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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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Ben1 Does Pokemon Go make us healthier?
  • replies: 32

Hey everyone! Just read a really interesting article on Vice about how many people who are experiencing mental illnesses are really enjoying Pokemon Go. I'm wondering if anyone has any similar stories. Have you found you are outside more because of t... View more

Hey everyone! Just read a really interesting article on Vice about how many people who are experiencing mental illnesses are really enjoying Pokemon Go. I'm wondering if anyone has any similar stories. Have you found you are outside more because of the game? and has it positively impacted your mental health? Thanks so much guys! -Ben

Mariasharapovafan1 A new me
  • replies: 2

I have finally recovered after deactivating my Facebook page as so many comments have been insulting and made me feel hurt. I am now into the more fun part of life when I start laughing a lot. I am now back with my mother and we a going for walks. I ... View more

I have finally recovered after deactivating my Facebook page as so many comments have been insulting and made me feel hurt. I am now into the more fun part of life when I start laughing a lot. I am now back with my mother and we a going for walks. I now love watching a cartoon on youtube called 'Noah's Island' and one of the characters I like is Sacha a friendly simple-minded Russian desman (a desman is a very shy obscure species with an unusual snout). Also I love my scrap booking of my favorite things in life this includes this animal and Maria Sharapova. I've also bought a shirt that she was wearing from Zara and put her on a t-shirt, now that I no longer have Facebook. Also I've found a useful mobile app called meetup which enables me to join the groups and meet new people face-to-face. Congratulations I'm making a new start.

james1 A little positive story
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone, I wanted to share a little positive story, as well as say to say thanks. I hope you read this and find something useful in it. I've had a terrible week and yesterday was a terrible day. Between kicking myself out of my house, sleeping... View more

Hello everyone, I wanted to share a little positive story, as well as say to say thanks. I hope you read this and find something useful in it. I've had a terrible week and yesterday was a terrible day. Between kicking myself out of my house, sleeping at McDonalds, sleeping under the desk at work, and failing to do anything productive at work, I'd just had enough by yesterday morning. It was probably a good thing too that I was so exhausted yesterday, because those thoughts had become very intrusive. Posting on these forums and telling my friends my plans saved me. Specifically, I'd previously posted more than once that I would be going to uni this week. So even though I could've lied and pretended that I went to uni, there was a nagging little thought in my brain that, maybe, I should get up and go. Then my friend sent me a message - "I'll see you at uni today." That kicked my nagging thought into action. I went to uni. It was horrible. But it was a step forwards, rather than backwards. But I still had hours left in the day and, after eating dinner on my own, I got trapped in my head again. Again, posting on the forums that morning saved me. There's a thread about exercise started up by another forum member who I'm very thankful to have "met" on these forums. On it, I'd posted that I'd go for a run later last night. So, as with uni, I got that nagging thought in my head that I really should go run. As I walked home, I started playing my favourite running music: the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, specifically when they're running across the mountains. That gave me just enough energy to go for a short run, even though it was 10PM by now. So I did, and I could go to sleep feeling a little better about myself. Sothat little bit of positivity, from what was a really really bad place in the morning, gave me enough desire to get up today, go to work, and know that I'm still here and surrounded by colleagues who respect me as a human being regardless of my issues. Tomorrow I go to Uluru, and I'm really excited to finish off my bad week with something nice for myself. So I guess what I really wanted to say is thank you to everyone on the forums here. You've given me a place where I can feel comfortable. You've also, maybe without knowing, held me to the plans I make in advance just by listening and responding, so that when I do have bad days, I get that nagging thought that I should carry out the plans I made on my good days. Thanks again. James

AGrace Share an inspirational quote
  • replies: 118

Hi All, Just wanted to share a quote with you that someone shared with me a little while ago. It's certainly helped me see brighter days at times. You are a person You are not only your pain You are not only scars and wounds; You are also better thin... View more

Hi All, Just wanted to share a quote with you that someone shared with me a little while ago. It's certainly helped me see brighter days at times. You are a person You are not only your pain You are not only scars and wounds; You are also better things. You are possibility and promise, Hope and healing and daydreams. You are favourite books and favourite songs. You are the people you love, and the people who love you. You are HOPE and CHANGE and things worth fighting for. This is your story And your story isn't over. (Jamie Tworkowski)

Jcassavetes Single and Strong?
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I'm a new poster here. 31 year old male with a long history of depression and body dismorphic disorder. For as far back as I can remember I've been pretty depressed and always had things about my physical appearance that I've hated and obsess... View more

