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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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Jo3 Home from hospital
  • replies: 10

To all my dear friends I came home this afternoon from being in hospital for 10 days. I wish it was longer but unfortunately I have to go back to work on Monday because of finance stress. I know, you're all probably saying - "Jo you should have staye... View more

To all my dear friends I came home this afternoon from being in hospital for 10 days. I wish it was longer but unfortunately I have to go back to work on Monday because of finance stress. I know, you're all probably saying - "Jo you should have stayed longer" - I really wish I could have but there was no other way. I have had a good break from the family, lots of time to myself reflecting back at the day's therapy sessions, psych session and just talking to the other patients. I met some amazing people who all have their own struggles, but we were all there for each other either laughing together or crying together or even just giving someone a hug. This morning was hard for me because I had to say goodbye to these people; I had two anxiety attacks one this morning and another at lunchtime. But I ended up seeing my psych and got a call from my therapist who both gave me support and encouragement to keep going, giving me strength because they know that I can do it. As much as this sounds horrible - I really did enjoy my break, it was time away for me and me only; no one else. I didn't have cook, didn't have to organise my day because that was taken care of. So back home now, I need to focus on taking slow steps to getting back into the swing of things; I will take this weekend slow, ease my way back into work and hopefully be fine. My boss has been very supportive and he knows the situation; it's just the other staff that will be questioning me on Monday. I hope everyone is doing okay, I will try to get to reply to some over the weekend. Jo xxx

Loz43 4 days in a row
  • replies: 3

I have had 4 really good days in a row, a great thing for me

I have had 4 really good days in a row, a great thing for me

hugomax So what does recovery really look like?
  • replies: 7

I had major depression in 2006. Thought I had it beat, but my memory and cognitive function have never returned to anything like they were before. The doctor has said I need to go on a higher dose for an extended period of time. Which I have just sta... View more

I had major depression in 2006. Thought I had it beat, but my memory and cognitive function have never returned to anything like they were before. The doctor has said I need to go on a higher dose for an extended period of time. Which I have just started. He has assured me it will make a longer lasting change that will bring back my brains functionality. I function today although I am less confident in my own actions which is impacting my life. But I am planning for a new future which is quite exciting. My expectation is that after 6-9 months of enduring these drugs and the side effects I will stop taking them and my brain will return to a state somewhat close to where I was before my depression. I expect not to have to take them again unless I feel myself slipping back into depression. Am I being a little naive? What should I be expecting after this period? Should I expect to be on these drugs for longer than 9 months? I consider myself mild to moderate depressed. Also during this time I intend to go back to college to study. It does worry me as I am unsure if my brain will be able to cope. Will these drugs stabilize me making study better or will I find it harder to concentrate and retain information. Thanks for the insight.

white knight DO YOU RAMBLE ON? A talker of mental illness all the time?
  • replies: 4

My mother was, I believe BPD. But she talked over and over again about things. Relatives would be driven mad over the same things repeated. Now, I'm 58yo with depression, dysthymia anxiety and bipolar 2. I have awareness that I am similar although no... View more

My mother was, I believe BPD. But she talked over and over again about things. Relatives would be driven mad over the same things repeated. Now, I'm 58yo with depression, dysthymia anxiety and bipolar 2. I have awareness that I am similar although not as bad, as my mother in my ramblings. The subject matter goes in stages. 25 years ago my topic of rambling was my workplace and its political challenges, 10 years ago family matters and recently mental health has been my topic I'm driving others crazy about. I'm preoccupied with my behaviour not unlike low self esteem. I am angry with the world full of many that have a MI of some kind but they not seek help for it (denial). I try to work things out for myself like what illness is causing my mood today, my anger or my confusion, my need to escape from society etc. Why I'm not happy all the time and make justification for such thoughts. EG every aspect of my life in the last 3 years has improved out of sight- remarried and happily, financial security, physical health, family, friends etc etc. All good. So why cant I be more stable in mood. Mood stabilisers have had a dramatic effect but am on the highest dosage. It becomes and issue when I want to talk to others about MI. My wife, who has depression, doesnt want to be involved with my Beyond Blue posts. Fair enough I say. I post regularly...nearly everyday because I know my experiences and knowledge helps people out there. Sooner or later though, my mouth opens about it or mental illness in general not only to my wife but to all around me.....it results in various reactions often I get ignored, the subject is changed or a few just say "give it a rest". It would be interesting if anyone has knowledge as to why people like me and my mother "talk the legs off a chair". The end result is- when told I'm talking too much, is to retreat in my cave, a mental "hole" where I speak little and am extremely upset. It often lasts a day or so.

