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Sophie_M 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 Be... View more

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.

Aaronsis 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 th... View more

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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Hunz Moving on from bullying, what how when?
  • replies: 2

At work I was intimidated to follow a team culture of near enough is good enough. I decided to challenge the culture and was immediately bullied and harassed. Trying to remain professional and being humiliated at work went on for over a year. When i ... View more

At work I was intimidated to follow a team culture of near enough is good enough. I decided to challenge the culture and was immediately bullied and harassed. Trying to remain professional and being humiliated at work went on for over a year. When i couldn’t cope with the workplace any more I told my GP the amount of distress I was in. I got a careplan and few days off while I cleared my head. That was 4 months ago,the distressed period lasted for weeks followed by panic attacks and I was in no shape to be addressing the work matter without support and treatment for anxiety and depression. I know I need to talk about the bullying but I cry, get embarrassed ashamed. I’ve talked to a psychologist a few times I got the reassurance that my reactions were normal if I felt unsafe going to work, that made me realise that it had become normal to everyone to see me nervous on edge if not teary I felt sorry for my family So how do i move on when bullying has destroyed confidence and trust I had. It’s destroyed my positivity and interest in working and probably destroyed my professional reputation and opportunities. Does move on mean stop procrastinating and demand outcomes so I have closure? Move on from internal to external avenues? Accept an apology and move on?

REN70 Hi
  • replies: 1

Hard night. Feeling very much alone

Hard night. Feeling very much alone

Ace.x-ray Feeling blue lately because of stress of work and financial struggles
  • replies: 3

Hello this is my first post and I want to tell you a little bit about myself before I write my problems I am facing right now. I am a shy and quiet woman and have been bullied for a long time, which started in high school and it is still happening up... View more

Hello this is my first post and I want to tell you a little bit about myself before I write my problems I am facing right now. I am a shy and quiet woman and have been bullied for a long time, which started in high school and it is still happening up until now. It has affected me so much that I lose faith and trust in people who I meet and they don’t understand my personality. I am often quiet and resevrd which they think I am ignorant or uninterested but I am not because of my shyness. Also my father was never there in my life as he was a gambler and an alcoholic, stealing money from my family and going to the rsl clubs to play poker when he didn’t care about us. I have been struggling to find full time work in the last few years and it is because I lack in confidence and my shyness gets in the way as well as my anxiety. So i have no idea where to go with this. But now I have got a part time job in housekeeping. A fee days ago I got my first feedback and it wasn’t great after reading my feedback. I felt hopeless and unworthy. I always blame myself and let myself down, that what I do doesn’t make my clients happy and I think that i am not good in anything and worry about my future.

Kbree Feeling like I've lost everything
  • replies: 2

I feel like I have lost everything, I'm 37 have chronic pain and it has affected my whole life including how much I can work. It affects my mental health a lot. I don't know what to do any more. I don't have any close friends and my family doesn't ge... View more

I feel like I have lost everything, I'm 37 have chronic pain and it has affected my whole life including how much I can work. It affects my mental health a lot. I don't know what to do any more. I don't have any close friends and my family doesn't get me and have no compassion for me at all. Im so tired of pain and emotional pain too. Any words of wisdom?

-sad- Hi
  • replies: 1

I don’t really know how to format this so here goes, i came here because no one knows me so can’t judge me. Recently I’ve been feeling empty and kinda lost and I don’t really know what to do about this and I hope someone can help me.

I don’t really know how to format this so here goes, i came here because no one knows me so can’t judge me. Recently I’ve been feeling empty and kinda lost and I don’t really know what to do about this and I hope someone can help me.

Aussie_English_Girl My Struggles
  • replies: 1

Hi, I used to have depression, but I still suffer anxiety. I joined this forum because I want a second opinion. My Mum thinks because I have an intellectual disability, and PTSD (which is under control), she thinks I have bipolar. She thinks all auti... View more

Hi, I used to have depression, but I still suffer anxiety. I joined this forum because I want a second opinion. My Mum thinks because I have an intellectual disability, and PTSD (which is under control), she thinks I have bipolar. She thinks all autistics are psycho. Her words, definitely not mine. I don't have bipolar, do I? And I keep telling her bipolar sufferers are not psycho, but she won't listen. She thinks I am always irritable, but she is failing to realise I'm only frustrated when I can't understand something (I have an intellectual delay), or when she is such an essentialist. My PTSD symptoms hardly show up now. Any help?

Lissy_75 Lost
  • replies: 1

I feel as if I have nothing left to give. My partner is at his wits ends with my emotional roller coaster and my children are worried. Which all adds up to me failing.

I feel as if I have nothing left to give. My partner is at his wits ends with my emotional roller coaster and my children are worried. Which all adds up to me failing.

Stacmeow numbness & out of body
  • replies: 2

Who else feels like brain & body are disconnected? like you are a watching from inside, in control of your actions & moments yet like it’s a play or something? the slowness, weakness & numbness is all consuming. I am trying my ‘get out of this rut’ t... View more

Who else feels like brain & body are disconnected? like you are a watching from inside, in control of your actions & moments yet like it’s a play or something? the slowness, weakness & numbness is all consuming. I am trying my ‘get out of this rut’ techniques. getting outside in the world. Being kind to myself, doing nice things to feel good.....but it’s not working

Png Lost My Family
  • replies: 3

Taken a long time but lost my family i think they couldn't live with my sadness is that possible

Taken a long time but lost my family i think they couldn't live with my sadness is that possible

ghostdad64 New user - my story
  • replies: 2

Hi all, New member of the forums here and to be honest, this is a big step for me. I am an estranged father of two children who are now 26 and 20 years old. I left the family home in 2006 not knowing this would mean I would essentially also be divorc... View more

Hi all, New member of the forums here and to be honest, this is a big step for me. I am an estranged father of two children who are now 26 and 20 years old. I left the family home in 2006 not knowing this would mean I would essentially also be divorcing my children. There was no domestic violence. I would never raise a hand to anyone let alone a woman. At the time, my children were 13 and 7. After a protracted legal battle where my ex was asking for sole custody, the judge decided that, in light of my son's age, he could see me "in accordance with his wishes"; he decided that would be never. Naturally he was never encouraged to maintain a relationship with me. My daughter, was ordered to spend every second Saturday with me. Based on the angst it would cause her, overnights were ruled out by the judge. She complied with these orders and despite being civil with me during these visits, the relationship was always strained. When I picked her up, she sat in the back seat always. She never called me dad. There was never any hugging or signs of affection. Not so much as a card for Father's day, birthdays or Christmas. As her 18th birthday approached, I enquired what would happen when the orders no longer applied. She informed me that she would no longer be seeing me. I had lost her as well. It has been 2.5 years since I've seen my daughter and 13 years since I've seen my son. I doubt I will ever see either of them again and the pain is more than I can bear. I don't know where they live and, honestly, would not feel right reaching out to two people who despise me so much. People often tell me things will improve. But how ? When ? I can't see it. I'm re-married with two adult stepdaughters but I miss my children. I want them to love me and include me in their lives. I doubt, if I died, they'd even come to the funeral. Sometimes I sit and just wonder what I did to deserve the cycle of pain that I have endured and will probably continue to endure until the day when it all just comes to an end. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.