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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Just feeling blue

replies: 26

Hello, im new here. Found this on beyond blue website. I’m 41 this year and have had episodes with anxiety and depression, mostly depression most of my life. I’m feeling so down and blue over the past 2 weeks, nothing and no one can cheer me up, my research seems to point at SAD as my condition tends to get worse during the colder months. I feel so drained of energy and emotions, I don’t feel like talking to or interacting with anyone, I keep having thoughts of regretting parent hood and find myself distancing from wife and 2 boys. All I do is just work long days and come home. I’m so sick of it. I have nothing left to give anymore, all I want to do is get under the blanket and hide all the time. I feel like I’m going nuts.. can anyone relate to this?

I can't do this anymore

replies: 2

I'm in a long term relationship with a cross dresser that became apparent to me after being together for 15yrs. I'm suppoto accept & agree to this when I myself am denied an intimate relationship for the last 4 yrs. Am I wrong in wanting to escape? View more

Chat :)

replies: 2

Hello. I’m Jordan. 22 female in aus. I face a lot of circumstances, I don’t ask for help but lately I’ve found talking to others and online chats or resources quite helpful. Would love to talk to someone feel free to reach out. No one will ever under... View more

New to forum

replies: 2

Hello, I am new to this forum. Am excited to get involved and give my insights. Matt

Hi! I'm new :)

replies: 7

Hey everyone This is the first time I've ever joined an online forum. I'm 22 and am recovering from an eating disorder. I've also recently been diagnosed with depression and experience a lot of anxiety at times as well. I decided to join because it's something totally different to what I would normally do and I need to start breaking my habits of internalising my feelings and silencing myself. I'm looking forward to connecting with a group of people with a shared experience and practicing vulnerability. Peach xx

newbie - my partner has PTSD and isn't coping

replies: 1

My partner is highly functioning most of the time but suffers from PTSD. Prior to Covid, she was seeing a counsellor once a week, but the telehealth alternative wasn't working and she has since stopped. I've read through the information about the signs of mental illness and she seems to be checking all the boxes right now in terms of mood, behaviour control, depression, low energy, weight gain and drinking. The way she appears to others is nothing like how she is at home. There seems to be a complete lack of boundaries, outbursts over little things and then situations where she is in tears sobbing. We have a small child at home and we are both WFH right now. I feel like I am just holding things together and can take care of my own self-care/workload stress. I've lowered my expectations, tried to follow her lead, make concessions, etc. What I am really struggling with is how contrary she is. I'm on eggshells. She says something and does the opposite. She agrees to things and never does them. She compiles lists and doesn't see anything through. I'm generally fatigued by 6 months of being in this yo-yo pattern, and feel like my bucket is empty...so...sadly, I'm struggling to empathise, listen, etc., I'm finding myself retreating and tuning out. We've always had an issue where she lashes out/gets everything off her chest and then thinks things should be fine afterwards. I'm more likely to need time to come back. The thing is...this is all amplified right now. She is lashing out more intensely and more frequently, and I feel like I am off on my own. Does anyone have any advice about dealing with the fatigue or how to set some ground rules/boundaries with someone in the depths? I'd love to get some advice on de-escalation techniques. Thank you.

My daughter

replies: 3

Hi my name is Melissa I have 4 kids my oldest is 15 she's saying she's depressed and what's to kill her self what should I do I try to talk to her but she dont tell me nothing

Introduced myself. Welcome !!

replies: 2

Hi guys and gals, I'm Mark, the new member here. The platform is looking good and I’m also anxious to see it live. Cheers!

My partner is in a Psychiatric unit and she is getting worse!

replies: 3

My partner has mental illness and had stopped taking her medication 12 months ago and over the past 4 months has started drinking really heavily, about a fortnight ago she became to violent for me to handle and I had to call the police, she then made her self a Voluntary Patient At a Psychiatric unit and now she is getting worse, I have only received 2 phone calls from a nurse and I’m am yet to hear from a doctor I have asked for the doctors number and have called it many times but no answer or message bank?? I’m finding this lack of information is really impacting my own mental health’ dose anyone have any suggestions what I should do? Who do I contact?

Hello everyone

replies: 2

Hi I'm D. I'm new to this and I found this while I am looking for help. I would like to connect with people who may be facing the same as me so together we can help each other. Thank you

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Just feeling blue replies: 26

I can't do this anymore replies: 2

Chat :) replies: 2

New to forum replies: 2

Hi! I'm new :) replies: 7

newbie - my partner has PTSD and isn't coping replies: 1

My daughter replies: 3

Introduced myself. Welcome !! replies: 2

My partner is in a Psychiatric unit and she is getting worse! replies: 3

Hello everyone replies: 2