Immediate support
Immediate support

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.

Start a discussion

FAQ

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

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

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

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

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

Start a discussion

gld Promoting a better environment
  • replies: 3

Hi, How as a society/group promote a better environment in a workplace/public to help others who are finding things difficult and not sharing to have better outcomes. Gen

Hi, How as a society/group promote a better environment in a workplace/public to help others who are finding things difficult and not sharing to have better outcomes. Gen

Hopefulldance Does exercise improve mood or cause a crash
  • replies: 7

I have gone to crossfit several times now and every time without fail I crash. I have bipolar2. Does this happen to anyone else?

I have gone to crossfit several times now and every time without fail I crash. I have bipolar2. Does this happen to anyone else?

white knight Bipolar triggers
  • replies: 3

I'm writing this while in the depths if despair. I'm not sure of the statistics but suicide rates for bipolar sufferers is high about 20% or more. I can say I'm not suicidal currently and have referred to my suicidal path as being a one off period in... View more

I'm writing this while in the depths if despair. I'm not sure of the statistics but suicide rates for bipolar sufferers is high about 20% or more. I can say I'm not suicidal currently and have referred to my suicidal path as being a one off period in 1996, one week prior to my marriage ending. However, immediately a trigger arrives for the next period up to about 3 hours...sadly I feel the same as that sad time in 1996. To clarify, post upset, although it is likely normal for emotions to be elevated...my emotions are far beyond that. Do I think suicide thoughts?. No because I'm not planning anything and won't. But I do feel living is arduous and the regularity of upset is too often for me to cope with. What are the triggers? Being spoken to as a child. Eg if I leave a tool under the verandah and the next day I ask my wife where it is and get a reply "in your tool box where it should be". I will take that reply as being spoken to as if a mother to a 8 yo son. Bills. As a young man I was never good at managing money. I've handed over most of our finances to my good wife due to this. If we get an unexpected bill eg car repairs are always double of what's expected ...then its a trigger Nasty people. Some comments cut to the core on social media. I've regulated my use of it but you can't lock yourself away. Besides I do like interaction. Bit double edged really. Poor health. I have an extremely low pain threshold. This can make me ultra sensitive. Can other bipolar people relate to these issues? I presume the low lows of bipolar is what I'm talking about. Tony WK

V17 What would you want to do that would make you happy if money or time were not a factor?
  • replies: 17

I believe - more so now, especially now; that there is/has to be a purpose why I am on this earth. Before the pain; before the torment, the hurts and fears I've faced and am overcoming, there was a time - no mater how long ago it it was; I smiled. No... View more

I believe - more so now, especially now; that there is/has to be a purpose why I am on this earth. Before the pain; before the torment, the hurts and fears I've faced and am overcoming, there was a time - no mater how long ago it it was; I smiled. Not that smile you sow on your face to placate or appease but the heartfelt smile. My psych asked me this question the other day, "What would you want to do that would make you happy if money or time where not a factor". So I said, "Even if it takes 10 years?." She countered, "Even if it took 20." Okay. "What - like a job?" "A job, a pastime - anything that you need to work towards to achieve it." Shit. Okay. Alright. "I would write a book." Nod. Yeah. "What's stopping you?", she replied. Some where in the distance a dog barked. (hehe, sorry - had to) This has been a pivotal moment for me. Without going too much into detail other than to say I fired back many 'buts' at her, the question remained the same. This question and the dialogue that followed has been one of many beginnings to the journey I am now willing, not so much happy to - more determined - to undertake. No, it's not going to be easy - how can it be? - but, jeez; I love to write. So, may I ask you who is reading this - if not to post a reply, then to ask yourself.. what would you want to do that would make you happy if money or time were not a factor? I wish you the BEST of days. V.

white knight Coping with death
  • replies: 1

Probably one of the most difficult topics I've chosen to talk about, to make sense of and share. An old lady once my neighbour told me once "we are born alone and we die alone". That's solemn but to approach this subject we have to be frank. Life inc... View more

