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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Waking up depressed

replies: 4

Hi all I am new to his forum. I have been depressed before and have been great until recently but now I am starting to wake up with depression. I usually improve during the day and after a run, but I was wondering if any of you any tips for battling ... View more

Guilt

replies: 4

My story of continuing to cheat on my partners and husband! My husband still wanted me to stay in our marriage even after I had left when he was a work.. I’d had cancer and got the all clear and simply took off, after the support he’d given me, I just tossed it all away I hurt him so badly 3 times in 11yrs. I’m unsure how I can cope with myself and the overwhelming disappointment I have in myself.. I’ve lost a person who stood by me who supported me.. and I can’t even give him a good reason.. I haven’t achieved anything in fact in my 50s I’m having to work full time to get by. I guess I’m posting here to see if others are like me in any way.. my sadness isn’t easing,I constantly feel ashamed of my behaviour. Im now living with someone I knew years ago! I haven’t strayed, just remain numb in the relationship mainly..

Feel hollow, lonely and lost

replies: 4

Hello, This is my 1st time here and I don’t know what to expect. Before heading to my GP I really wanted to see if there was something I could avail to help me cope. During the last 4 weeks lead up to freedom, I’ve been feeling very low, lost and hollow. I don’t think I have felt this way in a long time -(the last time was when I was 15yrs and I lost my younger brother in an accident). I can’t remember what coping mechanisms I availed to as I remember writing my feelings out. I tried doing that this time around, but couldn’t find it very helpful. I’ve got few issues at home that upsets me for which I’ve tried looking at the positives but trying to enjoy outdoors that hasn’t helped lately. I am not sure what my first step or course of action is really as I am aware of EAP program that my work provides and then there is a toll free number that I can call through beyond blue or reach out to my GP. I really want to feel normal and happy again than just cry all day. Really looking for a ray of light.

Newly Diagnosed

replies: 4

Just been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder

Hi 👋🏻

replies: 2

I’m new here. I’m not good at groups or forums because I go down hill when I start talking. My psychologist has suggested I go on DSP. I’m a young 59 but she can’t see why I should have to push myself any harder than I have been to continue to work. I wouldn’t last anyway, I’d be too stressed or depressed yo get out of bed. I have CPTSD of course Anxiety, depression and Bipolar 2. I have a JCA phone interview coming up and I feel like I’m going to fail as I’m really hard on myself and she said it can take many tries to get DSP. Has anyone else gone through this or is familiar so I can prepare myself and not give up? I’m down at the moment hence reaching out. I am a bit of an over achiever and I’m treating this like an exam, that if I fail I did badly. Has anyone else had a JCA Job capacity Assessment I think it is? Thanks ☺️

Long Distance Relationship Depression

replies: 2

I am having a really hard time in my long distance relationship. We are solid but I am not. I’m finding the lack of control really hard. When we hang up it crushes me. He doesn’t know how to help me and I don’t want to resent the fact that he said he’d always be there and it feels like he is there for me less now. It’s nothing to do with him truly, he is the best boyfriend. I’m trying to figure out how to cope better because we both feel hopeless. He always asks if I am okay but when I say I’m not he’ll say I’m so sorry let me know if there is anything I can do. I don’t want him to feel bad just because I feel bad, but it’s so hard being the only one feeling bad right now. I get to see him in 3 weeks but until then every day I’m in tears. My instinct is to shut him out to get some control, but it’s not fair to him so I don’t. I literally don’t know what to do so I’m here.

Hi and hugs

replies: 4

Hi all I'm new here. I just wanted to say g'day and just needed a place to express what I'm feeling. I have been battling mental health issues for over twenty years, engaging with many psychologists over this time. The issues have been with me for as long as I remember and I'm in my forties. I've been misdiagnosed several times and have stopped labelling my experience as anything other than an episode. I'm feeling slightly nervous about being admitted to hospital today for the sixth time. At the same time I'm noticing all the usual unpleasant emotions I experience on admission are not there. Except perhaps feeling a shyness to tell the Psychs what I know I am finally ready to admit. I've noticed pleasant emotions. This feels uncomfortable oddly, perhaps because I haven't allowed myself to do so for a long time. I'm feeling loved and supported both by others and myself. I am curious, hopeful, determined, strong and proud. I was admitted to this facility for a month last year, it was the first time I allowed myself to be vulnerable in front of group sessions. My self awareness grew exponentially. I felt safe to feel unpleasant emotions while I was there. I used music, journalling and exercise, swaying and rocking in my room to calm myself after. I'm sitting typing this with dance music on so I don't feel odd rocking and swaying to alleviate my anxiety. It's working a treat, I don't feel like a doofus and it feels like a nice big internal hug. I'm being super kind and loving towards myself. I am telling me I have done the hard yards and it is paying off, a few more won't hurt. The other troubles in my life have been parked for revisiting at a later date. This time is for me to work on me. I hope everyone else remembers to give themself a big internal hug today : )

First time for everything

replies: 8

Hello, This will be the first time I've ever posted on a forum like this. I'm a little nervous. I'll gather my thoughts and create a proper post eventually. But in the meantime, I'm a mum of three, i'm grieving the loss of a parent, experiencing some significant financial instability and its all coming out as sheer overwhelm and struggling to cope on the daily - Gosh, life can be A LOT at times. So, hi to all, nice to meet you all and I look forward to chatting online sometime. x

Are you grieving too 😞

replies: 5

Today I woke up and I felt heavy & scared and I cried & I thought why am I crying?Today I realized I am grieving... I am grieving because I have lost the one person that should mean the most to me... METhat may sound selfish to some but for many years I have been there for everyone, to listen, to help to carry them through tough times and I now find myself alone... I have a partner and he is a great person but I still feel alone. I have lost motivation and interest in what I love which is my horses, my animals. I have lost my confidence I everything I want to do. I question myself and second guess my daily routine. I believe I am a good person who is always there for others why do they not reciprocate... Is it because I disguise my pain from them and they think I am fine or is it they just don't really care if I am not fine..... So I thought am I being relative should I be proactive I have been treated by physicians & professionals for years I take my medication and normally this keeps everything in perspective but life is never a flat line it is a roller coaster, ups n downs but sometimes the downs are a liitle harder to bare..... Today I joined Beyond Blue to be proactive and try to find the helping hand I need to get through the tougher times

Hi I'm new to posting

replies: 4

Hi, I've just been looking at the posts and threads- thank you! Just writing some of my thoughts and feelings down has, I think, helped

Meet your community champions! replies: 10

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

Waking up depressed replies: 4

Guilt replies: 4

Feel hollow, lonely and lost replies: 4

Newly Diagnosed replies: 4

Hi 👋🏻 replies: 2

Long Distance Relationship Depression replies: 2

Hi and hugs replies: 4

First time for everything replies: 8

Are you grieving too 😞 replies: 5

Hi I'm new to posting replies: 4