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.

[Leapi]

Hi Im new to this and not sure what to do or say but I have been suffering severe clinical depression for over 10 years.  I have been to counseling a few times, changed medications and also tried CBT and don't feel that they have helped at all.  Not sure what else to do

[axle10]

hi Jason just wanted to tell you how touched I was by your story I wish you all the best I wish I could take your pain away

[UltimaMic]

So here I am, I decided to join this amazing forum on Beyond Blue because who else has better experience and advice on how to manager anxiety and depression (which I have had since my teenage years) than here.

At around 30 years of age I should be in the prime of my life but due to my battle with anxiety and depression I find myself unemployed and battling day to day.  I have had depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember but only really came to seek help around when I was 22-23.  

I am a Christian and have had intense mental battles wondering why I was allowed to suffer the way I have been, and blaming God. But really I came to accept that I have an illness the same way sometimes people get cancer who lest expect it.   

I thought I was just introverted during my teenage years and never really had any close friends or strong hobbies. I see now that I had anxiety and had been feeling quite low for some time. I "escaped" through computer games and lived in my own world.  

 I built up some courage and went to university and got a Commerce Degree in Accounting and through that time I took medication on and off. I always thought I could beat "it" (the anxiety and depression). Again I found it difficult to make friends and largely kept to myself. 

I worked in an audit firm for a few years - battling anxiety throughout my time there.  I then had to let that job go and tried to get another job which just sent me into a massive depressive state. The problem was in both situations the lack of support. There was general support there but I found that people really did not understand what you were going through and besides which most had their busy schedules. 

So I have work a fixed term contract in one place for 9 months but have had other job opportunities I just had to give up (after 1 week on the job) because there is just no support or no understanding by management. I am currently unemployed and trying to find work. I often wonder if I am in the right field? Due to my depression I do not feel motivated to try something new and because of my anxiety I have fear to try? I wonder where should I go to get resources to try and find appropriate work? Because I think work helps me as it would all of us to keep our minds busy and not be occupied about our illness. 

[Chris_B]

Hi UltimaMic, welcome to the forums. With your work situation you might want to start up a new thread in the Employment forum to get some feedback on that.

We also have a Depression and Christianity discussion you might find interesting.

[MitchT]

Hi all,

I'm Mitch, 17, from Sydney. My home life is stable, I have friends and am not bullied. The only issue in my life, if it could be called that, is the HSC final exams. However, I have been feeling neutral and dull, I get irritated and aggressive easily and have a enough of the general symptoms of depression that I'm getting worried. On the chart on this website I fill most of the symptoms and I scored a 37 on the K10 checklist. I don't know if I have it or not but I feel the need to know somethings before I ask for help, as I don't want to worry my parents.  

I would like to know what kind of doctor is allowed to diagnose depression. This is a big one, it's not to say I wouldn't look into this anyway but going to a person who is actually trained rather than a GP seems like a better idea to me. 

Another thing would be if I should allow the diagnosis of one practitioners to determine whether or not I believe I am depressed or should I be diagnosed multiple times before taking major action?

My final question is this, is it possible that I am being a hypercondriac about this and just fit the symptoms without actually being depressed?

I'm sorry to any and all who are struggling with their actual demons and feel as though I am wasting everyone's time with this. 

Thanks,

Mitch

[JuanC]

Hi,

My name is Juan, 32yo male, and reading some of the problems other members have I feel rather silly coming here but I am running out of options and don't know where else to go. I've been married for 7 years but now it is falling apart and its destroying me, there is so much that has gone so wrong from the very beginning and I doubt it can be fixed. I have so much doubt, pain, guilt, frustration, anger. I'm finding it difficult to concentrate at work and I struggle to keep it together and not break down in front of everyone. My wife and I are 'separated' but still living in the same house for another 3 weeks until she goes home to Argentina to see her family. I don't know if she'll come back, I don't know if we can fix this even if she does come back, I don't know if we can trust each other again... Anyway, sorry for the long rant. Just thought I'd follow the rules and introduce myself.

Thanks, 

[Crystal-Rose]

Hi everyone,
I have to tell you this huge for me telling my story here in BeyondBlue, mostly because I have hidden my mental health issues to the best my ability for 50 years.

My father was killed on his motorbike coming home from work when I was 14 years old , just after him finding out my Alcoholic mother was having an affair with a friend of his.
When he passed away, 2 months later Mum got pregnant to the married guy and I had to leave school to help support Mum and my 2 sisters, my teenage years went downhill from there.

Mum was abusive and a nasty conniving Drunk, blaming me for all that went wrong in her life. So every time she started I would have a Panic Attack and I’d try to hide away from everyone until it stopped and I felt safe again. Yes, I should have left home, but, I had 2 younger sisters that were next in her firing line if I had left. Mum's lover was also physically violent to my Mum and I couldn't take anymore of the abuse, so at 17 years of age I was out on my own. 

The panic attacks are still a part of who I am even today, but, finally after all these years of dealing with family members and relationships who have drinking issues I had to walk away from them all. As much I want them in my life and love them very much, I can’t cope with being around Alcoholics.

Over the last 18 months both my brother In-laws and my children’s father died, all 3 of them having Cancer and I could only attend my former children’s father’s funeral under huge distress.

One of my brother’s In-laws who also passed away I had a lot of time for, he was a none drinker and he understood why I was always on guard most the time around the family, we were good friends and I miss him heaps.
So as you can see I’m still dealing with grief and have been diagnosed with PTSD and Anxiety.
I'm no longer seeing my Mental Health Nurse, but, I have a fantastic GP who I can get help from if I need too.

Even though I have a metal health condition, I have ran a business for 25 years, was married twice and have 2 grown children and 3 grandchildren. I love the arts and I’m a former Ballroom Dancer – These days I’m back into Photography, after travelling around Australia for 3 year’s.

I think that may give you everyone a little insight to who I am.

Blessings,

Crystal Rose.

[Chris_B]

MitchT said:

Hi all,

I'm Mitch, 17, from Sydney. My home life is stable, I have friends and am not bullied. The only issue in my life, if it could be called that, is the HSC final exams. 

Hi Mitch, welcome to the forums. You're definitely in the right place, we have a lot of people on the forums who struggle with exam stress. 

The best place to get your questions answered is in our Young People forum. Have a look through some of the discussions there and feel free to get involved, and start a new thread with your questions if you like.

[MitchT]

Thanks man, you're a legend.

[Solly]

Hi i am Solly.

 I suffer from depression and had some set backs during 2014. An opportunity came to work in Aus for a while and we considered maybe staying here.  We are noe here for 9 months in this great country but i feel a failure at work, I am worried that i dissapoint the company that brought me across. Its FIFO work and it places strain on my marriage and 3 small children. In a country where everything is different.  I can't talk to anyone at all, as i dont want to show weakness. 

Solly