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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Newbie

replies: 2

Hey never done this before

what's wrong with me?

replies: 2

can someone tell me why i'm like this? so for the past year iv'e been having massive outbursts of anger, it happens every three weeks or so, but it isn't normal anger.. I blow up over little things, but when it happens it feels like someone is controlling me, when the argument dies down I feel this need where I have to keep going, I can't help it, I can't stop myself. I go ballistic, screaming, crying ect. I scare my family and I scare myself. i'm so impulsive ill do anything when im angry I don't think or care about consequences, iv'e gotten in trouble by the police because of it. its an uncontrollable rage I can't seem how to properly describe it. I don't want to be like this anymore, its tearing my relationships in half but I can't seem to help it.

Uhh, Hi :)

replies: 1

Hello :). I am new to this. I'm Hurley, I use he/they pronouns and I like MCR and Fall Out Boy (hence the username). I have a social anxiety disorder, and yeah. I don't really know what this is, but I guess I just wanted to say hey. I don't even know... View more

Suffering from high anxiety and many worries

replies: 1

Hi all, I'm suffering terribly as I am going to lose everything and cannot seem to stop worrying to the extent that I cannot sleep, stay still I just keep pacing the floor. My husband is divorcing me and we are going to lose our houses. I'm worried as we have an 18 and 21 year old both not working. I don't believe I can work now as I have MS and a mental illness and both are at an all time high. Loss of use of left hand and cognitive reduction also I have lost all my confidence and have very low self-esteem. I would be open to any advice and support if you can help me please? Thank you

OCD help

replies: 1

This is my first time on here so bare with me ...I'm pretty sure i've had OCD for a while as i find myself having to make sure the taps are turned off even though i know they are and to continuously check that i have turned something off or locked my gate when i've already checked it like 5 times. However during the past 4 days i've been having intrusive thoughts about hurting myself and others close to me which i know i would NEVER do , it started happening after recently i had a fall out with my friends and that has been giving me alot of anxiety . I notice the thoughts tend to happen more when i'm alone or when i'm left to think about things and mainly happen when i'm at home. I was diagnosed with panic disorder a few years ago as well by my doctor and i was on medication for that for a couple years until i started to get memory loss so i went off the meds (gradually) as it was making my mind foggy . Last year was the first year i've been off them and i haven't really had any panic attacks like i use to but due to these thoughts now i keep getting anxious that they'll never go away and scared that i could even think about something like that when it's not something i'd ever want to EVER think about . I've been reading forums and it's made me feel a little better as i have felt so alone these past few days but i was wondering how to overcome this . i have tried to see counsellors in the past for anxiety but i could never get through it as i hate talking about my feelings and every time i see a counsellor i just break down and cry and they always ask me why and i never know .

Where to start

replies: 1

I am almost 50 a nurse has moved around more times than i can count. Since Covid has started ive been out of work (weird as im a nurse) town i live in there are no cases and havent been (touch wood) my children are all grown still living at home but never home. My husband works away and this time he will be gone for 8 months. Life is really lonely so food has become my friend, I have no friends here as we have not been long in this town, my family are 15 hours away. I woke up this morning thinking i might go to the dr and get some antidepressants as the minute you say you are sad they are so happy to oblige with pills. Then im lucky enough to find a job this week and dont want to start as my confidence is ZERO, ive gained weight like 20 plus kilos and i am hideous. I guess i dont know what im doing

Selective mutism? (work-related)

replies: 1

Hi everyone, first time posting but I have been visiting the forums for many years now. I've been struggling with something that only arises in work situations, specifically during team meetings. I find that I am unable to speak, not for fear of being 'exposed' or ridiculed, but because my brain seems to process things incredibly slowly. I feel that I only partially understand what's being discussed, and that I struggle to grasp the various 'big picture' issues raised by my colleagues. This is a problem I've had at every workplace, and it feels like it's getting worse. For context, I have been working in my current field for 5-6 years. Owing to the volatility of my sector, I have had about 12 jobs over this time. As such, I am a perpetual newbie. I also tend to be quite concrete and detail-oriented in how I process information, which I'm beginning to think is not useful in many of these workplaces. This inability to keep up with my colleagues and contribute to discussions is incredibly frustrating, and I sometimes find myself in tears after group meetings. I have been encouraged time and again to speak my mind, but the truth is that my brain empties as soon as the meeting begins and it's very hard for me to retrieve anything beyond a 'yes' or 'no'. What's more, if I do get an idea I can never string it together in a coherent sentence. Has anybody else experienced this problem? If so, do you have any recommendations on how to manage it? I realise that external factors aren't causing me to react like this, but I am also considering whether I'd be better suited to a different line of work entirely. Thanks for your time

Depression and Anxiety in the Workplace

replies: 3

Hi there this is my first post on here and ironically on R U Ok day? The answer is no. I have had depression for a long time but medicated for about four years now. Recently over the past two years have also been dealing with anxiety. I have been going through a tough patch over the last few months my depression has been spiraling and I find I’m isolating myself not wanting to socialise with my friends and have a mental struggle with myself just to get up and go to work each day. I find myself calling in sick more often then I’m going in. I have been questioning whether it would be better off for everyone if I just resign. I work in Childcare and love the children but I’m just struggling and don’t know what to do! I am finding that I’m less tolerant of their behaviour and don’t want to take out my problems on them. I took two weeks leave to have a break and try to get myself together my meds have been increased now for two months I spoke to my doctor this week about my struggles but I’m stuck. Any advice?

Hi All - new member / advise needed

replies: 7

Hi Everyone, I have been battling depression and anxiety since I was 7 years old, and I am now 29. This has mainly been caused by years of school bullying and the lack of action / protection by schools and adults in my life. Since finishing high school in 2008, my condition deteriorated further and I have built up anger towards my former school. I want to send the principal (who is the same as when I was at school) an email explaining what happened and the long term effects it's had on me, since back in the day nobody would ever speak to me about the problems or try to help. A lot of the reason I want to send this, is to get it off my chest, but I'm hesitant about if I should go ahead. I would appreciate peoples opinions if I should go ahead with this, and what I should include. Thanks in advance Dan

Feeling Lost

replies: 2

I am new to this and not sure how it works, am i aloud to post how i feel ?

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Newbie replies: 2

what's wrong with me? replies: 2

Uhh, Hi :) replies: 1

Suffering from high anxiety and many worries replies: 1

OCD help replies: 1

Where to start replies: 1

Selective mutism? (work-related) replies: 1

Depression and Anxiety in the Workplace replies: 3

Hi All - new member / advise needed replies: 7

Feeling Lost replies: 2