Welcome and Orientation

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Sorted by:

Start a discussion

odd feelings for a man.

replies: 4

Hi everyone, I won't beat around the bush. I am married all children grown up and living their own lives now. trouble is I get mixed signals about myself for men and it bothers me. I have a good friend who is gay and openly admits he is.. We are pretty close as it were but nothing sexual between us.. But if he is depressed or feeling blue and opens up to me about it, I get an erection for no reason other than empathy and wanting to be closer to help ease his pain. I stress it is not sexual. I am 65 and at my age erections are um hard to come by. So it bothers me that I can get one when talking to him over the phone or when he texts me about a problem he is having with himself. eg he felt sick today, been vomiting all night and wasn't in a mood for anyone except me. At one point he asked why I didn't come down to help him out a little. I was put off balance by this comment and for some odd bloody reason I got an erection. So anyone out there can answer that, let me know. There is nothing sexual between us. I must stress that over and over...We are very good mates and have been for over 40 years now.

Introduction, morning.

replies: 2

Hello, as you can see I am new and the whole introductory thing via text has never been something I am good at, but perhaps this time I wont make myself seem like some sort of strange person. I guess I'll get into details as to avoid spamming your forums, which I found through a series of questions I posed to google and majority of them were answered by your helpful community members which interested me to have a look at this site, and thus I decided to make a profile here as I believe, or more so hope, that I can find some sort of answer to questions I pose about the state of my mind. A bit about myself personally, I am twenty two years old and am currently unemployed, though in a trades college which is breaking up my constant weeks of never leaving the house which can only be a positive, or so is what I am told in spite of my attitude towards most things having not shifted but that's probably on my half rather than anything else. I've held a strong, dislike for myself for many years and I believe that my family have known this through my actions, I can only assume this as they give the occasional probing question of my mental state of mind and I can only make the assumption, though they may simply just be checking. For a long time, I've had the thoughts of going to a GP about possibly getting myself evaluated, though I tend to have panic attacks when I'm in the process of actually talking myself into doing such things but I cannot continue on with having hatred for myself and what I do, nor can these irritating irresponsible thoughts continue to pester me. So, I need to do something about it, and I'm, trying. Sorry if that's a little, odd but I believe that's everything to know about me to understand what has pushed me here. Thank you for reading, and I hope to open up a dialogue so that we can discuss, and hopefully help one another. Have a good night, and enjoy your day. -LGSky.

Who to turn to

replies: 4

Hi All sorry this is my first post and not sure if this is even the right place. I just needed somewhere to write down what I was feeling or should be feeling so I apologise if this is more a ramble. I've been married 26years and have 3 great children. I have no friends as I thought my husband was the only friend that I would ever need but in the last two years he has been sick and he changed and everything I do is wrong and I'm so alone . My children are adults and moved on with their lives as they should do and I have no one. My marriage is a mess and was told by my husband that there is no chance that he would ever care about me . I don't want to die but i want the pain I feel to end. I used to be physically abused by my husband and he stopped that thankfully years ago but somehow being told by him that I'm worthless and he doesn't care about me and that everything I say is just verbal diarrhoea somehow hurts way more than being hit ever did. I just don't want to spend all my time thinking that he's right and I'm useless. Then again maybe he is just right about that and I'm not supposed to have anyone thank you for letting me write this

Hashimoto and depression

replies: 2

Hi I'm new here, I'm a 24yr old female and have recently been diagnosed with hashimoto disease. The main symptoms I have is extreme fatigue and depression. Even with the right medication I still experience it. Does anyone else suffer from hashimoto, ... View more

Hi all ! I'm new to this forum

replies: 2

Hi all! . I have for most of my life lived with PTSDwhich I was Recently told by my physchiatrist who I have been seeing on and off for the last few months . I have three awesome boys and a loving supporting gorgeous wife . So why do I feel anxieties , overwhelmed , sometimes over react and be aggressive , but on the other side I'm caring , considerate and generally a good bloke.. I'm just very sensitive to other people and if cornered I come out and unleash hell on them verbally without thinking or taking a deep breath and letting it go. My councillor called it flight or fight . It's my defence mechanism??? My child hood was sometimes a violent place which disturbed me and could always remember pulling the rugs up over my head so I could block out the screaming, the yelling the punching etc. Even in a hot summers night I would pull the rugs over my head to block out the noise and wake up in a ball of sweat. Iike I said I'm new to this and have started reading other forums . It's good to know that your not alone. There is a lot more in my life that's going on but I should be happy with what I have , in respect to my family is well and happy . Sometimes you feel like your dragging them down and they would be better off without me. I exercise don't do drugs and reasonably fit and at 47 I should be on top of things but you know what it's a day by day task. Some days are good and I'm happy others I'm down . Does anyone else resemble these feelings . I'd like to here from you

