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BeyondBlue Tradies National Health Month
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, August is Tradies National Health Month, to highlight the importance of health and safety among Australia’s trade workers. Mental health and wellbeing is crucial to the safety of anyone in the mining or construction industries, so Beyond... View more

Hi everyone, August is Tradies National Health Month, to highlight the importance of health and safety among Australia’s trade workers. Mental health and wellbeing is crucial to the safety of anyone in the mining or construction industries, so Beyond Blue is hosting a special free webinar for our tradie community on Tuesday 12 August at 4.30pm which you can register for here. We know that Tradies can face unique stressors, with a culture of toughness and difficult job demands that can impact personal time and self-care. It can also be tough for partners and family members who aren’t sure how to support someone in a trade who may be showing signs that their mental health isn’t at its best. If you’re unsure where to start your conversation this is the space for you. Whether you want to share your own experiences, ask questions, or simply connect with others who understand what you're going through, you're in the right place. If you're seeking additional support, here are some resources: Hope Assistance Local Tradies: Home This Is A Conversation Starter: TIACS - This is a Conversation Starter Mates in Construction: MATES - Industry Based Suicide Prevention - MATES Don’t forget - our counsellors are always here for you on 1300 22 46 36. We’ll also use this space to post some of the questions and answers from the webinar discussion. Feel free to dive in and keep the conversation going. Thank you again for joining us — we’re glad you’re here.

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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Chris_B Make your mental health pledge here
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone,As part of the beyondblue National Roadshow, we've been encouraging people we meet out on the road to make a "mental health pledge". We've been asking people to think about what contributes to you feeling good about yourself, healthy, fu... View more

Hey everyone,As part of the beyondblue National Roadshow, we've been encouraging people we meet out on the road to make a "mental health pledge". We've been asking people to think about what contributes to you feeling good about yourself, healthy, fulfilled and content - and then asking is there a commitment you can make, or a goal you can set, to help you achieve or maintain good mental health over the next six months?On this section of our website, you can fill in this pledge and we will email it back to you in six months and you can see how you've gone. The pledge is private, we don't reveal it to anyone, but I'm starting this thread here for those of you who may wish to share what your pledge is and we can hold each other accountable for sticking to it.My pledge is going to make sure I stick to getting in 30 minutes of exercise 4-5 times a week, as I know it helps keep my moods and energy levels regular even though I grumble about doing it!Please feel free to let us know your pledges below, and visit this page of the website to enter in your pledge and have it sent back to you in six months.

Tiger_14 Strategies for coping wanted
  • replies: 11

Hello, I am new to beyond blue and would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has strategies for coping with anxiety and depression. I have been off work for over 8 weeks since being diagnosed by my GP and Phscologist. I am feeling lonely, constan... View more

Hello, I am new to beyond blue and would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has strategies for coping with anxiety and depression. I have been off work for over 8 weeks since being diagnosed by my GP and Phscologist. I am feeling lonely, constantly seeking reassurance and questioning myself. My current time off consists of exercising - jogging, swimming / sauna / spa and seeking massages as needed to relieve stressfull thoughts. Relaxation tapes as a form of meditation help but unfortunately I am constanlty still anxious and frustrated with my progress. My GP has recommended I continue with exercise as well as taking natural medicine - (St Johns Wart) and provided me with a medical plan to vist a Physcologist every second week. I am considering asking my GP to prescribe anti depressant medication as I have not seen a lot of improvement in the 8 weeks since my diagnosis. Any feedback as to what else I should do will be greatly appreciated. Regards, Tiger 14

coco123 What do you usually do to stay calm and positive?
  • replies: 4

When you get up.. When you have bad days.. When you think you've had enough at workplace, at home, everywhere. I guess it's mood swing. Please share. Thank you.

When you get up.. When you have bad days.. When you think you've had enough at workplace, at home, everywhere. I guess it's mood swing. Please share. Thank you.

Doolhof Multi-choice for the day
  • replies: 4

As I was snoozing in bed this morning, the following thoughts came to mind came to my mind: This morning shall I A) Stay in bed all day feeling depressed B) Get up and shower and put on clean clothes C) Read a book for half and hour and then get up I... View more

As I was snoozing in bed this morning, the following thoughts came to mind came to my mind: This morning shall I A) Stay in bed all day feeling depressed B) Get up and shower and put on clean clothes C) Read a book for half and hour and then get up If I stay in bed all day A) Will I think depressive thoughts all day and feel more miserable B) Will I think positive thoughts, grab the phone and chat with friends C) Have a mini holiday, breakfast and lunch in bed, enjoy reading books, do some word puzzles etc. Once I'm up what will I do A) Allow my depressed thoughts to get the better of me and keep entertaining them B) Acknowledge my thoughts, listen to them, then try to change them to something positive C) Drown out my thoughts by listening to music, reading, Sudoku, puzzles, going for a walk How will I spend my day A) Try to think of something positive to do B) Accept today is not a good day and do what I can to get through it C) If it is a really horrid day contact someone for help and advice For lunch today I will A) Mindlessly eat yesterday's left overs in front of the t.v. while downing a few alcoholic drinks B) Invite a friend over for lunch or ask a friend to meet me for lunch some where C) Prepare myself a healthy lunch and either eat it outside or set the table up nicely for a meal When the afternoon low hits I will A) Go to bed and stay there until the evening B) Take a book outside and read for an hour or do some weeding C) Eat some fruit and go for a walk For dinner tonight I could consider my lunch time options or A) Dress up, light candles and put some flowers or even leafed twigs in a vase on the table B) Eat dinner on the balcony, the patio, in the garden or the back verandah if possible C) Pack up your meal, have an evening picnic somewhere watching the sun set For the evening I will A) Continue to entertain my depressed thoughts and feel miserable, thinking tomorrow will be the same B) Spend a little time thinking/writing about the good things that happened today and the bad as well, let the bad go C) Plan something nice to do tomorrow Once in bed I will A) Go through all the bad stuff from today over and over again B) Read for a while until I am tired enough to sleep C) Thank God/ the universe/ myself for all the little blessings I have experienced, and for making a conscious effort to make my day a good one.

