Staying well

Overcoming depression, what worked for me.

replies: 2

One of the feelings that keeps you stuck in depression is feeling overwhelmed. Everything is just too much. You've got so much on your mind. Especially thoughts about what you should be doing with your life...a job, a partner, a house, a family, etc.... View more

One of the feelings that keeps you stuck in depression is feeling overwhelmed. Everything is just too much. You've got so much on your mind. Especially thoughts about what you should be doing with your life...a job, a partner, a house, a family, etc. One of the ways I learned to combat feeling overwhelmed was to shrink my domain. This is a process that goes on in your head. A process of pruning your thoughts and sharpening your focus to concentrate on getting through each task you set for yourself. You might sit around in your pyjamas feeling lost and swamped by life and this saps your self confidence, your ability to cope. But by taking on one task at a time you slowly rebuild your sense of self by having achieved small accomplishments like preparing a meal, tending to your grooming by showering and wearing clean clothes, paying a bill, etc. You have to think small so you can slowly master your domain in terms that are manageable, that are within your ability at the time. Gradually you build confidence and ability to cope. You eventually find that you can run your life and cope with challenges. All this takes patience and time. Maybe even years. The road to recovery is slow. Give yourself credit for each success. Don't diminish it with thoughts about what you ought to be doing. Do what you can, one step at a time. Sandra.

GAPS diet - heard of it? Tried it? Thoughts?

replies: 6

Hi all, I've recently started reading about Gut and Psychology Syndrome. It's intriguing. I'm wondering if anyone has tried the diet, and whether it had any effect on your mental health? Fi

My Wellbeing Course Journey.

replies: 43

Hello Everyone, Some of you may know I have been struggling, with no luck, to find a bulk billing psychologist in my area. The other week some helpful members from this very forum suggest I try getting in contact with the MindSopt Clinic -- a free se... View more

Hello Everyone, Some of you may know I have been struggling, with no luck, to find a bulk billing psychologist in my area. The other week some helpful members from this very forum suggest I try getting in contact with the MindSopt Clinic -- a free service for Australian adults who are experiencing difficulties with anxiety, stress, depression and low mood. After completing an online test on the MindSpot website I received a phone call from a psychologist who talked about my results, asked me further questions, and offered me a place in an online course for people with depression, low mood, and anxiety. This week I enrolled and started The Wellbeing Course online. The course aims to provide information and teach skills for managing symptoms and keeping our emotional well-being within the healthy range. I would like to share my journey through this week by week course, mainly regarding what I am learning. I hope that some of the information I share may be helpful, interesting, to some of you or even inspire a conversation. Sharing will also, I believe, help me install the lessons I am learning. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will try my best to answer.

working and finding jobs

replies: 13

Hey been on this thread for a while but decided to start up a new post about work and jobs and what works for each person. I think mental illness has the potential to hold you back from employment (certainly something that has happened to me). I'm on... View more

Hey been on this thread for a while but decided to start up a new post about work and jobs and what works for each person. I think mental illness has the potential to hold you back from employment (certainly something that has happened to me). I'm on the mend and I'm just wondering what it is people do for work. How'd you get to where you are now? What worked and didn't work? etc. Thanks

life after hospital

replies: 3

Hi guys ive just spent the last week in hospital in the MH ward. Im having trouble finding my feet and adjusting back to life outside the ward Can anyone give me some tips?

What is your biggest (non mental health condition) achievement?

replies: 86

Was watching, "The Voice" last night and there was a young lass who didn't leave the house for two years because of panic attacks, how here she is on National TV singing in front of four judges. I sat back and thought that even if no one turns around... View more

Was watching, "The Voice" last night and there was a young lass who didn't leave the house for two years because of panic attacks, how here she is on National TV singing in front of four judges. I sat back and thought that even if no one turns around and picks her, she has already won - what a brilliant achievement that was. What is your biggest achievement? Mine is overcoming PTSD and functioning quite well but the mental health conditions aside, I would have to say completing my first marathon. A pure punishment of the mind and body and I completed this in the early days of my recovery when i was quite wounded and struggling. To be able to push myself to complete it gave me a massive burst of confidence that I can overcome the PTSD beast and get on with life. Mark

The Power of Prayer

replies: 4

Hi everyone I know it's a strange topic to raise and per the 2016 Census the most popular religion is in fact.. No religion! But for those that do have a religion, regardless of what that may be, I'm curious if when you are struggling do you fine you... View more

