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Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

JuAbby1402 My Mum died
  • replies: 7

Hello Everyone, I am new to this, and a little worried.. I recenly lost my mum to Lung Cancer in November, and I am still so incredibly sad.. Even more so, after spending Xmas without her, Is so hard!! She loved Xmas so much!!

Hello Everyone, I am new to this, and a little worried.. I recenly lost my mum to Lung Cancer in November, and I am still so incredibly sad.. Even more so, after spending Xmas without her, Is so hard!! She loved Xmas so much!!

Holt372 I am an expat and get really depressed at christmas
  • replies: 6

I have been suffering from depression for a long time now and am usually very stable . However the period between Christmas and New year is always difficult for me because in the UK my family, which is very big, would always get together, but here ev... View more

I have been suffering from depression for a long time now and am usually very stable . However the period between Christmas and New year is always difficult for me because in the UK my family, which is very big, would always get together, but here everybody goes away or is off doing things with their family. I have an awesome husband and 3 great kids but I still feel really lonely and no matter how much we plan and stay busy I struggle to switch it off and I end up not enjoying what we're doing because I worry about how I will feel when we're not busy. I know it's just a short period and probably next week I'll be much better but I'm in need of SOS right now.

Shommi Link between OCD and mental health
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone.just joined this forum.was wondering if other people can shed light on the link between OCD and mental health issues.seems easy to diagnose urself with something whilst not really understanding things alot

Hey everyone.just joined this forum.was wondering if other people can shed light on the link between OCD and mental health issues.seems easy to diagnose urself with something whilst not really understanding things alot

Doolhof Merry Christmas, Happy New Year , Season's Greetings
  • replies: 18

Wishing everyone all the best for the festive season. Maybe you celebrate Christmas, maybe you hate it, maybe it means nothing to you at all and maybe you have other celebrations this time of year or none at all. We are such a diverse group here on t... View more

Wishing everyone all the best for the festive season. Maybe you celebrate Christmas, maybe you hate it, maybe it means nothing to you at all and maybe you have other celebrations this time of year or none at all. We are such a diverse group here on the forum, making up this amazing community. If you would like to share something about this time of year, you are welcome to do so. I also realise that around the world New Year's Eve is celebrated during many different months. It would be interesting to have a look at an international calendar, then fly to every country celebrating New Year's through the year to learn new traditions and beliefs. If you celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very Happy Christmas and hope you find peace with in. If you don't celebrate, I still wish you inner peace and hope for all. Kindest regards from Dools

Youre1 I am new to this, wondering if it really helps.
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I just joined this forum, I have tried pretty much everything else to deal with my very severe depression over the last 12 years. My depression is in the very severe. What started it off is the loss of a career that I devoted my life to. Then... View more

Hi all, I just joined this forum, I have tried pretty much everything else to deal with my very severe depression over the last 12 years. My depression is in the very severe. What started it off is the loss of a career that I devoted my life to. Then I lost my mom to cancer and have been on a downward spiral ever since. I am a softie and mum told me that softies have a hard time in life and suffer more. I just wanted to try this forum and from what I have read, there are many people suffering just like me. It makes me feel that I can relate to so many of you. Depression is a horrible illness that has taken control of my life or as I call it an existence. Every day I wonder why I woke up today, what is the point? But mum always used to tell me to keep going and be strong. Its very hard. Anyway, thanks to all for posting your personal feelings on this forum, it is a bit uplifting that we are suffering in different ways, but at the same time we have so much in common.

Hanna3 Moved to a new town and really alone
  • replies: 55

Hi, I'm in my early 60s and not well off, I recently made a big move to an inland town from the coast and am finding it cliquey and really hard to get to know anyone. I live alone with my dog who has separation anxiety so it is hard to leave him alon... View more

Hi, I'm in my early 60s and not well off, I recently made a big move to an inland town from the coast and am finding it cliquey and really hard to get to know anyone. I live alone with my dog who has separation anxiety so it is hard to leave him alone at home for long, which limits what I can do. I am really homesick for the easy-going lifestyle near the sea but thought a cooler climate would suit me better as I don't cope with heat well, but it's been really hot here and bad drought. I didn't expect such heat but everyone tells me it's got worse in the last couple of years and I don't have aircon, so am stuck inside the house alone a lot. I am in public housing so it's an old fibro place with no insulation. I have friends who live a long way away but as soon as I mention to them I am feeling lonely they don't want to talk and I feel very let down, as one of them had a lot of family problems and I always let her talk a long time and tried to give her some support, now I need it there is none back. I've tried joining things like a choir and a book club but only met once before they finished for the Christmas/New Year and don't go back until February. Due to the dog's anxiety I try not to leave him alone during the day, we walk in the park a lot but you don't run into the same people often - this town is quite big, where I lived before was very small and you had a lot of acquaintances as you kept running into the same people. Anyway I feel like I've made a huge mistake, I thought there would be more for me to do here than where I lived before but in fact it's worse, I have no family, and no friends to talk to. Hoping there is some support here as I feel lonely enough to curl up on the floor - I don't have the money to move back and anyway the wait for Housing would be years. Feel like I've made a huge mess of my life and my poor little dog seems depressed and lonely too. Thanks for any support.

