Welcome and Orientation

Pinned discussions

Meet your community champions!

replies: 10

Hi everyone, We wanted to share with you the way that our wonderful Community Champions are here to support you. You may have noticed that a few of our Forums members are labelled ‘Community Champion’. Community Champions are volunteers within the Beyond Blue Forums who: have the time, skills and empathy to support other members regularly; help to welcome new members; are actively engaged members that help set the tone of our community. Our Community Champions are regular contributors to many conversations across the forums. They are a consistent and friendly voice that have committed to sharing their experience and expertise with this community. They are not health care professionals or clinicians. Like you, they have an experience with a mental health challenge or diagnosis – either for themselves or someone they care for. This forum is for people who understand what it feels like and have a lived and living experience of mental health challenges. Our Community Champions help everyone feel comfortable and confident by demonstrating what excellent peer support is all about. Click here to find out more about how you can become a Community Champion! This incredible team are excited to introduce themselves below, and we are sure you’ll see them around the forums in conversations important to you.

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 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

All discussions

Sorted by:

Start a discussion

Living with a depressed partner

replies: 1

Hi everyone..I feel lost as my partner has a chronic illnesss and has caused depression in my partner..some days are good and some days not so good (just wants to sleep, doesn't want to talk - doesn't help with me not being a very good communicator)I just don't know how live day by day anymore?Can anyone suggest what to do?And what can I say to suggest they talk to someone if they don't want to? As I feel I would be putting pressure on them.

Stuck Single, and every day is harder

replies: 0

I have never been great at the people side of things. I grew up an outsider, bullied and cripplingly alone, and I internalised a lot of that loneliness into my identity. I convinced myself that I didn't need other people, that I didn't belong around them. Thankfully, being part of a large family helped keep me grounded, and I grew out of much of these thoughts, but still carried this idea of being somehow independent of others. I've had two long-term relationships, one ended in the sudden death of my wife, and the other suddenly dumped me earlier this year in favour of a different guy. I've been slowly crawling my way out of the pain of rejection and abandonment, and I am finding myself very alone. My friends are slowly drawing away from me, gradually responding less and less to my messages. I've had very little luck with the online dating, none of my friends are able to (or maybe willing to?) introduce me to their single friends, and I don't know how to meet people organically. I'm autistic, so I find engaging with social activities to be daunting at best, which greatly limits my opportunities for meeting people organically.. And it just is starting to all pile up. I've been trying. I've been trying really hard, but I just don't feel like I'm making any progress anymore and it's starting to feel increasingly hopeless. And despite my previous beliefs in my independence, I'm finding that I am desperately needing company in ways that I never did before.

parenting with a abi aquired brain injurey

replies: 11

hi there just wanted to introduce my self im a mum of three i love walking and art and craft and i love my job

Owed to Solitude

replies: 449

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.

Looking To Get More Friends

replies: 8

Hey, I have been suffering with depression since 2019 and I've been diagnosed with schizophrenia since 2022. I was suggested to come on here by my Nan considering that I don't often go online to talk to people, as I had a tricky struggle with social media, specifically Instagram which caused me to turn on social media completely. I'm here mainly to meet some new friends, even though I have my best friend who lives in the city and one of my other mates who I see at a group I go to. But sometimes I feel like it's not enough. I'm hoping to meet some people my age as I'm 20, and looking for more friends, and hopefully a girl mate, down the track. What I mean is, I want a girl my age who I can hang out with in a similar vein to my best friend, but who can also give me a hug from time to time.

Worried about new job starting soon

replies: 2

Hi. I’m a long term depression sufferer , with intermittent ok times, and right now I’m very low. I’ve been very inactive for about a month and, for the first time, I’ve started medication and therapy. I am not improving and so I thought it would be a good idea to get back into some work. I’ve accepted a grounds maintenance position starting on Wednesday and I’m very nervous. Should I just pretend I’m ok ? What if anxiety takes over and I make a fool of myself? I do believe though that I need to get occupied to help my condition. Thanks .

