Welcome and orientation

Welcome! If you’re not sure where to start, that’s OK. We’re keen to know more about you and what you’re looking for on our Forums.

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

Pinned discussions

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 Be... View more

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.

Aaronsis 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 th... View more

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

Purrple Well that's new...
  • replies: 5

Hi All, I'm a 40y/o woman who has been living with anxiety & depression for years, so I thought I was pretty familiar with my symptoms & how they feel - but today I took myself for a walk to try & calm down & I realised how "bouncy" walking felt with... View more

Hi All, I'm a 40y/o woman who has been living with anxiety & depression for years, so I thought I was pretty familiar with my symptoms & how they feel - but today I took myself for a walk to try & calm down & I realised how "bouncy" walking felt with the accompanying anxiety twitches, which made me giggle & I think that helped almost as much as getting myself out & moving did so I wanted to share

Maria_B Self-Care
  • replies: 4

Hello All! At this time of lockdowns, it is very important for self-care. We have to be always grateful for the gift of today. Easily, said than done. If I may share, I wake each day to be thankful that I am whole, inside and out. That, I am responsi... View more

Hello All! At this time of lockdowns, it is very important for self-care. We have to be always grateful for the gift of today. Easily, said than done. If I may share, I wake each day to be thankful that I am whole, inside and out. That, I am responsible for my well-being so that I would be able to give a smile to the people around me. To share my self-care: *I go out for a walk to talk to nature. I found out that it is very refreshing to connect with nature. *I reach out to a friend or somebody who needs listening ears. I realised that if I do this I feel better on the inside. *I regularly communicate with my family who is far from us (as we are scattered around). Thank you for the online technology. *I do my regular exercise to perk me up more. *Read inspiring books to rewire my brain. This is the time to learn other crafts. * I keep watching good feel movies. I also learned that I must make a firm decision to be positive each day and discard the negativity. Most importantly is a deep meditation for my inner peace. I have to love myself first because I cannot give what I do not have. Cheers!

Nik1_ Not coping any more
  • replies: 7

Hi, first time posting and joining something like this bit I know I need help and I have no one to turn to. bit of background: I am everyone’s go to to get anything done, need a certificate- dump it on me, need a hand- ask me. And I never say no, eve... View more

Hi, first time posting and joining something like this bit I know I need help and I have no one to turn to. bit of background: I am everyone’s go to to get anything done, need a certificate- dump it on me, need a hand- ask me. And I never say no, ever. I like to feel useful and wanted ( doesn’t everybody?) So I say yes over and over again but at the end of the day I am by myself again my husband cheated on me just over a year ago- hadn’t been good for a while, it completely blindsided me!! I thought he was the one person I could lean on and trust - I felt stabbed and destroyed. I has a bit of a melt down, couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, lost 10 kg, couldn’t function at all. I tried reaching out to my family and the few friends I had, they all said the same- poor you, you’ll be right…. Not one of them ever followed up to see if I was ok, not even my family! I never EVER have asked them for help before but now I know where I fit in to their lives. I’m only exist if they want something So stupid depressed me decided to try again with my husband - reoccurring COVID lockdowns make finding a new place hard and I don’t earn much. tonight I caught him on the phone texting after he went to ‘bed’. (We don’t share a room) He flat out refused to show me his messages and laughed at me. Im feeling so so stupid and gullible and useless and lonely and sad and betrayed and alone i just really need a friend I can trust who doesn’t dump me when I need a chat or a cry- mostly a cry which is every day at the moment. at work I put on a face and look and act all happy but inside I am a complete mess and I am worried I am not going to be able to keep it all under control for much longer Please help

Powsy I feel depressed, but so many are doing it way tougher
  • replies: 5

I thought I would reach out, I feel depressed, very depressed. but so many are doing it way tougher than me, I keep telling myself to toughen up. All I’m dealing with is relationship issues, separation issues, financial issues, work issues, just lett... View more

