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

I’m new and very nervous

replies: 4

Hi im jas, the past year has been very difficult for me and i have really struggled in reaching out to my friends and family for help in terms of my mental health. If anyone has tips or advice for asking loved ones for help even if you don’t understa... View more

Struggling

replies: 2

Hey All, Another avenue for me to vent I guess. I am getting sick of being the peacemaker in the family - trying to knit together everyone. I try to talk and I get the feeling that no one listens - they certainly don't understand I am ex-mill and had some losses along the way. 1 in particular I guess I am directly responsible for - we swapped op's. I am tired, so tired o trying to keep people happy while ignoring me - have done it for I guess 35 years now. Always the servant. Moved in with the folks to help look after them, still paying bills and rent on my old place. Just at an impasse.

New here, stuck in a rut!!

replies: 5

Hi All Never been able to talk to a lot of people about what is going on in my head which I guess makes things even harder. Have recently changed employers as I wasn’t happy with where I was, the company had been chasing me for 12 months so thought we’ll why not. After being there for nearly 2 months I wonder weather I made the right decision. One thing I have never copped to well with is change, I look at things a 100 times, backwards, forwards etc before I actually decided. I guess I’m just here to vent a bit 🤷‍

worried about my adult son who has bipolar and manic depression

replies: 3

Hi all, I have signed few years ago, but never got around to introducing myself and what worries me and my feelings. So here I am. it all started many years earlier, my son needed to talk to me about his problems he was experiencing which was that in his words "I feel weird in my head and my body, I don't know what's happening to me?". I just said your hormone is off and is trying to adjust as you are becoming a man in with time. that I told him he'll be fine. Within 4 months to starting high school, his behavior started to change, as to my thought it was something to do with teenager thing etc. by the time he was 15/16 he was constantly asked for money, I mean lots of money... we argued, fight just about all the time. that I haven't seen him in 4 years soon to be 5 years since May 1st 2017 was the last time I've seen him. I love him crazy, he finally told me messaging through Facebook saying he won't ask me anymore for money because if I gave it to him I won't see it anymore and he respects me a lot. His father, even since as a child he was given anything he wants, that went on to adulthood and still now his father would give him money. In with time I got help with my mental health etc. As soon I did research, walked in his shoes etc. I began to understand him how painful it must be, the confusion, depression all because he doesn't understand exactly what's happening to himself. he had tried to commit suicide 3 times... stupid hospital let him home after 12 hours stay... that was three times, I was totally disgusted after just recovering myself, and I was amess in the end I had to tell him and his girlfriend at the time (2016) to get out!!! either he was trying to get attention, but he was trying to over take my place as if it was his, the whole thing. I couldn't believe he lied. Yet, even today I forgive him (for me to let go and move on) but doesn't always take that pain away. I just wanted to know if anyone experience similar, would help me benefit knowing I am not alone and crazy! Sue.

Mental Health or Social Health

replies: 1

Hi Everyone, Firstly I want to say how proud I am to be among you warriors. I have nothing but love and respect for all of you. Today I want to pose a question to you all and see how you all feel and respond to my take on mental health vs social health. See, one reoccuring factor that has me question today's categorisation of mental health is that it seems to be (in the majority of cases) individuals from minorities are more likely to suffer with such things due to SOCIAL FACTORS like bullying, discrimination and exclusion. And here's the thing... Doesn't that mean the society is sick? Why are we calling individuals sick when it's their society that made them suffer? My PTSD was put there by my rapists, that Aboriginals girls anxiety and poor self esteem was put there by ignorant peers, that gay man killed himself because his family abandoned him. Do you see what I'm saying? Why are we labelled as sick when it was our social environment that made us so? I find it reductive and it places ZERO blame or responsibility on offenders of human rights and the human condition. What do you guys think?

Life

replies: 3

Hi There New on here and just wanted to say hi

New here!

replies: 2

Finding today a little bit tough and somehow stumbled into this site. I’m in my late 30s and my Dad passed away in November and then my dog died the week before Christmas. I found out today that I now have to work from home until February due to CoVID and it all just feels like a lot. My dog had always been such a companion through prior lockdowns and now I don’t know how to manage. The loneliness and isolation I now feel is just a bit more than I had prepared myself for this year. I am sure there are plenty of people in a similar situation but it just feels a bit crappy at the moment and I can’t see any silver linings

Respect

replies: 5

Why Do I Feel not Respected in my family?

Hoping everyone has a much better year

replies: 7

Hello there, I am new to the site.

Hello I have bipolar and feel lost

replies: 2

Hello. I am new here. I have bipolar along with anxiety, narcolepsy and physical disabilities that make life hard. I lost my psychologist in 2018 when the government decided they didn't need so many of them. Recently I discovered through someone special to me that my bipolar is not as well managed as I thought. After a major manic episode I went to the doctor and have been waiting to be seen by a psychologist and psychiatrist. Being in the bush there is little support here. Having an extremely abusive daughter and ending a relationship with an alcoholic who I knew for 23 years and being played by someone I've helped alot, 2 surgeries, loosing 2 cats to cancer and almost loosing my grandmother has taken its toll. Lost, lonely, no clue what to do. I'm broken. I have 1 friend in this small town, and another in a town 100km away. Finances are bad so travelling is hard. My family are in the city. To be able to talk to people who understand this illness and can give me advice would be great. I look forward to meeting new people here. Thank you

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

I’m new and very nervous replies: 4

Struggling replies: 2

New here, stuck in a rut!! replies: 5

worried about my adult son who has bipolar and manic depression replies: 3

Mental Health or Social Health replies: 1

Life replies: 3

New here! replies: 2

Respect replies: 5

Hoping everyone has a much better year replies: 7

Hello I have bipolar and feel lost replies: 2