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 call me iNKi

replies: 4

Hello everyone! My name is Inki. My new here and this is my very first time to write/post/intereact to others via forum. I'm still unsure on what to say, really. But please bear with me and be kind . The reason why I'm here is that I'm seeking for an organisation where I can offer my help as a volunteer. Gladly, I found this site - Beyond Blue. I'm being diagnosed with Severe Depression and Anxiety. About few years ago, I experienced a horrible bullying and injury at work. This happened a year after a lost my granddad, my life's strongest pillar. I also lost few friends since then because a lot of them just didn't seem to understand my struggles back then. I think they just saw me as someone who was omce a cheerful, confident and loving woman that turned into a a different kind of person. That's what they thought, sadly. But actually, I didn't change really. I was just a person whose wounded and in such pain (physically and mentally). Only few stayed for me. Most of them turned their backs on me. I even felt hurt but after a while I realised that I shouldn't be. Because through that experience, I was able to open my eyes and knew who were the genuine ones and who weren't. I should say, it was indeed a blessing of disguise. It was a tough year/s, I may say. It was incomparable and honestly I wouldn't even wish for any one to experience what happened to me. I was even on meds. Human as I am, I got vulnerable. I cried, cried and cried. But hey, maybe I'm a still a strong person though because I'm proud to say that I got big improvements from the previous years and I'm proud of it. It wasn't east, still, not easy but everyday I'm doing my very best to regain my old self. Old self that I'm also aiming to improve and be the best version of me. Baby steps. I'm getting there, slowly but surely.

My ADHD MEDICATION ADDICTION/ABUSE.

replies: 5

Hey everyone I hope everyone is staying safe. ABOUT ME - so at age 20 I was diagnosed with attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and was prescribed a popular ADHD medication. For the past 10 years I have experienced depression, social anxiety, obsessive ruminating thoughts and a bipolar diagnosis All of which I did not have before starting my medication. I have now become addicted and abuse my medication and can’t go a day without it. I have tried giving up cold turkey which was unsuccessful and have also tried slowly reducing my dose with doctors help but could not give it up. I discussed my addiction with my psychiatrist who said that he had never experienced a patient being addicted to ADHD medication which I feel is untrue. I was wondering if anyone has experienced ADHD medication addiction and if anyone was able to detox from it and how they did it ? I feel that because my medication is given to me by a medical doctor that an addiction to it is not recognised or taken as seriously as other addictions. I can’t thank everyone enough for your support. also I feel that when I’m very depressed I have obsessive thoughts about my ex partner yet I have the best girlfriend a man could ask for right instead front of me! If anyone has any advice on how to stop/prevent the obsessive thought cycle about my ex I would be so thankful.

Carer

replies: 3

Hi I'm a carer at home to my husband who has Complex PTSD, Major depressive disorder, chronic anxiety, plus my oldest daughter who has CFS and my youngest daughter has PTSD, Social and separation anxiety.I myself suffer from clinical Depression. I am also a support worker and sole earner in the family.Recently My manager where I work gave me a week off of work because I wasn't coping very well. My doctor has given me a month off. I am so so tired, no inspiration to do anything, everything thing is so hard to do. I am emotional, in pain when I get up. I have no more to give, yet I have to go on.

My mum is dying from Ovarian Cancer and I’m SO angry

replies: 3

My mum was diagnosed with metastatic cancer that has spread to her liver. She was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian Cancer 3 years ago and we were told the news that she only had a few weeks/months left to live 4 weeks ago. I’ve gone through the stages of being numb and supportive and encouraging to myself, my mum and my family. But now I’m just angry. My mum (49 years old) hasn’t wanted to do anything for my sister (22 years old) and I (24 years old) which breaks my heart. I know nothing about what’s ahead of me or what to expect with parenthood, giving birth, marriage, work and life. I feel cheated out of a mother and my future experiences where I have always seen her being there to offer support and wisdom. My mother and I have been bestfriends for so long and I’m struggling so much with the fact she doesn’t want to talk about her feelings, share stories or wisdom. It makes me so angry. I have a sister that suffers from bipolar and I’m also having to deal with walking on egg shells to ensure I don’t upset her. She’s angry with me as I have a partner who wants to support and be there for me and the family. She finds him “a lot” and I feel extremely uncomfortable with how she makes him feel and I feel like I’m in a really awkward situation when I’m trying to get support from him when I feel so alone from my family. I’m angry at the doctors that aren’t able to operate. I’m angry that ovarian cancer kills so many young mothers. I’m angry at my mum for wasting her last few weeks and months doing nothing.

