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Cyclone Alfred - Mental Health Support

replies: 1

Hey everyone, We acknowledge that many of our Forums members here are currently facing the impacts of Cyclone Alfred and might be feeling uncertain, afraid and overwhelmed. We wanted to create a separate post here to come together during what may be a distressing time for many of us to support one another. Recognising that the impacts of a natural disaster can occur both before, during and after, we have prepared some resources which we hope can be helpful: From the Queensland Government, Useful information to help you get ready for a cyclone:Home | Get Ready Queensland Emotional Preparedness: Prepare your mind | Australian Red Cross Three-steps-to-emotionally-prepare-for-the-disaster-season.pdf What now? Coping after the event: Coping after a crisis | Australian Red Cross Maintaining wellbeing in the face of long-term stress | Australian Red Cross Emergency preparedness guide | Australian Red Cross As always, if you wish to speak to a counsellor, the Beyond Blue Support Service is available via phone 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via beyondblue.org.au/get-support for online chat. Stay safe, everyone, and take good care of yourself during what can be a deeply challenging time. Kind regards 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 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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64 YO Mother of 4 grown boys

replies: 2

I am having trouble getting myself out of a major low. My 4 grown boys all have partners and are starting families of their own. All good in that respect and involved with them all. I have been on antidepressants for over 20 years since my ex husband was diagnosed with personality disorder . He conned his whole family out of their life savings including me and his children. This is long gone but lately I find myself in a terrible low thinking everyones life could go on better without me. I would never commit suicide but I need help with how to go forward and get myself out of this cave. Can someone please tell me where to begin to regain myself and my life.

Depression and addiction

replies: 2

Hi everyone first off thanks for letting me be a part of the community and letting me vent. I have read a lot of the posts and I really appreciate everyone sharing their stories. About me I have been suffering severe depression for about 18 months after losing a large sum of money in a bad investment I went to a psychologist and went on antidepressants for about 8 months but didn't like the numbness that they make you feel and ended up turning to illicit drugs. I ended up overdosing and had a very bad experience in front of my wife and children. At the time I swore I would never do that again. I stopped all the drugs including the antidepressants. 6 months have gone past I am doing great I have lost weight I am training regularly my mood is good. But a good friend bucks party is coming up and I think to myself I can go I will get some gear and hold onto it till the event and i will have a good time just like I used to when I was in my early 20s. Well it didn't go well I took all the drugs straight away my wife found out again and I have compromised my job. I am suffering terrible withdrawals and my depression is back with a vengeance but not just depression full blown anxiety attacks and suicidal thoughts. I realise now the trigger and that I cannot attend these kind of events anymore but the shame I feel right now because of all the people I have disappointed is just so crushing. I am now seeking professional help for the depression and the addiction with the support of my wife who is staying with me bless her. Hopefully I can get my life back on track.

Just a little lost

replies: 3

Not sure how to start this, not the expressing type of person to people easy, the one person who I did trust and there was nothing off limits recently passed away in an accident and I am feeling so lost and alone. Despite everything that was going on past and present, he just had a way of calming me down with just a hug, and now everything I've been dealing with (I have ptsd from being abused as a child, I grew up with violent family members, I was kidnapped by a parent , I didn't know my parents until I was older so to me they were strangers, I've had every family responsibility just dropped on me ,robbing me of a normal childhood whatever that may be. And now I've lost the one person in the world who was my normal My calm . And I haven't slept in weeks , I cry at just the thought of breathing , which I can barely do at the moment, I'm just so tired. I've been trying to keep myself busy with things but I've honestly lost interest in so much of the things I usually do. I want to crawl into a ball in a corner and just stay there . I am going to see my Doc this week as he picked up something was wrong and I'm just feeling like I've let my depression win if I get back on my medication but I also know I'm not coping and now I'm causing myself more anxiety . I'm just a little lost at the moment , I'm not even sure what I'm looking for. Maybe some advice .

Loved, Lost, Left.

replies: 3

I recently ended my second serious relationship after 4.5 years. I felt I was unloved and unappreciated. I became what I think was just another household appliance. Fix this, make that, do this and in return I received nothing. My ex partner has 3 young adult and teenage children, her excuse was that she is a mother and she works and has no time for affection. I myself work 70 hours a week, yet I always tried to be a loving, caring partner. Now that I have left the relationship, she wants to make it right. I see here sincerity, but how long will this last, a day, a week, a month, a year? My heart is blackened and I have no more love to give. A loved her and the kids more than I have loved anyone or anything in my life. In my head the best thing for me to do is move as far away as possible and start a new life. Am I being selfish or just doing what I need to do? Please help, thank you