I thought I would reach out, I feel depressed, very depressed. but so many are doing it way tougher than me, I keep telling myself to toughen up. All I’m dealing with is relationship issues, separation issues, financial issues, work issues, just letting them all get to me. way too complicated!!! eish it was easier

Chris_Tas Hi all
  • replies: 35

Hi all. The alcohol got me and I've lost everything. Suicide attempts, Ambos, you name it. All because my daughter stolen off me and I can't deal with it. Thank you all and nice to meet you. Chris

Hi all. The alcohol got me and I've lost everything. Suicide attempts, Ambos, you name it. All because my daughter stolen off me and I can't deal with it. Thank you all and nice to meet you. Chris

MemyselfandI99 Feeling Lost!
  • replies: 3

Hey everyone, I suffer from depression and anxiety, I have for about 10 years! I have been on and off medication during this time, I constantly seek medical help etc.. I have a daughter and she is literally my lifeline, she keeps me alive! I am a gre... View more

Hey everyone, I suffer from depression and anxiety, I have for about 10 years! I have been on and off medication during this time, I constantly seek medical help etc.. I have a daughter and she is literally my lifeline, she keeps me alive! I am a great Mum! But when she is at her Dad's I become a different person I don't want to get out of bed, I want to drink alcohol I just don't care about anything! It is like I have 2 different personalities! I have Mum personality where I function as a normal human being doing everything right, but then when I am not responsible for a child I do the bare minimum and this isn't because I need the break I have a great kid, its like a feeling of loss even though I know she will come home! It is so hard to explain! I am also the rock for my friends who go through a lot. I feel selfish for not answering phone calls so it stops me for calling my friends when I feel I need help! I so lost I want to be better and do better but I feel like nothing works! I feel so broken!

Bruce_4 Torn
  • replies: 2

Recently discovered my wife has been cheating, I don’t want to leave, I don’t want her to think she’s got away with it unscathed, how do I move past it. So confused in how I really feel

Recently discovered my wife has been cheating, I don’t want to leave, I don’t want her to think she’s got away with it unscathed, how do I move past it. So confused in how I really feel

Geoffik New to Beyond Blue
  • replies: 6

Hi All, I'm new to this group and feeling very very down at the moment. I know that I can get taken down easily when something happens with a woman, it could be small like I have done something wrong and they are upset or they make me upset. And it c... View more

Hi All, I'm new to this group and feeling very very down at the moment. I know that I can get taken down easily when something happens with a woman, it could be small like I have done something wrong and they are upset or they make me upset. And it could be a girlfriend or a friend. It gets me to a point where I can't eat and I'm feeling very tired. I'm a single parent with 2 girls and they notice when I'm down constantly asking if I'm ok? They see it very easily and I don't want them too. I find it hard to focus, get motivated and all I want to do is escape this place. I'm not hurting myself, but sometimes I do think about checking out. I find that when I talk to my friends, I take up a lot of their time and talk about my issues and not theirs. I feel like I use them all the time which is not fair. I never smile and I don't like it when people tell me to smile as I just don't see what there is to smile about. I have techniques to try and get me out of depressive moods that I get myself into but most times - it's just all too hard. This damp and dark feeling that I have I just want it to go away and never return. I know my depression mostly comes from feelings of loneliness and abandonment. But it's just constant. I don't think very highly of myself and I have zero self confidence right now. I'm hoping that there is someone that I can reach out too on this forum or give me a hand. thank you. Geoffik

Gaz29 Need a friend
  • replies: 3

I'm Gary & I suffer from depression. I have joined beyond blue online forum today & hope to get to know people. I'm very easy going,understanding & sincere & need in my life now interaction & communication with people no matter who they are or where ... View more

I'm Gary & I suffer from depression. I have joined beyond blue online forum today & hope to get to know people. I'm very easy going,understanding & sincere & need in my life now interaction & communication with people no matter who they are or where they are from. thank you