Chloekat84 Good session today with my psychologist
  • replies: 6

Today i had a good session with my phych and we did a meditation session which was really relaxing and went really well i think. Im on the right track on combating this illness head on. Even though ive got borderline personality dirsorder and dysthym... View more

Today i had a good session with my phych and we did a meditation session which was really relaxing and went really well i think. Im on the right track on combating this illness head on. Even though ive got borderline personality dirsorder and dysthymia i try and think positive every day and today has been a good one. Only set back is my impulse buy of a few dvds. Thats the borderline kicking in i think. Hope everyone else has had a good day x

yoda_retired Overwhelmed,Felt Lost,
  • replies: 2

Hi this Snow, and until recently I was so overwhelmed with caring for my wife, Anxiety, short term memory loss& Depression, Sadness, her not wanting to move or engage in activities, she has case manager a great team of people behind her and these peo... View more

Hi this Snow, and until recently I was so overwhelmed with caring for my wife, Anxiety, short term memory loss& Depression, Sadness, her not wanting to move or engage in activities, she has case manager a great team of people behind her and these people I truly love n respect . In some of the articles Others shared, have enlightened me to a whole new level of care & understanding. I recently left work retired early and suffer servere arthritis, oesteo, rheumatoid, and now oesteoperosis, mild depression, feeling completely out of water, at 53 and no longer a manager and loss of identity, so to speak. I tried to do everything, mother hen, cook, clean, house unpack still after 5 months, then a lightning bolt ,,, beyondblue.org , I started reading, I stopped nagging, about weight loss for us both and I realised my best friend was less motivated when I was sad. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories, today I did 1 n half hours in the garden, close to mother nature, cooked for wifey, my wonderful supporting mum inlaw, and went the ymca for water exercice for us both. Sometimes you have to stop smell roses, and realise what you can do... Do slowly, and enjoy it, I call my arthritis, RUST, is what it is, we're away to go but it's nice to feel happy again. Finding inner peace,

AGrace Finding motivation
  • replies: 10

Hey, One of the things that struck me when I fell ill was how to motivate myself, and how to stay motivated? So I thought I'd share some of my tips, and I wondered whether you have some to share as well? "Start where you are, use what you have, do wh... View more

Hey, One of the things that struck me when I fell ill was how to motivate myself, and how to stay motivated? So I thought I'd share some of my tips, and I wondered whether you have some to share as well? "Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can" Arthur Ashe Set Goals (make them specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) Share your goals with others (they may be able to monitor your progress) Get out of bed each morning and start with a shower and breakfast Prepare and use a schedule Reward yourself for achievements Allow others to help you when you need it Do what you can (if that means getting out of bed, then do that) Get to know your discomfort zone, this is what holds you back Be willing to step out of your comfort zone Sometimes action needs to precede motivation Put on some upbeat energising music "If you can't fly, then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward." Martin Luther King Jr.

Bard A pocket full of hope
  • replies: 7

WHAT is the most inspiring/encouraging/empowering/motivating thing that anyone has said to you which has made a difference in your life, especially if it's a touchstone you come back to in hard times??

WHAT is the most inspiring/encouraging/empowering/motivating thing that anyone has said to you which has made a difference in your life, especially if it's a touchstone you come back to in hard times??

joey Practicing DBT skills
  • replies: 4

I think there are a few of us here with BPD at the moment and some have done DBT. I thought maybe we can start a thread where we share the skills that we use. Explain the skill and what you did. E.G at the moment I am trying to practice distress tole... View more

I think there are a few of us here with BPD at the moment and some have done DBT. I thought maybe we can start a thread where we share the skills that we use. Explain the skill and what you did. E.G at the moment I am trying to practice distress tolerance - self soothe. Last night I bought nice ingredients for my dinner (I didn't not get certain things because they are expensive like usually). Tonight I am going to have a hot shower and wash my hair and smell the products I use. Joey

jimgoose I'm glad I got help
  • replies: 4

hi im jimgoose age 47 i am the youngest brother in my family.My Nanna Molly was a part of the stolen gen along with her siblings.She was from the yorta yorta people up near the nsw /vic border and was turned into a house maid.Nanna passed away when i... View more

hi im jimgoose age 47 i am the youngest brother in my family.My Nanna Molly was a part of the stolen gen along with her siblings.She was from the yorta yorta people up near the nsw /vic border and was turned into a house maid.Nanna passed away when i was very young but my sister of 3 years older knew her very well. My cousin Jenny is an Aboriginal artist , has had a fair success with her paintings and knows my Nanna's story better than I.The rest of my ancestory comes from england wales Ireland etc.I have been thinking about ending my life for a long time and hid it from everybody well.I used self ending as an outlet for pressure as in if i went through with it id have no more worries.This gave me comfort until about a year ago i started to plan the act of suicide down to the last detail.Finally i decided to tell my partner of 23 years about my thoughts because i realised that i would be hurting others if i did it.My partner understood and told me i should get some help ,so i did and I feel a lot better. I still use ending it all as a cure for not coping with the pressures of life , but its like the doctor and cat team have wound the clock back a bit thus giving me time.I also got medication which i don't like.Everything i did just seemed pointless and i felt like the entire world hated me and i was also a bit more delusional than normal.Im so glad i got help because i believe i may see my kids become responsible adults one day. This is my second post and i know im not alone here and i somehow feel like i belong again. beyondblue’s clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636. Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}