Probably one of the most difficult topics I've chosen to talk about, to make sense of and share. An old lady once my neighbour told me once "we are born alone and we die alone". That's solemn but to approach this subject we have to be frank. Life includes many things, one of those things is death. No other animal on earth realises more than humans that a loved one has died. Humans have such high intelligence we try to evaluate the journey our loved ones travel after dying. A High percentage of humans have chosen one of more than 5000 religions in order to grasp faith for what? In many cases its to feel that if there is life after death they will graduate into it and...live on. But here in life one of the most difficult challenges we have is coping with a loved one that has passed. Grief is huge because we cannot come to terms that our loved one will never return. Or if you believe it, you won't have them in this life...only in that place beyond life. Either way, your loss is more than substantial. Prior to my wonderful father passing in 1992 I couldn't cope with death. Now I can. What has changed?. It would be easy to say " l learned that death is part of life". But while that is accurate, its more complex. I asked my father a month before he died "are you scared of dying". To which he replied " not at all". Both of us are atheists so I then asked him "dad, how can you not be scared ".(dad was 64yo and had had several heart attacks). He told me that apart from eating healthily and mild exercise he could only do his best to prolong his life...from then on, " its out of my control". We often mention worry here on this forum. Worry is non productive and in fact contributes to anxiety. So on the topic of death of ourselves or a loved one, if we accept we have no control over the outcome then can that give us some relief about coping with it?. It has for me, maybe for you also. The twist in this is, I'm still an atheist but I believe there is another dimension to life. Call it spiritual, its the closest word I can find. But that also has given me comfort that there has to be something else out there post life...we have to go "somewhere". In a sense I've joined the believers in some way and its helped me. Finally, I think aging sends us to a more relaxing mentality with death. As our friends and relatives more often pass on we attend funerals regularly. Another reason to feel that death is part of life. its comforting, but never easy. Tony WK

gld Mood and weather
  • replies: 2

Hi, Today i woke up and felt like the rug was pulled out from underneath me. The weather was very overcast and very chilly after a period of nice warm days and cool mornings/nights. Does anyone else experience this when we have a change in weather li... View more

Hi, Today i woke up and felt like the rug was pulled out from underneath me. The weather was very overcast and very chilly after a period of nice warm days and cool mornings/nights. Does anyone else experience this when we have a change in weather like this and what things do you do to pull yourself out of it? Love to know if anyone else has ever had this happen or if it is something that happens when you are feeling a bit flat already. Gen

sparkvark Combatting inertia
  • replies: 20

I sometimes think I must be the laziest person in the world. I overwhelm myself thinking about things that need to be done, and as a result I never get started on any of them. I know that strictly speaking it’s not laziness, but it equates to the sam... View more

I sometimes think I must be the laziest person in the world. I overwhelm myself thinking about things that need to be done, and as a result I never get started on any of them. I know that strictly speaking it’s not laziness, but it equates to the same result. It took me 2 hours to get out of bed this morning – I had to stop thinking about all the things, and just DO one thing. I’ve hidden behind laziness for a long time. I’d rather be seen as lazy than as afraid or stressed. One is about being carefree, careless and chill. The other labels you as the weakest link, the one to be picked off first. Right now I should be painting the apartment. Or at least prepping the walls. Or at least going to Bunnings to get some supplies. The only way I’m going to achieve that is to just stop thinking, hop on the bike and go. I know that, but I’m sitting here stressing myself out instead. My dad will be visiting next weekend and will expect a certain amount of this stuff to be done. I’m not trying to get out of doing it, I’m not incapable of doing it, I’m just stuck in my own bloody head and it’s not a safe place in here. I’ve agreed with myself that I’ll leave for the shops as soon as I post this. Even if I can’t face the bike and have to walk the whole way there one foot in front of the other. How does everyone else tackle the inertia that sets in, whether it be from feeling overwhelmed, lack of energy, anxiety, depression, or anything?

