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Members new and old, introduce yourselves here

Chris_B
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

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.


835 Replies 835

Daffodil
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member
Thanks so much Danny. I have wanted to do this for a long time & I think it will also help me as much as it will hopefully help others who are struggling. I can't wait to get out in the community to share my story & personal battles.  I think it will be very invigorating & lots of my friends & family are very proud of me & think I will do really well as I am usually a very bubbly, outgoing & caring person.  Take care, Carolyn 

Hi Carolyn, thanks for your reply. My saying "not worth posting" was to imply that there are others in a far worse situation than I and undermining myself is what I do - low self esteem and little self-confidence.

 

I have good mates but they are not the type to discuss depression with. We've shared a lot of good and bad together but they are the "snap yourself out of it" type of blokes.

I saw my GP on Friday and he has arranged a mental health plan to see a psychologist. I've seen her before and she helped so perhaps this time she can help me with positive strategies to remove the self doubt.

Thank you for volunteering your time to help others. Society needs people like you and as a previous volunteer of another community organisation I see that others are not as willing to give of their time as they once were. I'm sure you'll find the experience very worthwhile and we'll appreciate your efforts. Hats off to you!!

Good luck, well done and take care,

GuvsDodge.

 

Gday Danny.

Thanks to you too for your help. I'd like to organise a w/e with my boys but I don't see it as a success. Several weeks back I suggested that we make Sunday night catchup night. The first was good. The second I sent the eldest home due to his attitude, it did not help any.I hope to make tomorrow third time lucky!! I struggle to have a conversation with them. The two of them are very different in interests. It might be better to plan two w/e's one for each but I'm worried the outcome might make things worse rather than better. Now that I've introduced myself, I should take my issues from original post to the other forums? Cheers mate, Guv. 

JAI007
Community Member

Hi, I'm James.. I'm 42, living in Melbourne for 12 years.. Am thinking I'm suffering depression of some kind.. I feel like I'm going thru a mid life crisis.. I play drums in a band and have a couple of jobs, one setting up concerts and events and the other, in tv, working with an Art Department, setting up sets to be filmed on.. 

I've been in a long distance relationship with a beautiful German woman for 4 years, which has just come to an end yesterday.. I scared myself into not moving to be with her out of my feeling of not being good enough and not having qualified skills to survive in Dresden.. What work could I do? Am only qualified for labouring the jobs, although my life skills would enable me to take on many differing roles I believe..

She's just had enough of our situation and has broken up with me.. i'd had enough too, but cos I didn't wanna leave my melbourne band, I kept putting off moving to Germany with her.. I have nothing else really here for me..

I'm fearful of my future and don't know exactly how to deal with everything, or how to take steps to improve!... I'm a bit of a mess right now...

Am trying not to self medicate, with alcohol and marijuana, but the last few days, have had a few beers and joints... I don't wanna continue this behaviour and wanna start improving my situation.. I'm generally a strong person, but have felt so weak and useless lately, that's it's bothering me a lot... Now, my girlfriend has ended our relationship, I feel incredibly alone and sad...


 

 

LP90
Community Member

Hi My name is Lauren, 

 

I am 24 and have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress!!  I have a really good family , had a great childhood . Last year went through ALOT with my bf !  From drugs,to his parent a losing there home,extortion! I worried 24/7 about his life  I went through every single bit of it with him .and lost a lot of money helping him out ! At the time  I didn't realise it was going to affect me now in the long run !  February this year Everything was mostly sorted with him things were looking up, while at the beach one day I started crying from nowhere from then I knew something was wrong ! I have been seeying a pyschologist she has helped me heaps! I have been on

medication for a month now ! Defintly has cleared my mind but still my chest hurts everyday And I don't know if that is normal or not so am hoping to find some answers on here !  Thanks 🙂

 

I don't know why I said I was 34, I'm 35.

Squiffy
Community Member

Hi Chris,

My name is Jane from Sydney, Australia. 

Labels include wife, mother, daughter, friend etc etc......but really it's just me, who at the moment has lost all sense of what me is!

I have spent most of my life looking after others in my work and my home life and now at age 49 have come to a point where I no longer have the energy or enthusiasm to continue to do this.  Thoroughly mentally & physically exhausted. 

I went to a Rehabilitation Hospital where I was diagnosed with alcoholism, social phobia, depression and given a huge amount of prescription medications to try and combat these disorders.

6 months sober now and I am starting to think a little clearer.

I don't recall the time that I started to loose myself, when I stopped giving or receiving: when I lost that spark within, that desire to live and move forward in this world of ours.  I had it along time ago: faith, hope, a smile that was real and wonder how I might ever get that back again?

So at the moment I am feeling the loss, very lost & alone.

Thankyou for the opportunity for me to say how I feel with total honesty.

Jane

green_eyed_girl
Community Member

Hi everyone..

Im not entirely sure what to say here.. Ill be honest though and say that I am feeling a bit weird that I've signed up to a forum like this.. I just can't seem to shake this feeling I have inside of me and I guess that is why I am here..

My name is Jacqui and Im 28 years old. I am a teacher.. and I love to travel and just have a good time. I don't exactly know what I am dealing with.,. But it's been going on for a long time now and no matter what I try and do, I can't just remain in a happy headspace. My mind is like a yo-yo. One minute im happy.. the next I could sink into a bit of a hole and cry. Not sure what is wrong with me. I work a lot.. and I love my jobs but it's come to my attention that something is wrong.. And the proof of that is I lost a job because of whatever this issue inside of me is. That was the red flag for me. 

Anyway... hi again 🙂 It's time to get back to smiling genuinely! 

Jac x

AGrace
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi Lauren, 

Welcome to the forums. 

It sounds like you went through quite a bit. I'm glad you are finding your Psychologist helpful.  It's great when we find one that we click with. 

In terms of the chest pain, this could be a symptom of anxiety. Has your Psychologist 

Said anything about it? It would also be worthwhile mentioning this to your GP, they could rule ot anything physical which might bring you peace of mind. 

I wont say too much more here, as I don't want to fill up the introduction thread but if you want to chat more or let us know how you're travelling feel free to start a new thread under the other forum topics.

AGrace

AGrace
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi Nathan, 

Welcome, you're story is quite inspiring. It's great to hear that for all of us there is hope. It sounds like you have come at your treatment from a number of angles and this has been helpful for you. I'm sure others will also find your post very useful.

I hope you'll keep us updated with your progress. Oh and I'm glad you've got your age clarified:))

AGrace