Members new and old, introduce yourselves here

Chris_B · ‎01-07-2014

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.

jasonmg · ‎10-07-2015

Hi my name is jason

I just join i have all these what i thought were major health problems so i took to google and every time i put in the symptom well... you know the rest. I have being diagnosis with depression as a result of certain things in my life my brother and father both had bipolar my dad was and extreme drinker he literal drank himself to death and my brother took his own life. I feel lost sometimes and sometimes i feel as i have know direction.

bluesurvivor76 · ‎10-07-2015

Welcome Dust Bunny.

I am sorry to hear about your employment situation. This can certainly contribute to Anxiety and Depression. Just over 2 years ago I changed jobs amidst a lot of uncertainty around job security.It was terrifying for me to make the change, but it was the best thing to happen with my career. I am now loving what I do and where I work and getting opportunities I have never had before.

It is my belief that things happen for a reason and they will always work out. While my depression makes it hard to maintain this belief at times, the evidence has consistently helped.

I hope you have a good support person you can lean on during this challenging time and if not, be sure to drop in here to gain the support you need.

Immy95 · ‎10-07-2015

Hi there,

I'm Immy, a 20 year old uni student who is experiencing issues with depression and anxiety. I felt like joining Beyond Blue was a nessecary step in getting help and staying well, and I look forward to chatting on the online forums. I'm a newbie here and I am glad that Beyond Blue offers these terrific services for men and women who are going through the same issues as me.

Warm regards,

Immy.

Tisonlyme · ‎11-07-2015

Good afternoon. Thankyou for having me on board. Im a 47 year old professional finding that i just can't 'shake' feelings I've been experiencing for about a year now. I'm known as the ever-happy, looks after everyone else kind of person but experiencing difficulty in keeping up appearances. I am genuinely happy..on the surface..and have absolutely nothing to 'be unhappy' about. Hence why i find it frustrating & overwhelming not being able to love the things i used to. Thankyou

jackaroo · ‎11-07-2015

Hi all, I have been dealing with high levels of anxiety since I can remember. I’m the person that is seen as being sociable by friends and acquaintances however they haven’t seen the side to me that ‘freaks out’ at the thought of attending a social function. Over the years I’ve suffered from substantial health problems from having a nervous system that’s constantly on edge. I have suffered from immsomnia. I was constantly sick. I have always had been a dark cloud surrounding me. A fog that never lifted. An all over cramp that never went away. My anxiety had a strong hold on me and it dictated how I lived my life. Since forever, I've been a workaholic, a perfectionist, an independent person who must get the job done no errors or corrections. A few years ago I was in a work place where I was the victim of bullying & harassment in the workplace. It started immediately and went on for two years. As I’ve always been an incredible hard worker who had worked tirelessly for my profession, I took everything to heart. I continued to work tirelessly, almost running myself into the ground. I had started seeing a psychologist to try and find ways to deal with the stress of it all. Seeking professional help was one of the best things I ever did. I didn’t have my contract renewed with my former role. Management were aware of how I was being treated however the other parties were permanent employees, so they were favoured. I found this decision devastating and took it extremely personally. The following year was the worst year of my life as what proceeded was all the instabilities that flowed on: finances, employment. I fully commend all the brave souls who have shared their own personal stories of their mental health issues with Beyond Blue. have been countless times where I have just plain been a mess. Feeling like an isolated little island. Hopeless. Restless. Alone. Worthless. My psychologist played a big role in me bouncing back. I strongly encourage anyone with MH issues to seek professional help. I eat well, exercise regularly, am socially active, work FT, practice mindfulness daily and maintain a balanced lifestyle. Last year was the worst year in my whole life in nearly all areas. This year (with practicing mindfulness, alongside strategies suggested by my psychologist), I have been having the most wonderful year of my life. I still at times have social anxiety however it does not keep me bed ridden for days like it used to.

July12 · ‎12-07-2015

Hello,

I have been seeing doctors for many years saying I don't feel right and I was never able to explain the feeling as it was never constant, after many tests and a number of doctors I was told they could not find anything wrong with me, My life was normal and I was mostly happy and enjoyed my job, The last five years have been very difficult with the loss of both parents and myself having a TIA {minor stroke}loosing some feeling on my right side and my wife almost killed in a freak accident.

Then my nightmares started bringing back a memory I had locked away for thirty years so horrific I could never talk about it, The dreams were in grey and they got so bad and so frequent I had trouble sleeping in case I had the dream again, I could'nt go to work or do anything. It came to a head when my employer wanted answers as to why I was taking so many days off, I went to my doctor and told him all this and he suggested i see a psychologist with a letter saying Anxiety/PTSD.

I had had heard of both of these but thought it was another expensive test for no result,

It is such a difficult thing to talk about trauma when it upsets you so much but I was lucky and found a really good Psychologist and for the last twelve months we have been working on dealing with my memories,

Anxiety was that feeling I could never describe. A sense of dread or extreme loss, like when you loose your car keys and your late for work times that feeling times by 1000 and your getting close, I was given medication for anxiety/depression and had weekly therapy and I was making progress until I fell apart again, My Doctor asked me to see a Psychiatrist as I was on the maximum dose of medication and I was still struggling with flashbacks and extreme Anxiety, The Psychiatrist changed my medication and so far its been going well, apart from the month of withdrawals changing medication but its been worth it to be able to sleep.

Helva113 · ‎12-07-2015

Hello all. I have been suffering severe clinical depression for a very long time now. I am having great difficulty getting through the bad days. I can't seem to look after myself or my house. I was hoping to get some help from you all about how to get myself and my house back in some state of working order. Please help me.

kanga_brumby · ‎12-07-2015

Welcome I am in a similar boat. Take one day at a time, 1 minute at a time, It will all work out in time. Slow I know. but it does work.

Chris_B · ‎13-07-2015

jasonmg said:
Hi my name is jason

I just join i have all these what i thought were major health problems so i took to google and every time i put in the symptom well... you know the rest.

Hi Jason, welcome to the forums. There is a thread here that you may be interested in:

Health anxiety and Google

Chris_B · ‎13-07-2015

Helva113 said:Hello all. I have been suffering severe clinical depression for a very long time now. I am having great difficulty getting through the bad days. I can't seem to look after myself or my house. I was hoping to get some help from you all about how to get myself and my house back in some state of working order. Please help me.

Hi Helva, welcome to the forums and well done on reaching out. If you'd like some support from our members on a specific issue then please start a new thread in the Depression section.