Really Struggling

replies: 21

I have a good job, been there 14 years. On unpaid leave since mid-January due to my own mental illness and because I was caring for my sister. My sister recently attempted suicide, I found her, it messed me up, more than I was before.I have heaps of medical and mental health issues, 27 different medications a day. Chronic pain. Bladder Cancer. Bipolar 2 with psychotic features, Anxiety and Depression. Then some. Currently recovering from a brief psychotic episode, managed to have that with none of my family realising or doing a thing about it. Currently struggling with anxiety and depression. My anxiety is off the charts but I have medications to help control that. My depression is really bad at the moment, self care is basically non-existant. I shower when I have to, used to be when I had appointments but Im down to if they are going to need any clothes off or its been more than what deoderant and cologne can cover up. Eating is a bit, I dunno. I wake up at like 1 or 2 in the morning and will have some cereal. Im buying lite n' Easy meals for lunch and tea, like their main meals and force myself to have lunch but its usually postponed. Tea, I have to eat for my medication so again Im putting it off but making myself do it. Crap food, no problem, ill eat that all day if left to it.Medications is a bit of a deal. I dont want to take them, 1/2 the time I think they are poison, the rest of the time its just a battle to take them. I had spinal procedure recently so daily life is a bit 'relaxed' I try to do what I can but its not much as most things cause pain. Getting around 5 hours sleep is doing well. This has been the case or a while, not the procedure, though pain has been an issue for a long time. Waking up seeing a vision of my sister when I found her from her attempt. They are regular and happen during the day.

Cannot get along with people

replies: 3

I had a lot of bad experience, my parents don't love me, they tried to ask for money. I once broke up with a 3-year-boyfriend and is deeply betrayed. I got mistreated at work, I tried so hard to make friends but coworkers just being selfish, no one truly cares about me. Now I feel i lost the courage of talking to people and cannot get along with my hate to people, what can i do?

Grief and anxiety

replies: 2

Hi, my situation has been complex and very sad after the passing of my dad.I never expected so much struggle and sadness after 3 and half year of this event. Every day is difficult to reduce the gigantic anxiety even I'm taking medication seen a psyc... View more

Shite happens

replies: 2

Sometimes after reflection we know a clear path but because of bad choices made previously Sometimes decades ago we are entrenched. Hope is not a factor only survival. Responsibility of children and pets make.it impossible to renew. We live day to day.This creates a depression which goes against the core of optimism I know what I have to do. Be grateful. But how do I create meaningful relationships with teenage children and work hard to create a neglected career then try to make life affirming decisions. ToughI'm sad

Tired of treading the same water...

replies: 10

I call it the churn. Helplessness, inability to break the cycle, always finding the same rut again. Like it's inevitable. I'm a male in my 40s, feeling like I've missed a stack of opportunities, and ruined relationships with plenty of good women. I'm well educated, never really made anything of myself though. Started and didn't finish every uni degree or certificate I attempted. Rest of my family are massively successful, loved me to bits, and I disappeared in my stubbornness and inability to grow the f up. I've missed the bus on starting a family. I haven't honoured my Dad who passed when I was young. I found success in music and threw it away with drug use and lack of commitment. I floated through life while I was given the golden ticket, now it's passed me by. I don't have the respect if my peers. I'm a decent person, that never achieved much. And now I'm writing this here. Feeling like I'm still acting without purpose. Embarrassed. A failure. Wondering who would bother reaching out to someone that had it all, and fucked it up. I don't even have the balls to be suicidal. To anyone reading this going through your own version of hell, I hope this place helps you find some peace.

Wife suffering from persecutory delusions, can they eventually forgive the wrongly accused?

replies: 1

My wife of nearly 20 years has always suffered from depression but the past 4 years have been the hardest on me due to the amplification of her hypervigilance/judgemental-ness/persecutory beliefs based on past unresolved trauma. She has seen a psychiatrist for many years but they never seem to delve into the cause and over the past 4 years her paranoia regarding people close to me has escalated.I have had to part way for numerous friends, minimal contact with my family and I am now more isolated than ever. I have given up sports that I enjoyed due to the clubs being part of the conspiracy. These people are accused of sharing emails or texts, hacking accounts, passing on information to media outlets and general gaslighting in an effort to get her to return to a past workplace (one source of her past trauma).Like many people suffering the above, jumping to conclusions with minimal evidence, not believing her Dr and being angry at needing medication (antidepressant and a mild antipsychotic) when she believes it's all these people who need to stop and apologise.Can someone who believes in these things so strongly ever get to a point where they realise that these people have not done what her mind has convinced her of or is it 'locked in'.I guess I am at a point where I am assessing our future as a family unit. We have children and it is really starting to impact them and my lust for life is also at an all-time low.I read all the help guides regarding caring for someone suffering from this, but I fear catching up with people (who have not been accused) as I may lose them too.It's not a great way to live and if things are set in her mind, even if she gets things under control, I miss all my friends and catching up with family regularly without the crippling anxiety it brings me.Thanks

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Just call me iNKi replies: 4

My ADHD MEDICATION ADDICTION/ABUSE. replies: 5

Carer replies: 3

My mum is dying from Ovarian Cancer and I’m SO angry replies: 3

Really Struggling replies: 21

Cannot get along with people replies: 3

Grief and anxiety replies: 2

Shite happens replies: 2

Tired of treading the same water... replies: 10

Wife suffering from persecutory delusions, can they eventually forgive the wrongly accused? replies: 1