Loz43 A good day
  • replies: 1

I had a good day today, very productive, well more productive than my usual days haha. I put music on and did some chores that hadn't been done for a while and I read my book. Ofcourse not everything got done but that's ok. Baby steps and one day at ... View more

I had a good day today, very productive, well more productive than my usual days haha. I put music on and did some chores that hadn't been done for a while and I read my book. Ofcourse not everything got done but that's ok. Baby steps and one day at a time first really good day I have had in a while.

white knight WHAT'S YOUR DEFENCE? against your vulnerability
  • replies: 6

I speak as one of the most sensitive people on earth, no exaggeration. Hence- I fall into a bad place often, too often. Abrupt people, nasty, inconsiderate, spiteful...you get the picture. Some people can say a few words and these words linger in my ... View more

I speak as one of the most sensitive people on earth, no exaggeration. Hence- I fall into a bad place often, too often. Abrupt people, nasty, inconsiderate, spiteful...you get the picture. Some people can say a few words and these words linger in my hurt for days. Recently after I stabilised on mood stabilisers and AD's I decided to embark on facing my feelings and being proactive about them. At 58yo I've been with these issues a long time. So, in order from a few months ago are the strategies I've tried- 1/ When I bump into people I know at shopping centres I limit chat time for each individual for a couple of minutes This allows you to just cover the general topics without you falling into mentioning you're not well or his issues that could add to your stress. 2/ Limit social media friends. Less friends less abuse less upset means more happier times. 3/ Stay clear of people with a proven nasty streak. Narcissistic people are everywhere. Identify them and eliminate them from conversation. Avoiding? Yep!! Unless they prove otherwise, they never change. Pwer is a lust some seek all the time...not at my expense. 4/ Beware the spouse of the abrasive ones. Some spouses take on board their wife/husband's fights. 5/ Clubs are a problem for the likes of me. I will never be in a committee nor the inner circle. But it doesnt mean you cant participate with passion. I elected to be the BBQ cook. You meet people briefly as they collect their sausages, enough time to ask them their name again but not long enough to get upset by them. 6/ As soon as I was able to retire I did. Less work contacts. Have these measures helped- absolutely. But it is still a learning curve. What are some of the things you do in order to protect yourself. ? PS I'm not critical towards these "nasties" in society. They have a right to act how they choose. I identify with MY issues and respond accordingly. Their issues are for them to combat.

RJD discussion with a beyondblue worker
  • replies: 6

Has anyone chatted with someone from beyondblue and still felt awful? Struggling with my feelings at the moment and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Has anyone chatted with someone from beyondblue and still felt awful? Struggling with my feelings at the moment and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

white knight HOW TO BRAINWASH YOURSELF
  • replies: 4

I've been on and on about positive thinking for a while now. There was a let down about this though. Recent studies found that someone in deep depression would receive no real benefit from such uplifting injection of thoughts because they can seem in... View more

I've been on and on about positive thinking for a while now. There was a let down about this though. Recent studies found that someone in deep depression would receive no real benefit from such uplifting injection of thoughts because they can seem inflated or unrealistic giving false hope. More so it is best to accept that deep depression be allowed to take its course to go the full circle until the sufferer has the mental ability to improve. That led me to some ideas. Humans are easy prey to brain washing. Brain washing sounds so negative. So I recently decided to reverse it and try to self brain wash. I decided that every 2 or 3 days when I attended the local shops about 15 minutes away, I'd find a reason to convince myself that the day was a good one and use a reason to inflate my perspective of the day. The first time I tried, last week, I walked past an elderly lady that was really frail. She was trying to move the rather heavy clear vertical strips on the doorway of a bakery to allow her trolley to pass through. She was about to fall over and I stopped her with my outstretched arm. She gave a big thankyou then after making sure she wasnt dizzy or unwell returned to the bakery where the serving lady insisted she not charge me for the pastie I wanted to buy. Turned out she was the old lady's daughter!! This was a head start in my theory. So for the rest of the day I kept reminding myself of the event and that it was a good day. The next time I went into town I visited my tax agent. He told me in a very short conversation that he'd just visited Moscow and was eager to tell me of his trip. We spent a few minutes chatting then I left to go shopping. I convinced myself that he was so friendly towards me he wanted me to be the recipient of his travel story. I was liked by him. It was a reason for a good day. The third time was yesterday. I had our little fox terrier with me. I carried her in my arms. I saw a little girl smile at my dog. So asked the girls mother if I could allow her daughter to pat 'Rosie". She agreed. Then I went on my way. I held onto the smile the girl had while patting my dog. It was priceless. Or at least I made it priceless. And that's the key. To hold onto the smallest positive moment and explode its importance. Gather it each time.....and run with it into the sunlight.....