Hi all, I'm a new poster here. 31 year old male with a long history of depression and body dismorphic disorder. For as far back as I can remember I've been pretty depressed and always had things about my physical appearance that I've hated and obsessed about. I'm not the ugliest guy on the street but I'm no Brad Pitt either. Naturally I find that anxiety over my physical appearance increases greatly when I'm single and looking for a partner. I was really on top of stuff for a while last year but after a looong string of unsuccessful dating I became emotionally worn out and let my guard down. Depression and compulsive behaviours have flooded back into my life recently and I feel like I have no choice but to take a break from the constant anxiety I get when dating. I wish could make it a permanent break and be single for the remainder of my life but I don't know where to find the strength for that... I have post grad studies to focus on at the moment and am also actively painting everyday and I've recently had a couple of commissions so it's something concrete to focus on. I also run around 8kms three or four times a week and get to the gym whenever I can as well. I have all these things that I love to do but I'm finding it hard to commit to just being single and becoming mentally strong for a while even though dating is causing me so much anxiety and pain.... Do other people here live happily and successfully as singles? I guess I'm just interested in how other people find the strength to carry on everyday as singles in a world full of couples and don't get bogged down by loneliness / jealousy? I'm not an overly social person as I prefer quiet activities and fitness and I don't really have any family left either so that kind of support is not really an option. Just interested to hear about other people's experiences...

Guest7765 Is 25 too old to start a course?
  • replies: 10

My anxiety at the moment is pretty much non existent but I do get depressed because I do much much nothing. I wanna start a course but I'm 25 years old. I got refereed to this Certificate III civil construction course which is in the city I wanna do. View more

My anxiety at the moment is pretty much non existent but I do get depressed because I do much much nothing. I wanna start a course but I'm 25 years old. I got refereed to this Certificate III civil construction course which is in the city I wanna do.

white knight "You are not being reasonable"!
  • replies: 15

Ever been told that? Being told that means it came from someone else right? Of course. And you scratch your head, that thing that holds all of your low self esteem, guilt and that non productive thing called worry. So what is reason? Or being reasona... View more

Ever been told that? Being told that means it came from someone else right? Of course. And you scratch your head, that thing that holds all of your low self esteem, guilt and that non productive thing called worry. So what is reason? Or being reasonable? Let's look at law to bring this into perspective. As a jury member in a trial, you'll each be asked to find the defendant guilty or not guilty. To come to a result you have to base your decision of guilt based upon "beyond reasonable doubt". That's it!. It is based on YOUR decision and the other 11 jurors collective findings of some point beyond reasonable doubt. So if you follow me on this, being reasonable is a point defined by the individual. Everyone has a different dividing line of what reasonable is. This point of reason can be a common area of conflict. Ever had an argument with a friend about your location as he/she holds the map upside down?. The conflict doesn't commence because the map isn't facing right way up, its because your friend is certain they are correct and because of that they refuse to (in your words to him/her) " BE REASONBLE"!!!! I AM RIGHT"!!! In their eyes they are being reasonable...after all they have listened to you tell them the map is the wrong way up and discounted it. You on the other hand find them to be totally unreasonable for not taking your claims seriously. So you argue. Then suddenly you look at the map...it wasn't upside down at all. In such a case it was you that wasn't reasonable by not confirming the map position. Can you see that in this instance, being reasonable is a personal view of a situation that likely if in conflict, is based on your own individual judgement. That example was to explain the complexities of human disagreements and why the claim of "you're not being reasonable" is used so often. Simply because you are not seeing a situation how someone else sees it. So in times of conflict by trying to be reasonable means not just giving in and agreeing with the other party, but attempting to see why they think that way. Then if you still believe you are correct stick to your beliefs. Don't allow others to rule your right to your own decision making. I.e don't be too submissive. However if you are proved wrong then apologise. That will mean you are fair and being fair is giving reason every chance of being present when it matters. ​ Tony WK

lookingforme Discussion: Taking it one day at a time.
  • replies: 12

I am certain that everyone has been given or given this advice themselves. I myself, find that sometimes I have to take things minute by minute. But, waking up this morning, I asked myself what the implications are of this particular mentality/concep... View more

