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Sophie_M Money stress? You are not alone!
  • replies: 4

So, I’ve been chatting with my friends over here at Beyond Blue and it seems we all have something in common right now: money worries. Whether it’s stressors about finding enough cash for the basics or wishing we had enough money for a holiday, we al... View more

So, I’ve been chatting with my friends over here at Beyond Blue and it seems we all have something in common right now: money worries. Whether it’s stressors about finding enough cash for the basics or wishing we had enough money for a holiday, we all seem to be experiencing a greater amount of stress surrounding money than we have in the past. And it’s impacting our ability to show up fully for the things we love. It’s not uncommon for us to experience shame and fear around expressing our financial challenges; it can be hard and somewhat taboo to openly discuss money matters. However, we believe this conversation is incredibly important and beneficial to have. Like all challenges, ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’, so let’s help each other out. Of course, discussions about the economy and how to manage our money during inflation are a much larger (and frustrating!) conversation… but what we would really love to know is what your personal experience around money is. Are you feeling the pinch too? How is added financial pressure impacting your wellbeing? When was the last time things felt even slightly easier? And if you have struggled with money in the past but come out the other side, what suggestions do you have for others who might still be finding their feet? This is an opportunity to share openly and honestly about your experience in a judgement-free space. There are no wrong answers, and we encourage you to share all the things that you might be finding hard to express in your every day life. If you're interested - Beyond Blue also have a 'money and mental health' quiz to gauge a sense of how finances may be impacting your mental health and what to do next. Looking forward to your answers! Abundant hugs from yours truly, Sophie M.

Just Sara A Bouquet for Pearls - share your appreciation for other members
  • replies: 715

Every now and then, members share a beautiful Pearl of Wisdom. How often do you think to yourself; "OMG that's great! I wish everyone could see this." Presenting someone with a bunch of flowers is a generous way of acknowledging their insightful word... View more

Every now and then, members share a beautiful Pearl of Wisdom. How often do you think to yourself; "OMG that's great! I wish everyone could see this." Presenting someone with a bunch of flowers is a generous way of acknowledging their insightful words. I hope this thread stays active through members giving out praise regularly to people they feel deserving, and therefore keep generosity of spirit alive within the pages of BeyondBlue Forum. My bunch of Red Roses (my choice) goes to Wishful for the following sentence; 'Personally, I see no reason to be praised in me, but I'm learning that seeing through the eyes of others can be more accurate!!' I so hear you Wishful. Just beautiful... Try to keep your leading comments short to focus on 'their' words. Choose specific flowers (or a gift if you like) to present to them. Sign off respectfully and sincerely. I hope this takes off... Spreading the love...Sara

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Thelongestroad How to reconnect with people and regain social interaction/make new friends/connections
  • replies: 15

Hi im a 37 year old single man struggling to regain a social life again due to a combination of things such as depression, unemployment, addiction, jail. And life constantly being disrupted and set back time and time again. im constantly isolated fro... View more

Hi im a 37 year old single man struggling to regain a social life again due to a combination of things such as depression, unemployment, addiction, jail. And life constantly being disrupted and set back time and time again. im constantly isolated from people as i live alone. I just feel stuck in life. I wish I could find a way to meet someone and build a new life but I don’t know how.. I’ve drifted apart from all my friends and family but want to move forward and want to life a fulfilling life but struggling with not only being unemployed but poor and depressed and lonely. I’m just tired of living that way I want to live a more fulfilling life but struggling with direction not knowing where to start.

1_at_Peace Hi and asking how to receive support at work
  • replies: 15

Hi all, I've just joined and would like to know if any members have received effective support for their depression and/or anxiety at work - particularly in public service? I've been isolated and despite requesting training and support, I haven't rec... View more

Hi all, I've just joined and would like to know if any members have received effective support for their depression and/or anxiety at work - particularly in public service? I've been isolated and despite requesting training and support, I haven't received any while others were offered so much training & support. I complained which made things worse, caused aggravation of my mental health and untrue accusations about my performance. I don't feel I can apply for other jobs as I'm unlikely to get positive references from my supervisors. I've also lost so much confidence. I've been bullied like this before also. Instead of them agreeing to adjustments recommended by my practitioners, I was directed to stop working after I was assessed as unfit for duty by a psych they engaged. I have to wait until late March for an independent psych to assess my fitness to return to work So I've had to use up all my paid leave. This has caused me financial stress also. Having some time off was good but not 2.5 months! All I asked for was to have equitable support and training. There's much literature at work that suggest employers will support people with mental health but it hasn't ever been my experience. I've looked into legalities - I'm told it's too hard and expensive to make a successful case. So if there are any ideas for support, who I can turn to etc, I 'd be most grateful. Many thanks for taking the time to read my post.

