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.

[aidjm]

Thanks Sea-n-sky 🙂

It's nice to have an older person acknowledge how crazy my generation's world can be. I guess I'm fairly desensitized from it, having grown up with it, but when I think about it I can see what you mean. My generation does get a lot of pressure to "succeed" and be an upstanding member of society.

You're absolutely right, acting requires a lot of control. I've found that in the past few years my performing has been very strict and uniform. My HSC perfomance was a stressful chore, because I was terrified of getting it wrong. My theory is the stress I was putting myself under closed me up, so that now it's so hard for me to get even the most basic acting concepts into my body. I'm hoping that through this experience, I'll be able to release this fear and stress and perform how I used to, when it was fun.

I agree, I think I have just been going too hard. I've definitely slowed down now, at least.

I know what you mean about trying too hard. Especially near the end of school and in uni, it seemed like the harder I tried, the harder it was to get what I wanted.Thing is, I've pushed myself so hard for so long that now it's a hard pattern to break, but I'm trying.

My gap year list basically included performing (including acting, busking and dancing), visiting friends, working, and basically figuring out where to go next. There's a list of books to read, TV shows to watch and games to play, as well as the reminder to get exercise and have more creative hobbies. I feel a little dissapointed looking at it, because I know 6 months ago these things would have excited me, and I would have gone at them and loved them, but since going deep into this depression it's hard to enjoy them, or

I' m scared to do them at all. 

I have been feeling better recently. A few days ago I felt almost normal. I'm hoping that when I feel a bit better I'll be able to do these things and enjoy them as much as I could have 6 months ago.

Again, thanks for chatting with me Sea-n-sky. It's nice to have people to spill this stuff to. 🙂

aidjm

[Sea-n-sky]

Hi again aidjm,

No worries, its good to see you back again, and even better to learn that you are now feeling somewhat better than before.

The craziness of your generations world ? Well absolutely.

Its crazy for us all, even at my age, but I have a whole life behind me, mostly roaming globally and witnessing all manner of things. If I, (and others of my generation) find todays world difficult to deal with/ accept, then it must be so much more difficult for you guys. Near impossible, I would think. It certainly would have been when I was your age, that's for sure. We didn't have the same pressures as you guys, not least of all, those imposed by the education systems of today. We were encouraged and coerced into doing the best that we could - not " terrified " out of our minds. Our times were better, I feel, but many would likely disagree.

You say you were terrified of getting your HSC stuff wrong.

That in itself is indicative of educational systems failure - as I see it, and I would think, many if not most, of my generation will see it..

Let me say this, and I hope you take note:-  "You will never truly succeed in anything, unless you experience failures along the way".  The educational value of failure, is enormous. Therefore don't be terrified of it - just be sure to give things your best shot. If you miss your target, o.k. no worries, just have another go. Second time around you will always be much wiser than the first. You learn from failures, more so than from anything else.

Does the education system of today actually teach you to be terrified of failure ?

Clearly, it is sick, if it does. No wonder there is so many mental health issues, especially in young people. That's tragic.

That gap year list of yours appears perfectly normal to me. Just great in fact .

Don't loose it, follow it as much as you can, even if it takes two, three, or more years, so long as you achieve it in the end. It's doubtful you'd get it all done in one year in any case - so just extend it, as required, add to it too, as you go along. Make it a life list, if you like - why not. After all, time is still on your side, - very much so.

All the best anyhow.

Take it easy - don't rush. Proceed at a comfortable pace.

The rewards will follow, in due course.

Cheers,

Sea-n-sky 

[Chris_B]

Hi everyone,

Just a reminder that this is an introductions thread - if you would like to have a conversation related to something a member raises in their introduction, please start a new thread so we can keep this on-topic. Thank you!

[Gleno]

Hello , 

I have just joined this site. I am finding everything so hard at the moment .i have just started  to see a phycologist that i saw 4 years ago.i am struggling to challenge my thoughts and finding very hard to motivate myself and get out of bed at a ressonable time.the other day i managed to do some gardening and then the next 3 days since are just not happening.i need to start going to bed earlier, but habing trouble , any tips would be gratley appreciated ?

Gleno.

[CMF]

Hi Gleno,

Start a new thread , your own thread, and tell us more re your thoughts and how you feel. more people will see it and be able to help.

CMF

[Gleno]

thanks for the suggestion CMF

[sky_]

Hi. I am 26, live in S.A. I have a partner and two daughters under 5. I was initially diagnosed with depression then later with borderline personality disorder. I first became unwell ten years ago.

[Machiavellian_Madonna]

Hi Everyone. I am new here and just came from a US site called Support Groups which was good but I really needed to connect with Aussies. I am fro, S.A. and I'm 49 with three grown kids. I have battled anxiety and anger management for a long time, and only recently decided I needed some real help. I am now diagnosed with PTSD and Depression associated with Adjustment Disorder and on medication which is working well so far. I look forward to sharing some ideas and camaraderie with you all.

[Birdographer]

G'day.  This is my first post here and I am not really sure I am in the right place.  I do not really consider that I am depressed or suffer from anxiety, but from time to time feel ready to give the game away, particularly when I upset my wife, as I have done today.  I believe my problem is a form of memory, but many test and visits to psychologists, a psychiatrist and other medical experts keep telling me I do not have a problem.  I acknowledge I am not an empathetic person.  It is not that I do not want to be, I just never succeed in getting there.  This tends to give the opinion that I do not care about others, but that is not true.  I just don't seem to interpret things.  I seem to have some form of tunnel vision.  From time to time, my wife wife feels that I have interests 'elsewhere'.  It is not true, but I simply transmit the wrong message.  I have eventually worked out that I have always been like this.  I guess that explains the failure of my first 2 marriages, each less than 3 years.  Luckily my current wife usually copes with me and we have been together for about 25 years, albeit rocky at times.  One of the consequences of this is that we have an arrangement that I will always call her before I leave work.  My downfall is that if I am outside of my normal rhythm, I simply do not think to do it.  Today, the boss organised a BBQ late afternoon.  It went a bit later than I expected (about 15 minutes) and I was anxious to get home and forgot to call.  She believes it is because I do not care.  The consequence is that she is angry with me and wants me to leave.  I do not blame her for this, but do become frustrated with myself because I cannot explain to either her or me why this happens.  It is at these times that I feel like giving the game away.  The one thing I really want in life is to make her happy.  I cannot explain why what happens.  I do not want to leave, see no other life and see the only alternative is suicide.  So far, we have recovered from these problems, but I am not sure how many more times that will happen.  Is this depression or anxiety?  Can I find a cause of my inability to think laterally through an organisation like this, bearing in mind that various medical examinations have failed?

beyondblue’s clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

[huppypuppy]

Long time lurker, first time poster so here goes!

About me: I was first diagnosed with anxiety in May 2006 at the age of 21. I had extremely high hypertension that had no underlying cause caused by a phobia of needles. I had to undertake an absolute barrage of medical tests, including a contrasted CT scan. All the tests came back clear, so my GP and mother both conferred that I was suffering from anxiety. I was put on a 2 year (exactly) course of medication- during the October of 2006, I landed a job with my local abattoir and have been there ever since. I have learnt that I will always have it so I know when to avoid certain things that usually cause my anxiety. I've been fortunate since this diagnosis to be able to go on a joyflight in a helicopter on 12 occasions (1 as pilot in command) and fly to a special place that holds happy memories 8 times (6 turboprops, 2 jets). My profile pic was from my special place. That's ya lot from me... if you want to know more, feel free to ask!