New Dad . . .harder than I would have thought

replies: 6

Hi, I am a new Dad (6month old baby). My wife does most of the heavy lifting in terms of looking after the baby while she is on maternity leave, but for some reason I still feel overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted and so on. I try and help out as much as I can. Our baby is a treasure but I seem to be constantly struggle. Since she was born I had to put down my cat who died in my arms and that tore me up and then wanting to be always around I have given up all exercise which used to be important to me. My wife is very critical of me so much of the time, but with good reason, she is exhausted and worried about returning to work and the load she is carrying. Maybe it is also the state of the world at the moment but I have sensed my anxiety taking hold and my thoughts getting darker every week or so and whether it is my time, because I don’t feel like the great Dad I aspire to be, but then I look at the baby and I am right again. I have also thrown myself into work, likely as a distraction which I gather is pretty common, but it feels like it is all I do and defining me and just feeding more anxiety. I am trying to make a plan to make some changes based on some of the things I have been reading here from other peoples experiences, but the big thing is I don’t know whether to just start making changes to things like work and hope it starts to right things. Or if I should talk to my wife first. . . .I don’t want to add to her stress at all and fear I might in talking about it hence I am thinking to try changing the path a bit without talking. Finding time for exercise is the big one that I can’t do without talking to her. Take care,

How to get help

replies: 2

HiI'm an older person with a dx of BPD, C-PTSD and anxiety/depression. How do people get help? I work part time due to my mental health. I have paid over $3000 this year in psychiatrists and psychologist fees and have got nowhere apart from broke. I have spent 5 days, full days being passed from pillar to post trying to get help in the public sector. Apparantly because I have 'officially' a psychologist I cannot access a Qld Health service, so then I tried a NGO service who advertise a group but don't actually run the group and referred me back to the Qld Health Service. The took all of my info and then referred to the NGO who, under a different name took all of my personal info again, and then nothing ... for 2 months! Called them today and they told me "Sorry, you don't exist in our system". Then told me they will look at their process. I can't get NDIS because I havent had all the therapy available and evidence it doesnt work so I need to get a functional assessment. The functional assessment, without asking me any questions about what it is for is billed at 6-10 hours of work and will cost 2500 - 5000. So that is out. I was told by Qld Health that I should take private health insurance. I checked out this option to find out that it will cost $175 a week for my age and I have to pay $750 excess to start using it. So I ask, how does anyone get any help for their mental health? I am sick to death of people telling me how resilient I am and how strong I am. I need help, and I am fortunate, and privileged that I am intelligent and persistent enough to keep going, but I am exhausted from having to battle to be heard and helped.

Panic attacks

replies: 1

Hi. Wonder if anyone can help me get through these panic attacks. Feeling over anxious.Feeling guilty as I know people are worse than me. Thank you.

The Long Haul

replies: 2

HiI'm a long time sufferer of major depressive disorder, I am also diagnosed with complex PTSD & general anxiety disorder.Things have not been going well for me of late. I am having trouble finding a suitable job, my mother's health is deteriorating rapidly, my so-called friends have acted in ways that friends just wouldn't act.I have been sleeping 12–16 hours per day even though I have a lot of things that I need to get done, I just can't muster the energy to do them.I used to be on various antidepressants, that for me personally, did more harm than good in the end, I spent some time in a mental health ward due to this. I then weened my way off of them over a couple of"unpleasant"years.Though I have contemplated suicide, I can't take that way out, it would be unfair to my kids & my dog.I would like to try some of the newer psychotherapies that are available, being a truck driver (unemployed) there are some that are just not an option though.My regular GP, whom I liked, moved on to another town & I need to find a new GP. This has contributed to my overall deteriorating mental health too.There is much I have left unsaid here.I'd be willing to do some counciling but finding a councillor that I am comfortable with is not easy.Thanks for reading.

My best friend is friends with the one that bullied me

replies: 1

It’s taken a bit to write in hereI have felt quite isolated and have so much doubt and shame my recent experience with being bullied has left me unable to trust people with any of my deepest feelings it’s soul destroying I don’t even know how to talk about what has happened and is still happening to me Ad I’m always the strong one and I always brush my feelings aside and just deal with the situation but not this time

Newbie

replies: 4

Hello Everyone,I am new to the blue voices so am here to introduce myself. I am a mum, wife and psychology honours student. I found myself on this path after suffering a sudden and extreme PTSD attack after the birth of my second child. If it weren't for my husband advocating for me then, I don't know where I would be now. As well as finding out that I had been living with PTSD, undiagnosed for over 20 years, I learnt that my "quirks" were actually severe anxiety and OCD. I wasn't actually a high-achieving, leader type, I just operated out of fight or flight constantly making me a chronic people pleaser. There is a lot more to this story, but suffice to say, through this I felt called to study psychology, and I love it. I can not wait for the day I can help others and I hope that this will afford me the opportunity to do that in a meaningful way, as well as advocate for mental health by telling my story.

Cyclone Alfred - Mental Health Support replies: 1

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

64 YO Mother of 4 grown boys replies: 2

Depression and addiction replies: 2

Just a little lost replies: 3

Loved, Lost, Left. replies: 3

New Dad . . .harder than I would have thought replies: 6

How to get help replies: 2

Panic attacks replies: 1

The Long Haul replies: 2

My best friend is friends with the one that bullied me replies: 1

Newbie replies: 4