Hi everyone I know it's a strange topic to raise and per the 2016 Census the most popular religion is in fact.. No religion! But for those that do have a religion, regardless of what that may be, I'm curious if when you are struggling do you fine yourself turning away from your faith? Or more strongly towards your faith? My belief structure is both Catholic and Buddhist (yes I know, strange mix but it works for me). I found that last year when I was deeply in the throws of bipolar depression I turned away from my faith and sought solace in other things such as photography and bush walking. Once my condition became more stable I turned back to my faith and now although I'm in another bipolar depression it's controlled and more manageable and I find myself praying and meditating quite regular. This not only provides solace but I find myself stronger and with greater courage. This of course may be placebo, but the fact remains it is having a positive impact. I'd love to know others thoughts and if so, who and what your prayers consist of. Peace x

Successfully overcoming challenges

replies: 8

Have you ever paid off a car, a boat or a washing machine? Did you cellabrate? Well I might be unusual but just after the half way point, thats when I celebrated. This was on the basis that I owned more of my car than the finance company. I had equit... View more

Have you ever paid off a car, a boat or a washing machine? Did you cellabrate? Well I might be unusual but just after the half way point, thats when I celebrated. This was on the basis that I owned more of my car than the finance company. I had equity. If I had to sell the car after I paid off the finance company I'd have money left over. Overall, have I succeeded?. I think so. So here on this forum challenges like seeking self esteem, curing anxiety and depression and becoming 'normal'. It seems there is this determination to fully overcome ones mental illness, a personal quest that is expected even demanded...by ourselves. Talk about putting pressure on our lives! I put it to you. That a depressed individual that spent a long period of time out of the workforce finally finds employment, is successful and more successful if such s job was maintained . The fact that the depression remains as a continual challenge is a given. If the sufferer doesnt acknowledge successful steps unless they are complete steps i.e to rid their lives of depression as in this example, then success, accomplishment, might not ever be felt. That can only hinder your progress. Regular pats on the back, token personal rewards and self praise is essential from ourselves. Indeed it is of greater importance than from others because we cannot always depend on others 24/7...but we ourselves are always there. If we treat others remarks of praise as a rubber stamp of our own internal comments and relish in them, value them, then we'll feel successful. If we only rely on others and not ourselves to acknowledge our slow steps of improvement we could be seriously delaying progress bevause rarely does praise from others feel like it is enough, its never enough because we are damaged. Challenging yourself takes courage. Praising and rewarding yourself takes practice and habit forming attitude change. "I got out of bed, I succeeded" "Well I've had my shower and now I have to go back to bed...well, see if I can do an hour of gardening tomorrow...I'm successful today in what I accomplished." Success is a frame of mind. To identify success as being a thousand snippets of qualification rather than one giant hurdle to overcome. Overcoming that hurdle is unrealistic, then do yourself a favour and recognise that small completions of success is great. Then treating yourself to a chocolate and coffee will be frequent as success will be...often. Tony WK

What to write on my resume?

replies: 13

Hi everyone I wasn't sure where to post this so I hope people will see this, read it and hopefully provide some advice. I've taken approx 14months off work predominantly due to mental health issues. There's now a job I'm really interested in and alth... View more

Hi everyone I wasn't sure where to post this so I hope people will see this, read it and hopefully provide some advice. I've taken approx 14months off work predominantly due to mental health issues. There's now a job I'm really interested in and although I'm feeling anxious about it, my family, psych and GP are encouraging me to make a new resume and apply. I don't even know if I'd get an interview or the role but in any case they think it would be good for me just to bite the bullet and take the first step. So I'm going to do it. But how best to approach this and explain the gap on my otherwise 12 year continuous history? Any suggestions appreciated?

Jordan Peterson

replies: 2

Hey guys, I've been very interested in this guy - Jordan Peterson - recently. He's a Canadian psychologist and he has a channel on Youtube which has many videos I think would be interesting to depressed and anxious people. He talks a lot about the me... View more

Hey guys, I've been very interested in this guy - Jordan Peterson - recently. He's a Canadian psychologist and he has a channel on Youtube which has many videos I think would be interesting to depressed and anxious people. He talks a lot about the meaning and symbolism of religions (mostly Christianity) as they relate to life, and ties it in with his psychological knowledge. I'm not religious, but I appreciate that religions were made up and contributed to by many many people over a very long time, and all those people have injected their wisdom into the religions. So I think there can be useful messages in religions, even though none of them are literally true. Anyway, check him out.

Pinned discussions

A Bouquet for Pearls - share your appreciation for other members

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All discussions

Overcoming depression, what worked for me.

replies: 2

GAPS diet - heard of it? Tried it? Thoughts?

replies: 6