Bulus_Shabbaz Newbie (introduction).
  • replies: 2

Greetings brothers and sisters, and nonbinary persons. I have had several diagnoses attributed to me over the many years, however, the current conditions that I am treated for are schizoaffective disorder (bipolar type) and social phobia/anxiety. I h... View more

Greetings brothers and sisters, and nonbinary persons. I have had several diagnoses attributed to me over the many years, however, the current conditions that I am treated for are schizoaffective disorder (bipolar type) and social phobia/anxiety. I have always dealt with my conditions publicly with a wild eccentric sense of humour, however, when I am alone at home, the psychological demons can be a lot more than I wish to bare. I am a man of faith, and while it does help with me carry the burden to a certain degree, this year has been particularly hard for me. And so I have decided to join a support forum for mental health.

Gadzooks A hard year
  • replies: 4

Hi all, Didn’t think I’d ever get to the point of posting here though I guess I thought I’d be feeling better by this point in the year. I was properly diagnosed with anxiety at the start of 2019 and have had periods of depression as well. I’m trying... View more

Hi all, Didn’t think I’d ever get to the point of posting here though I guess I thought I’d be feeling better by this point in the year. I was properly diagnosed with anxiety at the start of 2019 and have had periods of depression as well. I’m trying to do everything in my power to help and make it better and yet twelve months down the track I’m here unable to sleep because my brain won’t stop. There’s a lot of positives from 2019 but I can only hope things are easier soon. It’s hard to focus on progress and enjoyment when you’re having a million thoughts at once. I guess I’m here to just exist in a space where I’m understood for a bit. I’m anxious at making phone calls at the best of times although I’ve used the Lifeline text service before. Anyway I’m not going to do anything right now just hopefully sleep having let this out. Thanks G

Jojo2010 Hello, I'm new here
  • replies: 1

Hello, I thought I would give this a try. I was diagnosed as having bi-polar disorder thirteen years ago. Mostly, I manage. I take my meds regularly and I've been sober since 2003. I'm a single mother, although both of my children are now adults and ... View more

Hello, I thought I would give this a try. I was diagnosed as having bi-polar disorder thirteen years ago. Mostly, I manage. I take my meds regularly and I've been sober since 2003. I'm a single mother, although both of my children are now adults and have moved out of home. Due to a Family Court ruling, I have remained in a small country town where my former partner and I shared custody of the children. I once was fairly involved in the community. My former partner and his now wife were "high profile", very active, involved so I just found it easier to stay at home rather than risk running into them. It was just easier, but now of course I don't have friends in town. I have acquaintances but no one that I socialise with. I realise that this is of my own doing. Anyway, I'm alone for Christmas and I'm hoping that there will be some kind of online support available. My son lives 400km away and is working. My daughter has made other arrangements with friends; if I'm honest I'm hurting that she didn't ask if I had any plans, even though I tried to work something out a few months back. I don't have any family close by. I have difficulty asking for support, so the anonymity of this forum - I hope - will work for me. Thank you

Zero_self_esteem_1986 Tired of the same cycle and needing to break it
  • replies: 1

Hi, I’m a 33yr old man and I struggle daily with self image problems. I can’t stand to look at myself physically in the mirror and this leads on then to feeling anxiety and low self worth. I have been to a psychologist and found this not very effecti... View more

Hi, I’m a 33yr old man and I struggle daily with self image problems. I can’t stand to look at myself physically in the mirror and this leads on then to feeling anxiety and low self worth. I have been to a psychologist and found this not very effective. I also tried hypnotherapy. This made me worse and very angry for about a week then it actually worked, for about 3-4 months. Now I have relapsed and want to learn to love myself before I end up ruining my relationships. Any help or opinions that can point me in the right, or at least some direction, is greatly appreciated. Thanks for having me.