Staying well

Support each other to stay well, from mindfulness, sleep, diet and exercise to reducing drug and alcohol use and coping with difficult emotions.

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

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

All discussions

StephenP12 Addictions- keeping well with them
  • replies: 2

Feeling like my addictions are still there, anyone got any distractions that don't involve so much tech use? For keeping well and more than just a simple walk, yeah technology use getting too much of a hold, cos yeah some of the other addictions/dist... View more

Feeling like my addictions are still there, anyone got any distractions that don't involve so much tech use? For keeping well and more than just a simple walk, yeah technology use getting too much of a hold, cos yeah some of the other addictions/distractions are stuff like yeah diet related etc. . Nothing too bad just mainly yep food, which is shameful to mention. But is what it is anyway if the post here, if this makes sense then yeah would be good to have some thoughts of anyone. That sees this thanks, basically just some distractions to balance out the other things. And keep well that way

Paw Prints Staying/Getting/Doing Well – Moving goalposts or fixed target?
  • replies: 915

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.

CMF Meditation, Manifesting, Gratitude & The Law of Attraction
  • replies: 483

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

Ggrand Small achievement you managed to do today....How did it make you feel? Did it help you feel better today?
  • replies: 447

Hi everyone.. Their are days when just getting out of bed is a huge achievement...Other days we can achieve things like washing up the dishes or clothes, sweeping the floors, mopping the floors..very mundane and automatic robot like chores for the me... View more

Hi everyone.. Their are days when just getting out of bed is a huge achievement...Other days we can achieve things like washing up the dishes or clothes, sweeping the floors, mopping the floors..very mundane and automatic robot like chores for the mentally well...They do these chores without even thinking about them...for people struggling with their mental health..these are huge tasks... Very often I’ll get my vacuum cleaner out to vacuum ...then it will sit their for days, me looking at it, walking over it...until I can get motivated enough to vacuum..after I do find the motivation to vacuum...I am pleased with myself... Right now I have a small foot cycling peddle machine, sitting on my front veranda..I got it out last week..to start exercising..it’s still their, I’m still looking at it...My thoughts each night is I’ll use it for a few minutes tomorrow.. My car hasn’t been washed getting close to a year now I think...Today I did managed to wash it....and discovered that it has a nice shine on it.....I did it...I achieved something positive today..which made me feel better in myself... Have you achieved a little something today...and how did it make you feel...If you want to share that achievement it might make other people a bit more motivated to achieve something they need/want to do.. Looking forward to hearing about your achievement....and how it made you feel.. Little steps and achievements can lead to bigger steps..and bigger achievements... My kindest and most caring thoughts...everyone. Grandy...

ecomama Three self-care things you did today!
  • replies: 1654

We can do it BBers, we can do self-care. Sleepy21 pointed out research that shows self-care REALLY helps! Please share what you do for self-care so we can get inspiration, ideas and motivation to do it too. Best wishes EM

We can do it BBers, we can do self-care. Sleepy21 pointed out research that shows self-care REALLY helps! Please share what you do for self-care so we can get inspiration, ideas and motivation to do it too. Best wishes EM

Blondee71 Support
  • replies: 5

How can you convince people that the things you mention to help you heal are serious requests? They’re all down for “what can I do to help?”, but when you mention small things they either mock or ignore? How am I supposed to get well@?…

How can you convince people that the things you mention to help you heal are serious requests? They’re all down for “what can I do to help?”, but when you mention small things they either mock or ignore? How am I supposed to get well@?…

Pink grapefruit Motivation as a leader
  • replies: 3

When you have toxic team members in your team at workplace who complains to you about your leadership and that makes you less evaluated as a leader, how will you keep motivate yourself and tackle this situation?

When you have toxic team members in your team at workplace who complains to you about your leadership and that makes you less evaluated as a leader, how will you keep motivate yourself and tackle this situation?

Sasuke Daily dose of gratitude
  • replies: 1

Hi BBers, I have been staying quite low profile on the forum despite joining a few years ago and this is my first ever post. I feel that my mental health has improved by leaps and bounds since. I personally found that thinking of 1 thing I have been ... View more

Hi BBers, I have been staying quite low profile on the forum despite joining a few years ago and this is my first ever post. I feel that my mental health has improved by leaps and bounds since. I personally found that thinking of 1 thing I have been grateful of each day has really changed my mindset and outlook so am hoping to continue this thread. One thing I am grateful of today is that my dog came up to me for cuddles before I left for work.

Kirb86 I really want to change
  • replies: 1

I've been wanting to make a change for a long time, but I can never stick to it. I want to talk to others that suffer depression and have turned to alcohol for comfort or realease, but managed to dig themselves out again and been able to quit drinkin... View more

I've been wanting to make a change for a long time, but I can never stick to it. I want to talk to others that suffer depression and have turned to alcohol for comfort or realease, but managed to dig themselves out again and been able to quit drinking or just enjoy a drink in moderation. All of my friends drink, my partner drinks, my parents drink but I really feel it is taking over and making me less of the person I really want to be. I don't know how to do this, I'm scared. I don't want to lose the connections I have but I want to be healthier and I don't want alcohol to be something I depend on to get through. I just want to know how did you do it?

car10001 need someone to talk to but am ok
  • replies: 33

hi everyone am ok just reaching out. was just wondering how people know and what they experience to know when it may be time to leave job (close that chapter) and move onto another (start the next chapter). many of you lot know that am at some point ... View more

hi everyone am ok just reaching out. was just wondering how people know and what they experience to know when it may be time to leave job (close that chapter) and move onto another (start the next chapter). many of you lot know that am at some point wanting to give up hospitality and move onto other things while still capable and be own boss. sometimes things happen or dont go how you expect and you tell yourself not much longer or something else and to just try and hang on. will very likely be giving up hospitality as soon as it sells or closes as have other commitments and responsibilities and other work goals and feel after 14 years. nearly 15 that its time to take a break and move on and concentrate on those. grandparents are needing help and needing to be able to help when needed and have local bingo commitments and want to do other work. also the boss makes things in her shop and other friends try it and miss out and feel doing your own is only way and that am going to have to spend money that dont really have at moment to buy own kits and gear and supplies. how do you find friends to share contents with and a place if you dont have your own place just yet without continually booking cabins (still book one maybe every few months but if its every week or fortnight costs add up). what could you do to find the money. just trying to hang on until place sells or closes and you keep telling yourself probably wont be much longer and to just hang on. do feel positive that the other work is going to work out great however could be like a cousin with his shed building business and take a while to pick up. sometimes you feel a little left out. what could you do. when you look up in google clues that a employee is about to leave or is thinking of leaving some sites list getting new certificates and education as one clue. why would that be a clue when sometimes you can get further education and certificates to benefit your current job or other commitments, because of that you wouldnt think its always a clue. thanks