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

im new here

replies: 4

hi i am new i haveno friends since 2011 my only friend in ten years ghosted me overnight nice to meet you thats why im suicidal

Putting myself down and worrying endlessly

replies: 4

hey there, I've never used a forum or community like this before, but after a couple months of just lurking in the background reading other people's posts and experiences, I feel I'm ready to join in and be a part of this. Okay so here's my deal. I'm 16 soonish, and my boyfriend is 1 and a half years younger than me. First up is that a problem?? He sometimes says that the age gap worries him but as there's nothing we can do about that we just leave it. No point worrying about something you can't change, right? My view on this is that since we're in a committed relationship, once we're like 20 and 22 it won't be as big a problem- we will both be fully biologically developed, and so pretty much the same mentally-wise. Long distance relationships suck a lot. It's really, really really REALLY hard. I miss him all the time, every day, I'm obsessed with him. We've been together since June, 2020, and before that were best friends for around 5 months. He was there for me through a vulnerable time including nasty girls, dumping me from their friend group. I don't want to talk about that, I'm teetering on the edge of 'over it'. We had each other through a season where we needed it most, and if that's all we get out of the relationship then it's pretty good still. The first time he said he loved me I was ecstatic. It means a lot to say that. Especially coming from someone who knows me so well, through my cranky PMS days and all. Currently the only thing making me anxious is something I said to him, and another girl.. Women. We get cranky, we get nasty and tired and we want to blob around. My boyfriend was being perfectly lovely to me and I was nasty back, and it hurt him a lot. We haven't been quite the same since, but we're healing. I apologised and did everything I could to make it right- making sure he knew what I said I did not mean at all. We're better. But I'm anxious about a friend of his, who has caught feelings for him, and vice versa. He told me about this, and so I'm not too worried- If he was open about it, it means he trusts me.. I think. He said he chooses me over anyone, and so that's relieving. But still, I worry. Yes, it's just a crush, but with him being so far away what if something happens, and she's better than me? With this circling my mind, I've been putting myself down a lot. 'I'm not worthy of him anyway. I was nasty and I will be for a week every month, and I can't help it. I'm always depressed around people. He deserves someone better.'

Intro

replies: 2

Hi all! I've been battling anxiety for a long time now. At my worst I couldn't go out in public because it used to make me physically sick. I've been seeing a psychologist for about 6 years now and he's been great. I feel like I've achieved a lot but there still alot of work to do. I've been trying to make a drastic lifestyle change but its been challenging. I've been wanting to sell my place and move to an apartment complex so I can be around other people and make new friends since I've been alone for a long time. Plus my mother is not well and that makes me very anxious. I tried talking to them about it but since they're from a different generation they think its a sign of weakness. Im hoping there's people in this forum that are in a similar position as me and we can share similar stories about this and even get some tips on how to help manage the anxiety. I don't want to go see my doctor every time I have a anxiety attack because going up on my medication is something I want to avoid. Hope to hear from you soon!

Newby trying to figure things out

replies: 1

Hi All, I'm very new to this have never even contemplated doing anything like this. But the birth of my daughter has made want to do something to improve my mental health. I have had anxiety for around 5 years it all started when I moved jobs there were 2 individuals who made it their goal in life to makes others feel like they are useless and incompetent. to start with i was having severe panic attacks and my wife had to come and collect me from work on a couple of occassions. i honestly thought i was having a heart attack. i went to the doctor after about 12 months and was put on medication this took a while but eventually the panic attacks stopped being so severe and i learnt to talk myself out of them. however over the last year i have found myself having new anxieties. these are weird i cant put my finger on what causes them, one day i can doing something like go to the shops and i am totally fine, and the next i cant focus on anything and feel super dizzy like i am going to pass out. I can run a meeting with important government officials and have no problem at all, but sitting in an interviewing 1 person will cause this same dizziness. i guess my question is has anyone else experienced dizziness like this and do you have any tips of how to deal with it. Thanks in advance

