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Aaronsis HELP..Am I posting in the right section?
  • replies: 10

Welcome to those who are considering posting for the very first time, welcome. Thought I would repost part of the words that Chris B posted awhile ago, (2014) as I can hear that people are unsure if they are posting in the right section or worried th... View more

Welcome to those who are considering posting for the very first time, welcome. Thought I would repost part of the words that Chris B posted awhile ago, (2014) as I can hear that people are unsure if they are posting in the right section or worried that they are posting "the wrong thing". 1.A good title makes the difference Just like a headline in a newspaper, when scanning the dozens of threads to click into, it’s only natural that people will choose the ones that resonate with them most. A title that entices the reader, or asks a question, is likely to get a better result than something non-descriptive like “Depression” or “I don't know what to do”. If you think you’re not good at choosing titles, leave it till last. Spend time writing your post, then perhaps choose a sentence from what you’ve written as the title. 2.Join in threads that have already been posted We all have our own unique stories, but part of the reason for joining a forum like this one is because you know that you will have a lot in common with others who are posting. Before starting a new thread, have a look through the current topics being discussed and see if there’s a conversation you can join in with. It can be quite common to have a handful of very similar threads happening at any one time, with members seemingly unaware that there are others right there who are going through the same thing. Talking to other members on their threads is a great way of getting yourself known so that when you post a thread of your own, people may respond quicker because they recognize your name. 3.Choose the most appropriate section for your post Many people browse the forums looking for stories specifically to do with pregnancy and parenting, employment, grief, loss, separation etc. Going straight for the “Depression” section may seem like the easiest option, but this section is often the busiest, so your post is more likely to get lost among the threads. Making good use of the different forum sections not only helps keep the forum relevant, but you’re more likely to find others who are going through the same experiences as you. Also, if you're wanting to discuss issues of trauma, abuse, suicidal thoughts or self-harm, it's really important you post in the designated section to avoid triggering others who may not wish to read about these topics. Mostly..just come and chat, we are here for you. Our amazing wizards in the background will see your message ends up in the right spot. Sarah

Chris_B Introducing...the community champions
  • replies: 22

Hi everyone, Some of you may have noticed that a few of our members are labelled ‘Community champion’ and have a beyondblue National Roadshow bus badge, like this: This thread explains who these members are and what they do. Community champions are v... View more

Hi everyone, Some of you may have noticed that a few of our members are labelled ‘Community champion’ and have a beyondblue National Roadshow bus badge, like this: This thread explains who these members are and what they do. Community champions are volunteers within the forums who: Have the time, skills and empathy to support other members Make an effort to welcome new members Are regularly and actively engaged members that help set the tone of our community as a place of hope and recovery. Click here to find out more about how you can become a Community Champion! As this is a peer support community that includes members under the age of 18, it is important that we ensure our peer support community leaders have a current 'working with children' check as part of due diligence. In an online environment with anonymous posters, it also provides Beyond Blue (and the community) with some security as to the identity of who is posting as a community champion. We ask our community champions to spend at least 2-3 hours a week posting and responding in the forums, but in reality they go far above and beyond this. Like me, they’re not psychologists or counsellors, just regular folk like yourselves who have experience with anxiety and depression. I’ll leave it to our champion volunteers to reply below and let you know a bit about themselves. PS. If this is your first time on the forums and you'd like to introduce yourself, please start a new thread rather than replying in here.

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strugglzreal Introducing me
  • replies: 0

Hi! I figured this was the right place to start. I'm 42 female and really struggling at the moment. I was in a really good place before changes in the workplace (not COVID related) made a lovely place to work really hard. I now have a pretty awful ti... View more

Hi! I figured this was the right place to start. I'm 42 female and really struggling at the moment. I was in a really good place before changes in the workplace (not COVID related) made a lovely place to work really hard. I now have a pretty awful time at work. I took some time off last year due to depression and came back and was doing really well and drawing boundaries. But drawing those boundaries does come at a cost - strange how saying no to unreasonable requests (that other - male - colleagues get away with saying no to, on the rare occassions they are asked) suddenly makes me the problem. I think I really need to leave the job and it would need to be a career change because of the nature/availability of the work. But that's such a frightening prospect given my financial commitments and the years I put into developing a career.I've booked in to see the counsellor I saw last year who was really helpful, but in the meantime I thought I'd pop in here given its late at night and I'm looking to another sleepless night!

amd1953 Owed to Solitude
  • replies: 42

I owe a lot to my current situation in life. In fact, it's probably as close to heaven on earth that I will ever get. I've served my apprenticeship in the School of Hard Knocks. It was actually a life sentence with no time off for good behaviour. I t... View more

