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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 D To Everyone
  • replies: 6

As i sit in my room listening to music on this Tuesday morning, i give myself time to sit and relax before my group sessions this afternoon. I have also being reading many of your posts to eachother. Things are going pretty well, although there is st... View more

As i sit in my room listening to music on this Tuesday morning, i give myself time to sit and relax before my group sessions this afternoon. I have also being reading many of your posts to eachother. Things are going pretty well, although there is still alot of work still to be worked through. At this very moment in time i think of all of you who are struggling with your mental illness both in silent and in voice. If i could have just one wish, that would be for everyone to get the help and support they deserve to help you all manage our respective mental illnesses and to live a life that we have all wished we could have. I understand things are tough and are a struggle at times but we just need to take it one day at a time or to break each day down into smaller segments e.g. hr by hr etc. STAND TALL, BE DEFIANT AND BE STRONG. Chris

Andrew1972 There is hope
  • replies: 2

Lost a family member to car accident Horrible skin rash and anxiety Changed my diet Reduced stress Started exercising And most dramatic Got off my antidepressant meds now my skin is awesome Slowly getting back my fight for life If I can do it you can... View more

Lost a family member to car accident Horrible skin rash and anxiety Changed my diet Reduced stress Started exercising And most dramatic Got off my antidepressant meds now my skin is awesome Slowly getting back my fight for life If I can do it you can too You are unique Be kind to yourself Smile Andrew

MelB2 Feeling hopeful
  • replies: 1

I just had to share this because I am feeling positive about it. I had my first session with a new therapist yesterday and it went really well. She understood me when I said Im not here to fix everyone else in my life, Im here to fix me and learn str... View more

I just had to share this because I am feeling positive about it. I had my first session with a new therapist yesterday and it went really well. She understood me when I said Im not here to fix everyone else in my life, Im here to fix me and learn strategies I can use to help me deal with the crap as it comes up. She asked me for some background for specifics like has there ever been violence in my home - as a child or an adult - and when I burst into tears I expected her to rub her hands with glee and say thats where all my problems have come from, but she didnt. We talked a bit about it but she understood where I was coming from. I have always lost interest in counselling when they start saying Id like to get your parents in for a session. I told her my parents are 70, they know they made mistakes and they acknowledge that and feel bad for it. What good it going over it again and making them feel worse for it than they already do?? She didnt push it and got straight to work on giving me some strategies that I can use to help me get through the tough times better. The number one thing that has stuck with me is she said "you know its ok to feel these emotions dont you?" Shes so right! If I feel sad or angry I always just want to push it away and not think about what it is that is making me sad or angry. I have to mention to that I got onto her through the Lifeworx program which my work has intiated. Basically my work is paying for my first 3 sessions - all confidential and doesnt have to be anything to do with problems at work. Im lucky that I work for a company that recognises the importance of good mental health and are being proactive and helping staff and in return hopefully reducing lost productivity due sick days. Im very glad I made the call and feeling hopeful that it is going to help me!

joey You know what's not fair?
  • replies: 10

So just a warning this post is a little confusing. Because I am saying two opposite things. Don't worry I confuse myself too. But here goes... I really feel that life is not fair. I have I no one in this world. I do everything myself. I have no suppo... View more

So just a warning this post is a little confusing. Because I am saying two opposite things. Don't worry I confuse myself too. But here goes... I really feel that life is not fair. I have I no one in this world. I do everything myself. I have no support (particularly financially). If I stop working I have no money and nowhere to live. So I have kept working. And because of this I have never been taken seriously. If you can cope there is no problem. So I cope. But then I feel angry that people don't know how hard life is for me. But I never told them. I never will told them and I won't ask for help. And so I realise the above is not true. It's all in mind mind. Because maybe I have been taken seriously. Maybe I can't cope with someone trying to help so I pretend to be ok. I hate you don't leave me. That quote sums me up. I hate you don't leave me. I need help, no I am ok. I want a break, but I need to keep working. I love you, but don't try and help me. Because I will never let you. I am too scared of losing you. And there we have it. It's very confusing. That what growing up where being able to survive by yourself was necessary. Where emotions are not ok and doing your work is important.

persis0 trying to get the hang of cyber chats a first go. staying well
  • replies: 1

I,m Pers and after 62 years and 5 close family members who live pretty well with mood disorders, I find I need some new listening ears. I KNOW the secret to happiness is to be loved by others. Be loving and creative when you can. My prescription for ... View more

I,m Pers and after 62 years and 5 close family members who live pretty well with mood disorders, I find I need some new listening ears. I KNOW the secret to happiness is to be loved by others. Be loving and creative when you can. My prescription for staying well, Strive to see good and become grateful within. Have faith in getting better. Many folks do. Look for the improvements and celebrate them! Get in touch with your creative side. Less screen time. Only good food focus. Our bodies show how we are on the inside. Do something kind to you each day. Do unsolicited kind acts to other's as much as possible. This brings emotional reward and builds confidence. Routine of 3 meal times brings ritual and harmony to our lives. Moods are only wil o' the whisps. Hope I can get to talk to some of you soon, as daily life is hard, hard to see your lover robbed long ago of his potential. Blessings from pers.

