Welcome and Orientation

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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

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Dreading Xmas

replies: 3

I am dreading Xmas this year. My only son is in the army interstate and due to Covid he cannot be with us this Xmas and I miss him so much. We’ve been invited to a friends place for Xmas day but I really do not want to go. I just went to the supermarket to buy food for Xmas day and the place was packed with people pushing and jamming each other and being rude to the staff. It’s all about consumerism and excess nowadays and I’m over it. Does anyone else feel this way or am I a Grinch? If anyone has some tips of how to cope through this enforced socialising and over consumption please let me know. I’d rather donate the money I would normally spend.

Putting it out there

replies: 2

Hi, I just really Needed to post and say I’m having lots of uncontrollable thoughts making me feel really anxious and sick. Hoping to just get some advice. It comes and goes but when it’s present I feel really upset and debilitated. thanks

Having trouble with mental health

replies: 2

Hey my name is Tessa, I have recently having trouble with my mental health and unsure where to turn.

Introduction - Tipi - Adult survivor of Child Sexual Abuse

replies: 6

Hi this is a very new exercise for me however we need to start somewhere. I am 55 years old and recently went to me Doctor to discuss my life struggle with child sexual abuse. The Doc diagnosed me with PTSD and gave me a mental health plan, I am currently meeting online with a Psychologist and have had 3 sessions. At our session today I mentioned that it is very lonely in between our sessions while I am processing facets of this canker that I have scratched the top off!!!! She suggested joining a forum that would provide a forum to discuss and share experiences so that I don’t feel so alone while I’m processing. Well that is just a very short version of my journey to this forum however now that I’m here I already feeling better just typing these few lines. Looking forward to chatting

Newbie here

replies: 6

Hi. Im 52 married for 31 years and a mum to 2 adult kids. A few months ago i suffered a mental breakdown ending up in hospital. It was caused by some bad news in the family. Since then i have suffered with some bad anxiety and as it nears christmas i am feeling very low when usually its my favourite time of the year. I am seeing a psycologist and have a mental health plan in place. I am a christian. Im also going through menopause which is making all this worse, Id just like to connect with someone in a similar circumstance

How to move from sadness to triumph?

replies: 9

Hi, please call me Duracell. Apparently i appear really enthusiastic and smart in front of everybody. However, people are actually jealous of me and i have been ostracized since the primaries...not to mention the fact that i am of mixed race...it doesn't matter where i go, i feel comfortable with people but can't fit into any category and people prejudge me according to their thinking of "me"..what race i look to them. I am sad because despite all the gifts i have for humanity ( i don't have an inflated ego, by the way) Gifts such as understanding and compassion ..time and time again, people just use me because i am nice...Nobody really cares, not even my overprotective father, who actually only cares about money.. i should be happy..my mother lost her mother when she was 4? And her father never really looked after her...She is a lone child..All her life she has to struggle...struggle to get love..i love my mother...but even when she was around, i guess i did not treat her right (yes, just because she was too nice) so is there any justice or am i just receiving my karma?

Newbie

replies: 1

Hi i. New to this forum just want to say hello. I suffer ptsd and anxiety. If anyone can tell me if its normal to get anxious and feel depressed when all alone

Why is moving on so hard?

replies: 13

Hi all, I’m new to this forum. I’m 55 yrd old and been in a relationship for the past year. Before that I was single for 14 yrs and very happy. I left a marriage to a violent alcoholic (Who also had affairs).... after 20 years and swore I would not be with an alcoholic ever again! i was happy being on my own, if I wasn’t in a relationship, I couldn’t get my heart broken, right?! i tried online dating, I had some nice dates but no spark from me. My last date was actually a friend of some people that I know. They all said he is a good guy, although I didn’t feel an attraction, he did seem like a nice guy. One girl told me he does like a drink and he needs to cut back. So I ignored that response flag! over the year, he has not really gone out of his way for this relationship. I’m a people pleaser so put in way more than I should have. He could not be bothered coming to my house to see me, I would always run to his. A few times I turned up, he was passed out drunk on his verandah in his chair. I knew what I was doing was wrong, I didn’t listen to my gut! My father died this year, 2 weeks later my dog died suddenly. There was no support, no flowers, he didn’t even attend my dads funeral. I felt so unsupported During covid, we really lived together as I was there daily. I would cook and clean, we got along great. I saw that he actually drank more than what he claimed. I ignored this again, I was just happy of he would spend some time with me. We would pretty much go to bed after dinner.... he would sit out in his shed on a milk crate and drink... a lot! I moved in with him and nothing changed, he would say he had phone calls and continued to sit out in his shed drinking and watching YouTube. I felt so lonely, I hated it! I had major neck surgery, he said he would look after me, he didn’t step up, he actually sat out in his shed and drank even more! I felt so let down by him, I gave my all to this relationship. I left a few weeks ago, he called me and promised to give up drinking, he loves me and was sorry for how he didn’t step up.I fell for his empty words again (many times this has happened) We were to go on a date on the Saturday night, he cancelled, he said he wanted to work on himself, it’s not goodbye, he needs to give up the drink to have a happy life with me. It broke my heart when I found out that he hasn’t stopped drinking!! I ended it, I said I’m done and don’t contact me again. I know he has a disease, but I just can’t do this anymore

ADHD and depression

replies: 2

hi 4 weeks ago tomorrow I wanted the pain of having ADHD over. Since then and despite numerous calls by my GP and myself we cannot get into our local private hospital.

New here

replies: 1

Just checking in. I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression over 20 years ago. Been to numerous Psychologists and Psychiatrists, Clinics. The only posititive outcome was stopping drinking. I developed Cerebellar Ataxia which was diagnosed due to alcohol. It’s so frustrating with loss of balance and coordination. Days are very exhausting. Don’t have any friends and family keep in touch but just. Nobody understands. I manage my Depression, well I seem to but can’t remember when I was happy. Been on a high dose of Antidepressants for years. Doctors say can’t be increased. Tried everything on the market. I am willing to try any treatments but haven’t found any options. Guess Clinical Depression has no cure. So reaching out to those who have been diagnosed with CD. Thank you for listening and your patience.

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Dreading Xmas replies: 3

Putting it out there replies: 2

Having trouble with mental health replies: 2

Introduction - Tipi - Adult survivor of Child Sexual Abuse replies: 6

Newbie here replies: 6

How to move from sadness to triumph? replies: 9

Newbie replies: 1

Why is moving on so hard? replies: 13

ADHD and depression replies: 2

New here replies: 1