Hopefulldance Well this is new!
  • replies: 1

I'll try not to be to negative as right now I am truly believing in the power of positive thinking. So here it goes,. Things had been going along pretty ordinarily. But out of the blue I started to make talk of wanting to drink alcohol again, why aft... View more

I'll try not to be to negative as right now I am truly believing in the power of positive thinking. So here it goes,. Things had been going along pretty ordinarily. But out of the blue I started to make talk of wanting to drink alcohol again, why after so many months without even giving it a thought, it was now all I could think about. Anyway was over at a friends and came to tears while talking to them about not being able to have a drink and how Andrea won't let me. My friend put me onto a low sugar beer which after talking to Andrea I ended up having quit a few I was tipsy by the end of the night. So this went on for a few weeks with the drinking becoming more frequent and earlier in the day to the point of starting to have the mindset of wanting to get smashed to escape my reality. This set off red flags for me and after some research I found that I was having a mixed episode as I was going between highs and lows rapidly. So I have now stopped drinking again no problems with that, but am craving sugar a bit so I must be vigilant to stay away from it. Have been very tired trying to go to crossfit more regularly but I don't know why it makes me tired for the rest of the day, I think it's because I have had to change my wake up time and it is not agreeing with me. May have to stop going early in the morning and go later although I doubt I will as I am a bit shy and going by myself would just cause anxiety. I have put a positive reminder to go for a walk during the dreaded time of day that it feels like time stands still in my mundane day...lol I plan to go for a stroll not for weight purposes but to go out feel the sun on my skin and take in the fresh country air, then I'll come home and do yoga followed by some gym work to get those good chemicals flowing. Who knows maybe this is what I should start with and set my alarm for one early start for a week then go a day extra a week until a early star doesn't affect me. does anyone else have an suggestions?

mudjimbaboy talented people
  • replies: 2

Hi. Im here to tell you something. You are talented.why? All people ive met that have a mental disorder or nervous disorder. Are very talented.some didnt know it.id sit with some and play guitar until i could hear sounds that they didnt. Id show them... View more

Hi. Im here to tell you something. You are talented.why? All people ive met that have a mental disorder or nervous disorder. Are very talented.some didnt know it.id sit with some and play guitar until i could hear sounds that they didnt. Id show them that being able to paint images from your mind is not that dificult.not for them.not for us. Artists are SENSITIVE.musicians are too. Its a trait we endure that we suffer because were so talented.hope i havnt lost you? Lol . One old friend said I CANT SURF.then turned professional. One said im shy.but then blew others off the stage with a powerful voice and range .simular to janis joplin. So try out your talents.im sure theyre there. Max

MarkJT Caught in between the matrix??
  • replies: 8

Ok so for about the last week or so i have had this strange feeling. I am well advanced in my recovery from PTSD, depression and anxiety. Still and plan to be for life medicated and exercise regularly and practice mindfulness pretty much every day. F... View more

Ok so for about the last week or so i have had this strange feeling. I am well advanced in my recovery from PTSD, depression and anxiety. Still and plan to be for life medicated and exercise regularly and practice mindfulness pretty much every day. Fortunately for me I have a pretty good handle on when i am getting anxious but this is throwing me at the moment. Currently at work i have stacks on, the office is short of members, I am acting in my bosses role whilst he is on leave so there is plenty to be stressed about but i am not feeling stressed at all. Now this is a good thing obviously but i have this strange feeling that i should be stressed and anxious but then i ask myself am i stressed? I don't think I am but then i feel really calm about everything so i cant be stressed but then my body tells me that i am feeling anxious. The best way i can describe it is like i am stuck somewhere between the real world and the matrix - for those that have seen the Matrix trilogy. For those have not seem them, I really cant tell if i am stressing and anxious or not? One idea that I did come up whilst chatting to a mate about it was that maybe i am just feeling so completely calm and that i haven't felt like that for about 10 years, that i have forgotten what the feeling is like to be completely calm and content with myself? Therefore i am trying to figure out whether this is a real feeling or am i anxious? So confusing but a good confusing! Talk about confusing, if anyone reads this and isn't completely confused, then you must be some kind of genius because i have just confused myself...again!! Thanks for reading (Confused) Mark