I owe a lot to my current situation in life. In fact, it's probably as close to heaven on earth that I will ever get. I've served my apprenticeship in the School of Hard Knocks. It was actually a life sentence with no time off for good behaviour. I think it was Mr. W. Shakespeare who said "All the world's a stage". And that is precisely what we are - actors on a stage. Some of us play our parts really well and fool the audience into actually believing what we say we are. Then there are those who find it impossible to be anything other than what they are. Not good actors at all. That's where I make my entrance. But I don't play to the audience any more because it is a complete and utter waste of time and effort. Now that I have settled into retirement, I can stop the acting and the pretence and be whatever I choose to be. It's a great pity that we have to spend the greater part of our lives playing to an audience. Some people get away with turning their backs on the bright lights and sink into blissful anonymity. This is what I am trying to do now so that I can gather a little happiness around me before I drop off the perch. When I think back, I seem to have spent so much time trying to keep everyone else happy and giving in to do things when I don't want to. I never had the nerve to say no so I guess I was a real pushover. I think it's time to turn the page on the script and write my own dialogue for a change. Or is that asking too much? I'm not really sure myself. Maybe I am expecting too much. Shame on me eh? But there will come a time when I run out of choices and that will be the end of it. The curtain comes down on another production. I only hope it doesn't come too soon. If we do what we want to when we want to do it, we are called selfish. I have nothing left to give. It's all gone. The audience have gone home and the stage is a dusty platform waiting for the next deception. Sorry, production.

Emotions26 Being me
  • replies: 13

I cannot work out how to see all of the discussionsHow can I read all responses?Confused and lost before coming hereWho do I ask and how for help? The above was written last night - day 2 of joining BB I have responded to several posters and received... View more

I cannot work out how to see all of the discussionsHow can I read all responses?Confused and lost before coming hereWho do I ask and how for help? The above was written last night - day 2 of joining BB I have responded to several posters and received some lovely replies. I have also responded to a post written by a member a while back expressing confusion about new set up here. Now I feel that I might have intruded upon that person's personal space. So I went searching.Somewhere found the suggestion start with introduce yourself - have no idea now where that is - no matter - I am here now Then I thought.I will start a thread or post or page myself.Possibly nobody will reply and it will sit and collect dust. If I don't try, I will never know. So I have come to this place BB to extend my practising being me which I have commenced in real life. Not an easy exercise and most people who know me are not particularly enthralled with the emerging of the new me - no surprise really as I have spent far too long listening to everyone else's egotistical chatter. I found by chance, yes, a thread or passage by someone writing about an analogy of their life being a performance on stage.I wanted to reply as the words intrigued me and I would love to be able to converse with that person.I too am extremely deep.Well, I could not work out how the page seemed different again! So being me is proving to be as difficult an exercise in the virtual world as it is in the real world. Any thoughts.Should anyone find this; read this and want to continue the conversation.It would be nice to hear from members who are replying because they want to as much as support from champions and other titles is appreciated. Thank you if you have read this far.

Flashfire Introduction
  • replies: 8

Hi, I am a middle-aged 60+ gay woman. I have lived with dysthymia, anxiety, and PTSD for most of my life. I have recently broken up a 31-year relationship with a wonderful woman, because I feel we have drifted apart, we are living separate lives and ... View more

Hi, I am a middle-aged 60+ gay woman. I have lived with dysthymia, anxiety, and PTSD for most of my life. I have recently broken up a 31-year relationship with a wonderful woman, because I feel we have drifted apart, we are living separate lives and no longer have the close and loving relationship we had as younger people. I am feeling a bit lost. We are still living together as neither of us can afford to rent and even selling up our shared home is problematic and in the uncertain housing market, i don't hold much hope of finding a unit I could afford by myself and I am not a fit person to live with anyone else. I have very few friends, as I am an introvert and don't tend to socialise face to face, I feel most comfortable with online friends and this type of format. I have many pets, birds, dogs, cats, poultry, and I clean people's houses to make money to support us all. I was retired but went back to work when my superannuation ran out. Anyway not much else I can say for now, thanks for reading. Cheers Lee

indigo22 New to the Forums
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, have just signed up and introducing myself. I am a woman in my 60's and have pretty much been through the works. I grew up in a dysfunctional family. Have been dealing with Dysthymic Disorder and Major Depression since my teenage years. ... View more

Hi everyone, have just signed up and introducing myself. I am a woman in my 60's and have pretty much been through the works. I grew up in a dysfunctional family. Have been dealing with Dysthymic Disorder and Major Depression since my teenage years. Have lost 3 family members to cancer, one family member and a best friend in road accidents, and another best friend to a rare disease. Have been married, separated and divorced (no children). Have had and recovered from a rare cancer. Have one sibling left who is a narcissist and has resented me from the day I was born, needless to say when I moved, I gave no indication of where I was going. I was already struggling emotionally when I started caring for family members during their cancers, my father died first but when my mother died just 10 weeks after my brother, I felt completely broken (like humpty-dumpty). My Major Depression progressed to Chronic status and had suicidal ideation for the next few years. I moved more than 300kms away to leave it all behind but after 1 year found out I had cancer in 2016. I am glad to say that I am doing much better these days and would like to put my many years of experience into helping other people not make the same mistakes that I made.

