me, but it then collapsed, I couldn't do anything because of my depression.

I was given many AD's to try but eventually the one I am taking now I've been on for a long time.

I self medicated using alcohol and was called an alcoholic and definitely a cupboard drinker, because my 2 sons would always get rid of any if they found it.

Had a vehicle accident back in '97 which also killed me, but it has now left me with hip trouble, having 3 ops. and facing another one.

Was married for 25 years to my only love, but divorced because she gave up on trying to help me and hated my drinking, although now we still talk, kiss and have a cuddle, and if there is a sticking point between us, we just go our separate ways.

Now I have lived by myself for 9 years and that's when I bought a computer and then found this site, and it was at that point I started to crawl out of my depression, which I always thought would be impossible, although I have had a couple of relapses, but I knew that I would get better, so all I could do was ride these bad moments out, so that I would feel better again.

My eldest son also has OCD but the youngest doesn't.

I love my dogs and now have Moo-Moo, but lost my other puppie who I had for 18 years, which broke my heart and that's when I had a relapse last year.

It's such a long road for the many people still suffering from depression, and I never thought that I would be free from it, and although you are still struggling from it, I know the pain, but it can happen, and we have had several people who have changed so much by being on this site, but I have to say that maybe none of us are ever free from illness, and this includes me. Geoff.

[Girl_Anachronism]

Hi All, 

I am 25, recently divorced with no children but two lovely cats. I live with my best friend and her husband while I get back on my feet post divorce but would love a place of my own, with my cats and I. I have blue-violet hair and am a Crazy Cat Lady in training. 

I have suffered from depression in my teenage years and was hit severely with it back in November last year after going down hill for twelve months prior. For the past two months I have also been suffering from severe anxiety and agoraphobia. For the past three months I have also been suffering from Non-epileptic seizures which are still being investigated. I have also struggled with self harm addictions and am a Suicide Survivor.

My other interests lie in art, reading, writing novels, anime, manga, music, general geekery, gaming (video and tabletop), embroidery and costume making. All of these things I have struggled with doing the past 7 months, but am trying to rekindle. Despite having almost completed a degree, I don't know what I want to do with my life other than I want to help people. I just haven't decided how. 

Beyondblue has literally saved my life, multiple times over. I can honestly say that without these forums I would not be here right now. I try help whoever I can, when i can, because aside from wanting to help, I feel my experience has a silver lining. I can offer peer support and know what it is like to have been chased by the Black Dog to the darkest edge of the universe. I have lived to tell the tale, and continue my fight against this illness. If I can help just one other person fight their own illness, it will have been worth it. 

GA

[Ean]

Hi everyone,

I'm Ean, it has taken several attempts to actually register and get here....phew! I've kind of had the impression that Beyond Blue was for the young and target populations, I am relieved, reading some posts, that me at 55 is OK.

My first post...I got a trigger warning...ouch. A good thing...I'd just like to express a huge apology ahead of time, "I am sorry" (and I shall apologise as need be) for my potential subjective (from the heart/without thought) and often metaphorical (riddles and rhymes) language. I am poorly socialised and may .... waffle!, rant, be black and white about stuff/?arrogant?, me me me. Anyway I am very grateful to moderators and know that I am a humanitarian with an over active empathy for all, the last thing I would want is to harm anyone in anyway. Please check all my posts.

 I don't know what to say about me...depression.

I was diagnosed, by a GP in my early 30's as being clinically depressed (on anti-depressants since). It was obvious because of a history of neglect and abuse throughout my childhood and the ongoing struggle living with Spina Bifida. Not sure if I will ever share the gory details of my experience voluntarily but hope to share my experience through people here who truly know something of my experience. That sounds very patronising, but I really feel for others and hope to always encourage the positive path.

LOL only 2,500 characters, I'll be keeping it brief then...lol

Depression...I have been in the darkest clouds of depression without a doubt, I think forever (my father denied paternity and accused my mother of adultery when I was born with Spina Bifida, my mother blamed me for all that was wrong in her life, and kept me hidden) This is it the horrors will come out....I fear scaring people. But this is 'all' history.

Today...well I am here on Beyond Blue, and in many ways is the end of an exhaustive search for mind peace, there is nowhere else. At the same time having spent the last 5 years studying Social Science (both a gift and a curse, this knowledge and understanding of the world I don't fit into)...I am seeing my ""depression"" the cloud I've lived under, as expected, can be defined as unrecognised trauma and trauma's throughout my life, and ongoing social oppression. I have also been reading and researching Neuro Plasticity and potential deal with my "depression" with thought.....hello!. I love it (nearly out of characters).

I'll be in the trauma & cronic illness thread

[Sash978]

Hi everyone,

My name is Sasha, I am 35 years old.  I first suspected I had some sort of depression was 14 years ago when my dad moved to USA, he was my only family member who I had contact with.  It killed me, felt alone even though I had my now ex boyfriend to support me.  

My ex of 14 years decided to break off our relationship, that's when I was officially diagnosed with depression and anxiety.  I have battled with the help of Anti-depressants however I have recently slipped backwards when I lost my job that I had only just got and I loved working there.  I am working on doing things differently this time.  I get out of the house even if I don't feel like it, I get up and do things I don't just sit on the couch and eat.  I am proud of how I have handled this since I told my housemate (last friday).  

I joined Beyond Blue to get some advice on how to fall asleep easy, I have never been able to fall asleep straight away but not being able to fall asleep until 6.30am was the breaking point for me.