I am certain that everyone has been given or given this advice themselves. I myself, find that sometimes I have to take things minute by minute. But, waking up this morning, I asked myself what the implications are of this particular mentality/concept? I am a dreamer, a thinker (some say over-thinker), a researcher and a risk-taker. These characteristics present in such a way that I dream big first, I plan pathways to get there (owing for contingencies), and if it involves immersing myself in a world I do not know, I will do it, and when I'm there, I'll adapt, I'll analyze myself and my plans and I will expect to succeed. Failure is okay also, it's life lesson, so I'm okay as long as I have tried to do what I wanted to do. This, is all in an ideal world. In actuality, I do all of this around and through my depression and anxiety. And if I do succeed, it felt like such a struggle to get there that I am relieved that I'm on the other side rather than enjoying my accomplishments. And if I fail...well... So, having been given this advice, and trying to implement it, I wonder if dreaming big and taking risks is pragmatic, because at the face of it, it seems to close me off. Hope for a day. Repeat the next. If you have a bad day, tomorrow might be better, brush it off. But, if you do dream big, one day of self indulgence of inactivity, which we all know can amount to 7 days or 10 days etc...counts against what I'm working for. 10 days of the lack of hope is enough to dissuade anyone of the feasibility of such dreams. Or, on the other side, what if I have a string of good days and still take it one day at a time? And I cannot enjoy it because I'm only focusing on the next day, and will only realize what has happened after the fact and possibly when I compare it to the bad days that have come up again. Please note, I haven't given up on my dreams but it seems like on one hand it isn't enough to get me out of a depressive state, there just isn't enough hope here or faith in myself and capabilities, and on the other hand this method is counterproductive to planning because days can go by as fast as blinking. Also, I'm all for dreams, I don't think anyone should give up on theirs, that's not what I'm trying to say. Is my thinking wrong? Did I explain myself well? Joelle

LibbyB Finding inspiration online
  • replies: 2

Hi there!I'll be honest. I spend a lot of time on my computer. Currently on holidays and not sure what to do with myself, most of my free time is spent scrolling through facebook, or pinterest, or instagram...I enjoy visualising what I want my life t... View more

Hi there!I'll be honest. I spend a lot of time on my computer. Currently on holidays and not sure what to do with myself, most of my free time is spent scrolling through facebook, or pinterest, or instagram...I enjoy visualising what I want my life to be like, when I am physically and mentally healthier. I like to follow people who seem to live a very healthy lifestyle, and find it gives me the motivation to improve my own.Where do you get your inspiration from?

white knight Charity begins at home
  • replies: 4

I don't know the statistics but percentage wise I'd guess those with any form of mental illness out number those without in terms if charity work. If so, shouldn't it be the other way around? The balancing of family life, work and all those other thi... View more

I don't know the statistics but percentage wise I'd guess those with any form of mental illness out number those without in terms if charity work. If so, shouldn't it be the other way around? The balancing of family life, work and all those other things, shopping, paying bills, home maintenance and so on is already a bigger struggle for us...add charity work to the mix and thy cup can runneth over. Why are we doing charity work? My theory is that as one new member of bb put it, "I am a givver" we get great pleasure from helping others. Why? Perhaps because we do mentally feel more compassionate, we could be more emotional or sympathetic. A problem is that some people are out there without mental struggles that take on a lot of activities be it for schools or clubs and once you are sighted and judged as not involving yourself much, they focus on you as a person they can dump responsibilities on. We are soft targets for this. And if you are like me in my past you won't be able to easily say "no thanks". Furthermore you'll feel guilty and offer explanations like " I have depression". That blank stare you get back might be one of sympathy but more likely its "oh, he is one if those...what do I do now?". Another trap is volunteering to help out on a roster or a time further ahead. How do you know you'll be OK on that given day? When I started posting in this forum very actively to help others I had to ensure all other aspects of my life was in order. My work here could not be to the cost of my stability or my daily chores. In fact it has been to the benefit to my life because I've learned from others about their symptoms. However, it is clear that the family balance particularly with young children is much harder. Team work between parents has to be fine tuned. Be very careful in how much you take on. Don't be afraid to say " I'm sorry maybe next time". If that refusal resulted in you obtaining a few hours rest/sleep then you are putting into action the 'charity begins at home' priority. One day you'll be certain you can take on a little charity work. It might be a time when your kids have left home, you are bored or you need that social interaction. That's good. Until then remember to look after your mental stress by limiting you away from home work at times that suit you. Its not being selfish, its allowing you to function without overloading your life. Tony WK