Worriedaboutme New here.. hope it's the right area..
  • replies: 3

Hi all.. I've been struggling with life all over at the moment and now I've actually been paying attention me ... and I'm concerned. I have anxiety that leads into depression onto paranoia (yeah.. fun times). I take meds that do help, however after l... View more

Hi all.. I've been struggling with life all over at the moment and now I've actually been paying attention me ... and I'm concerned. I have anxiety that leads into depression onto paranoia (yeah.. fun times). I take meds that do help, however after looking after my parents (triple bypass and smashed wrist) my downtime has been to chill with is drink. I'm still responsible.. but my anxiety and overthinking has gone over the top in the past few months (so much so I'd rather not talk because I'm constantly apologising) and I don't know how to deal with it. I'm apologising for apologising and it continues. So, although I am talking to someone through work (health system) and have a super supportive partner I am hoping to make contact with people that may have been in my position before... and how to come out the other side. I do have days where I feel "life would be easier....." but I haven't gone yet. Nor have I tempted.. I'm really sorry if this doesn't make sense.. I'm just trying to reach out...

2635654 Hello
  • replies: 3

Good evening all, I am a 51 yr young woman, wife, Mother, teacher, daughter, sister and friend, and I live with anxiety, severely impacting my life at times, completely shutting me down and allowing a whole pile of health related issues to occur…… an... View more

Good evening all, I am a 51 yr young woman, wife, Mother, teacher, daughter, sister and friend, and I live with anxiety, severely impacting my life at times, completely shutting me down and allowing a whole pile of health related issues to occur…… and so the vicious cycle goes. A few weeks ago I raised a whited flag to anxiety, not to surrender, to stop the unproductive internal battle, get understanding, knowledge, acceptance so anxiety and I can become friends, and work with a peaceful respect toward a common goal. Now this doesn’t come easy as it requires lots of hard work even though exhaustion has taken over, trust/embracing the unknown, taking a leap of faith, accepting it is what it is and that’s different from what I expected and letting go (of false safety nets) including my great ability to mask, unrealistic self expectations, trusting myself and others, having courage to reach out for support, being brave enough to take those wobbly steps to make change….. giving it a go….. I fill my bucket with random acts of kindness, kindness rocks foundation, making a difference…….though have difficulty showing myself the same level of kindness. I am with each new day, trying, I’m not giving up though I’m tired, really tired and need a supportive community I can turn to as I have finally realised I can not do this alone anymore. I am worthy of being supported. I look forward to engaging with the community, not having to walk alone, being here receiving support and an empathetic connection. Hi I’m Tss.

Jade_R Hi, New here
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I have just recently signed up to be a part of beyond blue and just wanted to come on here and introduce myself. In the past i have struggled with social anxiety and severe stress from academic commitments. I have been doing much better ... View more

Hi everyone, I have just recently signed up to be a part of beyond blue and just wanted to come on here and introduce myself. In the past i have struggled with social anxiety and severe stress from academic commitments. I have been doing much better recently however i thought it would also be helpful to read about other peoples experiences and thought i would be able to offer my experience with others who are experiencing the same issues and maybe provide some tips i used to help get me through. Thanks

Trish-399 1st time poster
  • replies: 2

hi all. this is my 1st post I'm 64 years old and have begun having severe panic attacks. I hope to gain some help and information from other members regarding their experiences and how to manage the symptoms that have presented. Particularly the naus... View more

hi all. this is my 1st post I'm 64 years old and have begun having severe panic attacks. I hope to gain some help and information from other members regarding their experiences and how to manage the symptoms that have presented. Particularly the nausea and sleep disruptions. I'm finding them both really hard to get on top of. Thank you all for any help you may have to offer

BrainOnFire Hello newbie Here
  • replies: 3

Hello. I'm new and have no idea what or why I'm here. I guess it's because I genuinely know I need support. And just not sure where to turn to. It's as if I'm always helping others but completely forgot myself. I suffer misphonia. Crippling and debil... View more

Hello. I'm new and have no idea what or why I'm here. I guess it's because I genuinely know I need support. And just not sure where to turn to. It's as if I'm always helping others but completely forgot myself. I suffer misphonia. Crippling and debilitating disorder of extreme sensitivity to sound. Particularly for me the sound of howling wind but other noises too. It sends me into a state where I struggle to get out of. I feel alone and sad.The motivation is so little. My misphonia is not getting any better and I worry about myself. The way I act is like a react to sound response. I can handle sound for awhile then suddenly I feel like my whole body is moving but my brain is cationic. I don't know if that makes sense. I get depressed and just want to hide. My interest become zero and I know it's getting worse so I just thought I'd come here for support. I can't keep living life in a suffering bubble. I know I need help. Thanks for listening everyone.