I'm no longer able to continue. And no longer required to.

replies: 4

Life has stopped for me now, drained of all I had, all I was, all I will be and all that I had made. Nothing remains of life, only existence until I run out of time, I must wait now!!~ Everything has been tried, everything has been attempted, everything has failed and they all live on, belligerent to me or my position. uncaring indignation, tunnel vision and one mindedness of those I have known forever, with the total lack of understanding or Respect, has left me to now destroy my life, and all that I am or will be, through a loss of honest direction and truthful alliances by those I trusted, as I crash through the last stages. Already driven to suicide! which was survived, only to find that my life was more valuable to others than I was, hence why they live it now. now I welcome the end, slow as it progresses, but down I go, no way to stop. No matter how much I ask, or how much I beg, or how much I prove it to all, I am always made responsible for everything. Help never comes, never is it there at the end of the crisis calls of which there have been many, nor at the meetings which never go anywhere. 000 is the only way, it's no way, it's no way at all, I could not visit the kind of horror on the family's of these who destroy me, how can I??? needless to say that I don't, sleep, eat, drink water, go out, visit, take out the rubbish, clean, shower or enjoy anything, sweet, salt, happiness, love, kindness, only look forward to the horrors of it all every second of every day, as that is all that happens, even tho everyone knows!!?? etc.etc.etc. Sorry if I'm troubling you further, many thanks for reading.

Hello and introduction

replies: 1

Hi everyone,I’m Alex. I have been suffering from depression on and off for over 30 years. Most recently, I became unemployed due to a situation at work which was unexpected. I am finding things al out more frustrating and I feel like my patience wear... View more

Stuck

replies: 1

Hello! I’m new here. Me and my family relocated to Australia about a year ago. While I acknowledge and celebrate the success of the move, I must acknowledge and admit my underlying issues and self confidence gaps. Despite being invited on merit and finding a job, I often feel that I’m not good enough. This extends beyond strictly just the work environment. As an individual, I feel like I haven’t progressed in years..”stuck”. In my career, I’ve advanced and held roles in executive leadership. However, I get stuck and hold onto old patterns that no longer serve me. I feel it is currently holding me back. To continue progressing in my career I need to move past those. At home, my wife and I have the same argument over and over. I don’t change. I try and make changes but they don’t hold and don’t show growth. Eventually, we are back at the same spot. I have a lot going for me and feel dumb for having my self doubts but the reality is that it’s still there. I know that isn’t uncommon but looking for a community to share this with and looking for helpful insights from someone that maybe has experienced something similar. Being that I’ve only been in Australia for a year and that my family and friends are across the world, I feel very alone. I’m seeking counselling, have looked to become involved in the community I live in, and am working on self-management and self-development. However, I’m looking for an online community to pair up with those other tactics to really make a change this time. I’m done trying things for them to not make an impact. Now is the time. I look forward to meeting everyone and eventually look forward to contributing and sharing my feedback with others.

herstory

replies: 1

Hello to all and I'm glad to be hereI have a lot of lived experience and decided it may be a healthy exercise to communicate with a few peeps. So let me see, key gripes: stigmatisation - this often comes from those who wouldn't have a clue, but I manage mostly by priding myself on my courage, optimism, forthrightness and honesty; also, my efforts to maintain my health. The worst aspect of this I've discovered lately is that I lack credibility because of my diagnosis - even those in the health sector will attest to this, and it's ghastly, unfair and unjust. Recently I phoned triage because the access team doesn't exist anymore (that's how long it's been) and the staff member I spoke to who was reading from my history questioned me about an entirely different condition - is that a strategy to confuse or to complicate? I've been traumatized somewhat by stalking (cyber and real life), bullying, stigmatisation and privacy breaches - it's a long list and it's hard for me to understand why I am subjected to such bad treatment - anxiety has eroded my self-confidence and it's difficult for me to speak up when I should - when an incident occurs I have trouble articulating it because "it's a long story and I have to begin at the beginning" and I doubt I'll be believed. Because I'm so quiet and I don't bother anyone. That's the price I pay for finding inner peace and trying to stay out of trouble, with family, with neighbours, with anyone, anywhere really. Anxiety means for me deep fear, of losing control, of being harmed, and I have a chronic heart condition now to prove it. I'd like for someone to hear my story, not in a therapeutic setting but rather like being interviewed by a journalist - I'm at university and am fairly switched on - I'd like to write my own story but that would mean sacrificing time spent studying. I believe we all have very valuable stories to tell - the world needs to hear us and to learn from us. Stigmatisation is the worst aspect of having a diagnosis next to the diagnosis, and things need to happen - let's get moving on it!

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Living with a depressed partner replies: 1

Stuck Single, and every day is harder replies: 0

parenting with a abi aquired brain injurey replies: 11

Owed to Solitude replies: 449

Looking To Get More Friends replies: 8

Worried about new job starting soon replies: 2

I'm no longer able to continue. And no longer required to. replies: 4

Hello and introduction replies: 1

Stuck replies: 1

herstory replies: 1