relationship and anxiety

replies: 1

i tend to worry about things that are out of my control and I'm going through a rough patch at the moment with family. i feel like my thoughts have control over me and that they are affecting the way I fell towards my boyfriend. we have been together for over a year and I m having constant feelings of doubt and not loving him because I sometimes feel like I put more effort. i just want to feel like. i have control over my mind and feelings and I feel emotionally blocked and I just want thatbrain fog to clear and im unsure how to. i speak to my counsellor and parents and my boyfriend but still don't feel any better. if anyone has any tips of advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Thinking irrationally

replies: 16

Hi all. Have been here before but not for a long time. Have been on medication for many years, I go downhill very quickly usually to not being able to put coping strategies in place in time. There’s always a trigger but it’s not always the same thing. Usually though it’s due to family issues etc which I cant help but dwell on. I’d love to learn how to stop dwelling on things that don’t exist but drive me (and my family) loopy at times. Tips please. 🙆‍

Hi there, I'm Tea, and I need help with my recent depressive episode

replies: 6

Hi everyone! I don't want to share my real name, but you guys can call me Tea I'm currently in my final year of high school and nearly 18. I'm aiming to be a language teacher. I enjoy music, food, anime and all things cozy. I have lots of hobbies and interests, but I lost my passion and motivation for a lot of them years ago. I've come to this community in hopes of finding and offering support and advice. I look forward to interacting with everyone! For this post, I'll highlight the key points as a kind of TLDR. A bit of background... I hit rock bottom in 2017, and although I've grown so much since, I still experience a few mental health issues. I went to a few counselling sessions during this time (about four 30-min sessions?), but my father suddenly decided to stop taking me; he didn't give me notice or tell me why, I simply stopped attending, but I believe my father saw improvement and assumed that I didn't need it anymore. Now, I generally struggle to be content for more than a week or verbally communicate my emotions. I also experience sudden (and perhaps seasonal?) depressive episodes, during which I'm very emotionally unavailable and low functional. I manage to hide these episodes from everyone except my s.o as it really strains my romantic relationship. I'd love to go back to counselling, but I've never had the courage to reveal to my parents that my depression was never really 'cured'. Anyway, my first depressive episode of this year started recently, but I can't afford to go through this, as I'm in the midst of my HSC and really want to do well. Even counselling feels like a waste of time, even if I were to work up the courage to ask my parents. Does anyone have any advice to offer me to get through this school year, study hard and manage my mental health? Thank you all in advance, for even just skimming through this introduction/first post. Sending you all buckets of hope, positivity and strength

1:00am thoughts.

replies: 4

New here so I’m not really sure if I’m doing this right aha. it seems that most nights when I’m up late I get kinda sad for no reason. I just kinda feel numb and I start to question everything in my life. I’ve even seen memes about this feeling people experience at night. I’m definitely not the only one who goes through this. I’m usually fine during the day also. Anyone else get this or know why it happens?

Needing someone to talk to

replies: 3

Hi, I’m a single mum to 4 kids and also work life is hectic, just recently have been getting anxiety/panic attacks making it hard to do daily tasks and sleep. I will be booking in to see my gp Monday but in the mean time would love someone to talk to... View more

Lonely ,depressed

replies: 10

Hi, I live in Queensland, in one of the most boring of cities, but beautiful at the same time. I am a 42 year old female living on their own. I have many issues as to why Im not moving forward properly in life and have many regrets that have lead me to be more depressed today. I am tired of trying and hate the hot weather here. I am over it. Sick of being lonely and on my own.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

im new here replies: 4

Putting myself down and worrying endlessly replies: 4

Intro replies: 2

Newby trying to figure things out replies: 1

relationship and anxiety replies: 1

Thinking irrationally replies: 16

Hi there, I'm Tea, and I need help with my recent depressive episode replies: 6

1:00am thoughts. replies: 4

Needing someone to talk to replies: 3

Lonely ,depressed replies: 10