Paw Prints Staying/Getting/Doing Well – Moving goalposts or fixed target?
  • replies: 1627

Hi, this is my first post, though I have been reading the forums for some weeks. I’m probably expressing myself badly when I say that I have found reading about other people’s journeys reassuring. Finding a community of people who “get it” even when ... View more

Hi, this is my first post, though I have been reading the forums for some weeks. I’m probably expressing myself badly when I say that I have found reading about other people’s journeys reassuring. Finding a community of people who “get it” even when they have a wide variety of experiences and lives lived is not something I thought I would ever find. Though people talk about getting well & there is a section Staying Well, I’m curious as to what this actually means to other people and how they manage their expectations. I noticed some people refer to being well as ‘being like themselves before they got ill’, whilst others don’t express an exact aim. My idea of being well has changed over the years. I was first diagnosed as an 8 year old child back in the late sixties. The doctors told Mum that the voices in my head & the sudden crying bouts were because I suffered from ‘nerves’ & I was given meds to calm me. Of course such things were not discussed back then & I was told not to talk about it to anyone, not my school friends nor siblings, just Mum. For decades after my idea of being well simply meant being able to hide my illness from others. A number of events in my life caused my illness to worsen, until some years ago I became so ill I needed to be hospitalised for my own safety. This lead to my current diagnosis of Major Depression, Anxiety & PTSD. I’m no longer in that dark place, but each day is still a battle (though I can now believe in a future). For now only my siblings & one friend know about my illness, though some things they still don’t know. So, what does ‘being well’ mean to me, it is ever moving goalposts. If you had asked me 5 years ago would I be as well as I am now I would have thought it impossible as I couldn’t envision a future. If you had asked me last week (during one of my down periods) I would have said my progress was all an illusion & I was fooling myself that things can get better. For now my idea of being well is being able to believe that things can change for the better, that I will one day be able to manage the everyday things like housework, caring for myself & caring for my dog & maybe, just maybe I will even be able to enjoy myself. Paw Prints **I took the tip to give myself time to write my post by writing on a word doc & then paste it.

bfic12 Socially awkward
  • replies: 5

Does anyone know of a dating website or app specifically for socially awkward people? I feel like there would be so many people out there that would benefit from this. I feel like i cant be the only person thinking this, there must be other socially ... View more

Does anyone know of a dating website or app specifically for socially awkward people? I feel like there would be so many people out there that would benefit from this. I feel like i cant be the only person thinking this, there must be other socially awkward people out there wanting to connect with someone. How do i find these people?

Linz Workplace Injury
  • replies: 1

Hi My name is Lindsay and I am a male Reg Nurse who was working in a geriatric dementia ward at my local hospital, In 2023 I was injured while working with a patient that resulted in surgery and I will never have full use of my arm in the future. I a... View more

Hi My name is Lindsay and I am a male Reg Nurse who was working in a geriatric dementia ward at my local hospital, In 2023 I was injured while working with a patient that resulted in surgery and I will never have full use of my arm in the future. I am now going thru workers compensation claim that I find difficult and confusing. On top of this I struggle at times with the sense of loss because I have not worked for sometime. Dementia patients can be a lot of fun to look after but they can also be very violent at times more than the public realise. I have experienced a fair bit of both. There is little support when you are injured and mentally and emotionally along with pain and the realization that you cannot do what you used to do. I also suffer from rheumatoid and osteo Arthritis and as I get older it gets more difficult. My question is are there support out thee of other nurses going thru the same sort of issues. all these things put strain on my family with My wife having to do things I used to do, hobbies I now find difficult to do, I am still recovering from the surgery and this will take time.I find it very hard to find people who understand, I am 64 years old and not that good with tech stuff but willing to learn. Just reaching out to see what's out there. Lindsay

CMF Meditation, Manifesting, Gratitude & The Law of Attraction
  • replies: 719

Hi everyone, Not sure where to start so hope I can express myself clearly and maybe with others' input we can expand on this. I'm interested in people's thoughts/ experience with meditation, manifesting, gratitude & the law of attraction. I've recent... View more

Hi everyone, Not sure where to start so hope I can express myself clearly and maybe with others' input we can expand on this. I'm interested in people's thoughts/ experience with meditation, manifesting, gratitude & the law of attraction. I've recently started using the Smiling Mind app to meditate when going to sleep and sometimes when feeling a little anxious, like tonight. It is something i thought i could never do as my mind rarely stops, however, with persistence, I find I enjoy it. I guess i tend to have a negative mindset which I am determined to change.I always felt uneasy about thinking positive things as i thought i would jinx myself, and that whenever I made a positive comment or felt happy it would go wrong or something negative would happen. So i refrained from allowing myself to be too happy, I guess to 'protect' myself. Recently i have been feeling happier, stronger, expressing gratitude and taking note of when things have come to me when i needed them. Coincidence, or answers to what i put out to the Universe? I like to think the latter. A work colleague one day told me to manifest something i wanted, put it out to the universe , so I'm trying. Example, recently we needed to measure the floor space at reception so we could calculate how many people we could have in at one time. I needed a tape measure, which i did not have. At that moment our handyman walked into the office. Guess what he had? I am getting into the habit of practising positive thinking instead of thinking/expecting negatives. If something 'negative' does crop up, it can be dealt with, it's not the end of the world. I look for the positive in every negative situation. I am becoming more aware of being grateful for little things, things like getting a good car park at work, a warn cosy bed, a tidy house. I feel when i am expressing gratitude I am putting positive thoughts out into the universe and I notice more positives instead of focusing on negatives. Late last week we had internet issues at work and a colleague i found a little annoying. I've been feeling very drained, agitated, negative for a few days. This morning things were not running smoothly for me. A result of my negative mind perhaps? Little things became a big deal, my morning was crap. If i look back, it wasn't really an issue, i just did things in a different order which gave me more relax time this evening. The Law of Attraction, positive thoughts, positive experiences. What are your thoughts? cmf x