trying to meet new people

replies: 6

Hi group.im Maxwell. I write here cause i like to help.if i succeed it helps me cope with myself. To know about other people trying hard.makes me .cause i was a competitive surfer. I also write songs and play guitar. Lately im trying to meet new people but i dont like it here.im from the north coast.as my name tag suggests. Anyway. I hope to be of help and support while im here. Max

Hi

replies: 5

Hi All, I've depression and anxiety. (The joys) And sarcasm helps me get by. I try to keep positive but been having one too many "down days" Thus I have ended up here. Feel free to send a message, I'm generally friendly and don't bite View more

Self diagnosed

replies: 5

Hi there.. not sure how to do this but here goes I am a 46 year old with a lifetime of issues. I fell pregnant at 16 and had two babies by 19. Both are adults with children of their own so i think i did ok there. Lived with their father for 24 years in an emotional and physical abusive relationship however i stuck it out for reasons i cant explain.. 7 years ago i decided enough was enough and left. I then met a wonderful guy who is my rock - however after 6 years i find myself arguing with him more and more - acusations i dealt with in my previous relationship. I feel that he will leave me so im pushing him first so it looks like its my decision so i dont get hurt again.. i know he loves me but i just cant stop myself - im homesick for my kids and dont have any friends here as we have recently moved town and i find it hard to make friends (social anxieties) and i also think i have hit perimenopause so everything is compounding. Thanks for reading.. jc

Hey there

replies: 3

I can't believe I'm posting this at 3am but I haven't been sleeping well for weeks now. I have GAD which has been relatively well managed over the last few years. I had a baby 7 weeks ago and since then both my insomnia and anxiety have been through the roof. I'm having panic attacks nightly. My main trigger is anything to do with my throat and chest due to years of undiagnosed asthma. Over the past 2 weeks I've had a sore throat and my GP has put me on antibiotics and one got stuck in my throat tonight ... enter panic attack. I'm currently playing a computer game of my son's to try and distract myself. Gosh I feel stupid but I think I need to talk to my doctor about this.

Newbie hello...

replies: 13

Hi, I'm new here and joined looking for support from others who understand what it's like. I've been an anxious person since I was a teenager however I didn't really think much about it, I just thought I was a bit weird. I always managed to push through, sometimes it was difficult and other times not so much. But about 2 years ago I became really ill and couldn't work anymore. At some point this illness triggered my anxiety to get a lot worse. I developed agoraphobia, my OCD got worse and I developed mild depression. I barely left the house for 6 months and I've tried for 2 years to fix myself. I am able to leave the house more now, but some days are bad and I can't. I kind of go up and down. I decided I needed help so I have recently started treatment with an online therapist. I spoke to my doctor about it once and she made me feel very stupid, she prescribed me acid blocking medication for my indigestion and told me to come back if the anxiety doesn't go away. I haven't gone back. I'm hoping to find some friends and connect with similar people. I moved away from all my friends and family just before I got sick. So I have zero support, and being a single mum it's been very difficult. I feel terrible that my anxiety is affecting my daughter. She misses out on so much because of me. I can't even take her to swimming lessons, which I disappointed her once again as she wants to go. There's so many places she asks me to take her like festivals, events and even the markets, but I can't do it! Shopping is something I don't do often either, I order online mostly. Anyway I hope to 'meet' some good people here and maybe over come some of my fears to get out of the house and go to some places I have been wanting to go to for a while

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

odd feelings for a man. replies: 4

Introduction, morning. replies: 2

Who to turn to replies: 4

Hashimoto and depression replies: 2

Hi all ! I'm new to this forum replies: 2

trying to meet new people replies: 6

Hi replies: 5

Self diagnosed replies: 5

Hey there replies: 3

Newbie hello... replies: 13