RayS Kicking the dog and getting back on the horse
  • replies: 1

A little while back, about 5 weeks I guess, I had a complete break down at work. In a large part it was my own fault because I'd felt something was not right for many many months, but typical of the Aussie male, I was certain I could deal with it. I ... View more

A little while back, about 5 weeks I guess, I had a complete break down at work. In a large part it was my own fault because I'd felt something was not right for many many months, but typical of the Aussie male, I was certain I could deal with it. I cannot stress enough just how serious a mistake this line of thought can be. I've been taking the same dose of Anti-Deps for so long, I just figured they'd always work. This is not how it works. The weeks leading up the breakdown (not the first time it's happened I might add) I'd known things were getting bad, but as I said above, I was sure I could handle it. My memory was going south, my weight was dropping rapidly for no reason and though I pretended otherwise, I was drinking way too much. My work was suffering (I'm mid-senior level management in a fairly high stress position), I was forgetting to do things both at home and at work, or worse I was doing things that made no sense and that I simply didn't remember doing. But I'm an Aussie male, I can handle things myself, right? WRONG! And this line of thought nearly had me take the most extreme form of "escape". I was and am lucky my best friend is in a similar position and he could see things were not right. When the break down at work happened, I knew I had to do something and my mate basically threatened me with physical violence if didn't. I took steps. I saw my Doctor and realised after the first of several visits over 3 or 4 weeks, that one cannot simply assume there will be improvement without some help. I guess in many ways I was lucky. I didn't take that final step. Instead I took the advice of friends and the Drs, an increase in the dose and a few weeks away from the stress of work, and I am in a completely different world. The point of this is simple. Whilst it may not be the case, and I'm sure it isn't, for everyone for me it was a case of vigilance or the lack thereof. Despite a number of unfortunate occurrences in my personal life, I should have paid more attention to what was happening and realised it was the disease (and believe me, thats what it is) and nothing I was really responsible for. I don't and won't pretend I'm cured. I know that's not the case, but I do know that if that mongrel black dog comes barking at my heals again, I'll recognise him for what he is and I'll kick his backside because I know can. I'm back on the horse and I'm staying in the saddle this time.

scorch Healthy Recipes
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone. I thought it might be nice to have a thread where we can swap healthy, tasty and easy recipes. I'm trying to increase my palette while decreasing my dress size, and I thought, 'I bet the awesome people on BB have some recipes to share.' ... View more

Hi everyone. I thought it might be nice to have a thread where we can swap healthy, tasty and easy recipes. I'm trying to increase my palette while decreasing my dress size, and I thought, 'I bet the awesome people on BB have some recipes to share.' Do you have a favourite dish? Have you got a special recipe that's been in the family for generations? Or did you manage to whip up a gastronomical miracle one night with the random ingredients floating around your fridge? I made a lean beef & sweet potato pie last night, the husband said it was delish. Here's how I made it: First I peeled, cut up and set to boil a large sweet potato and 2 regular potatoes. While that was boiling I cut the fat off 2 rump steaks and diced the meat. I then skinned 6 tomatoes, cut them into cubes and put them in a pan on the stovetop at a low heat. I crushed a couple cloves of garlic and tore up a handful of herbs from the garden and stirred it in with the tomato. I also added a sprinkle of chili flakes. After the contents of the pan had cooked for about 5 minutes, I put them in a baking dish. I then used the pan to brown off the diced beef which I then also added to the baking dish. I added about half a cup of frozen peas to the mix and stirred it well, evenly distributing everything across the bottom of the baking dish. I then took the potatoes off heat and mashed them all up together. I used the potato/sweet potato mash to cover the beef/tomato mix, flattened it off with a fork and sprinkled a touch of light, grated cheese on top. I then put the dish in the oven on a medium heat for about 35 minutes. This made enough for 6 decent sized portions. It freezes and reheats well. I hope you like my recipe. It's nothing fancy, but my hubby liked it so it can't have been all bad. Please, I'd love to read some of your recipes and try them out!