Guest_75398280 Why does everyday feel the same?
  • replies: 6

You ever wake up and have to repeat the same day over again? Same activities, same hobbies, same life habits etc. there’s nothing much you can do to change it? Or is it just me. Everyday is a repeat of the previous.

You ever wake up and have to repeat the same day over again? Same activities, same hobbies, same life habits etc. there’s nothing much you can do to change it? Or is it just me. Everyday is a repeat of the previous.

Thorney Post-HSC
  • replies: 32

Hi! I recently finished my HSC. In all honesty, I think I did pretty well! I'm not stressed or anxious about my results. What I wanted to focus on was post-hsc emotions. I'm finding it hard to adjust to life now - not having to do much, and relaxing.... View more

Hi! I recently finished my HSC. In all honesty, I think I did pretty well! I'm not stressed or anxious about my results. What I wanted to focus on was post-hsc emotions. I'm finding it hard to adjust to life now - not having to do much, and relaxing. I cannot remember the last time I fully relaxed. I can't actually find many stories about people post hsc, only stress and anxiety during the hsc; hence I am wanting to know about other experiences! I'm not exactly depressed or anything, I just don't really feel excited about anything. I'm going to Uni next year and doing something I really, really like - and I'm just not excited about it. I think it's part of myself relaxing and being content with where I am and not being ready to move forward. I think about living alone and I just can't fathom it. (I won't be living alone for a number of years, but it just seems like another massive change and I don't know how people do it). Pre-HSC I was (and still am) an introvert and I prefer being alone. But now, I seem to want to be around people (a lot!), likely for familiarity. I'm also really missing my friends - I try and catch up but there is just so much happening between all of us. I try and talk to family about some of my general anxiousness but they are busy (and/or dealing with their own stressors). I'm considering talking to a professional about my mental health. During the end of my HSC I became so anxious I was throwing up just due to pure stress. I have never been an anxious person, let alone so anxious I had a physical reaction. I sought out some stress tablets and they helped. I had to take some post-hsc as well, because I just feel/felt so anxious due to this massive change in my life. It's all just so new. My question(s) are/is, how do you cope with these big kind of changes? How do you cope with feeling a bit lonely? How can I get myself to actually relax and not hold on to this kind of stress? I (like many others) are/am just so used to school, after so many years - it is such a massive change that happened so fast, I feel like I have whiplash. I'm not exactly struggling mentally, but I'm not the same compared to pre-hsc, and I want to make myself excited and a bit more happy again and honestly, just try and get myself mentally back to 'normal'. Thank you for reading. Have an amazing day! Please share some similar experiences if possible .

1993_J Lost in life path is messed up dv
  • replies: 2

Hi I’ve been though a lot alot, double enthusiasts on the alot when I was 13 I was pregnant not long after I was living in my own house right the school to let me finish my education with a baby, then she passed away at 2 months old. Two years later ... View more

Hi I’ve been though a lot alot, double enthusiasts on the alot when I was 13 I was pregnant not long after I was living in my own house right the school to let me finish my education with a baby, then she passed away at 2 months old. Two years later I had her sister and then a boy and another girl, but I’ve been in demestic violence relationships even lost my children over this, and now I’m pregnant again and I’m doing it again I’ve just been kicked to street with no where to go

Ggrand Virtual Birthday and special occasions Party 🎉🎂 🎊 🥳…
  • replies: 5

Hello everyone…勺.. Many people on these forums, spend birthdays, Easter, Christmas, New Years Eve…and many more significantly important days in there lives feeling a lot of loneliness and sadness because they live alone, or are estranged from family ... View more

Hello everyone…🩷.. Many people on these forums, spend birthdays, Easter, Christmas, New Years Eve…and many more significantly important days in there lives feeling a lot of loneliness and sadness because they live alone, or are estranged from family members and friends…I am one of those people…..loneliness seems to overtake and overwhelm me/us on these special days, more then any other day… If it’s your Birthday or an important day in your life you’re very welcome to share your day/s here on this thread where members of these forums can celebrate with you…we can all bring virtual food, nonalcoholic drinks, in the hope that you don’t feel so lonely….and we make your day a little special….Beyond Blue community members are not just people, we all are a special and unique family…caring, supporting and being their for each other… My love, care and gentle warm hugs everyone….🩷..Grandy…