Guest_3712 AM I DEPRESSED OR INSANE ?
  • replies: 14

Hi friends, I haven't posted for a while but have been reading your posts and sending out my positive vibes to you all. I have been struggling for several weeks. Just when I think I have this thing figured out, BAM! another stumbling block. Lately I ... View more

Hi friends, I haven't posted for a while but have been reading your posts and sending out my positive vibes to you all. I have been struggling for several weeks. Just when I think I have this thing figured out, BAM! another stumbling block. Lately I have been asking myself, am I depressed or insane?? or both ? The reason I ask this is my symptoms are forever changing and I just wonder am I doing this to myself. I have had many very scary panic attacks over the years but would never really say I was an anxious person- depressed yes, not anxious. But over the last few weeks my anxiety has been through the roof. Shakes, pounding heart, nausea, sweats all of it. I am edgy moody and not nice. I am taking more meds to counter act these symptoms and / or drinking to calm down. What the ????? I thought I would look into the definition of INSANITY and came across some quotes that resounded with me and I thought I would share. From Albert Einstein- INSANITY - DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS. ( well yea that's me alright) From Stephen Hawking - INTELLIGENCE IS THE ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGE. ( so I'm not so smart either) From Buddha -- YOU CAN SEARCH THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS MORE DESERVING OF YOUR LOVE AND AFFECTION AND YOU WILL NOT FIND THAT PERSON. YOU YOURSELF AS MUCH AS ANYBODY DESERVE YOUR LOVE AND AFFECTION. ( love this) From Winston Churchill- IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH HELL , KEEP GOING !!! I have to figure all these guys were pretty smart, so they probably know what they are talking about. So if I am summarising correctly I need to 1/ change my behaviours if I want different results 2/ BE smart enough to Adapt my lifestyle to these changes 3/ love myself as much as I love others in my life 4/ Keep going- don't give up even if my road at times is like hell on earth. WOW IS THAT ALL ? I should have this licked in no time! I am really tired though, I try and try again but it is always lurking behind me ready to pounce and destroy whatever momentum I have created. love to hear what others think re the insanity analogy Be kind to your self Stressless.

scorch Love Letters
  • replies: 8

Hi guys. I've been reading so many of your stories on this forum and I felt so moved I just had to start this thread. This post will go on for a while, but please read it. I hope it will be able to help you in some way. So many of us are hurting and ... View more

Hi guys. I've been reading so many of your stories on this forum and I felt so moved I just had to start this thread. This post will go on for a while, but please read it. I hope it will be able to help you in some way. So many of us are hurting and feel like there is no hope in the future. But the fact that you are here, on this forum, shows that you are strong. It shows that you want to fight to keep your head above the dark, cold sea that is depression and mental illness. I have been so inspired by the sheer willpower that so many of you have shown. When you reach out for help, you might see a weak arm grasping at nothing... but I see huge bulging biceps that are clawing you through the water toward light and land. You guys give me strength and hope and encouragement. I wish you could see how amazing you all are. And so because of that, I'd like to share with you something that I have done to help me see just how far I've come. When I start to feel like a failure, like nothing I do is good enough or right. When I feel ugly and weak and stupid, I stop and I read a letter. It is a letter I wrote to myself, a love letter of encouragement. I think we should all write a love letter to ourselves at least once in our lives. Strip back the lies that our minds push on us for a moment and really look at our lives honestly. Yes we have flaws, yes we have failed sometimes... but we are more than our failures! We are unique and beautiful, we have talents, we have hidden strengths, we are on a journey and not yet at the end. It's good to remember these things. We NEED to remember these things, and to be honest with ourselves enough to be able to see these things, not just our flaws. It can be such a trap, the lure of believing the negative and blowing it out of proportion, while we crush the positive aspects of our natures into a dark, hidden corner. I know it sounds crazy but sometimes it's easier to believe the bad in us than to face to good of us. Well, that's how it is for me anyway. So, I'll stop rattling on now but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. Sometimes we need to be reminded that WE ARE ALLOWED TO LOVE OURSELVES. And the best reminder has to come from us. So I will share my love letter. I wrote this to myself last month. It’s a poem, although it doesn’t rhyme… but poems don’t always have to rhyme. It’s probably the most honest thing I have ever written and it is a big deal for me to share it. But I hope that by sharing it, maybe I can help you guy see the beauty and worth in yourselves too.

Chris D Hi All
  • replies: 2

Hi All, I have been reading some of your posts and replies to eachother and you are all supporting eachother really well. I am going well too. I had my first depression group session, mindfulness and have been going to the gym each morning. The food ... View more

Hi All, I have been reading some of your posts and replies to eachother and you are all supporting eachother really well. I am going well too. I had my first depression group session, mindfulness and have been going to the gym each morning. The food is really nice and delicious, the staff and other patients are all very welcoming. It is a really nice facility with generous size rooms. I would like to wish everyone all the best in your respective journey's. Take Care Chris

Neil_1 Focus on the NOW - beautiful, insightful words by TC on the depression forum
  • replies: 5

Hi all, On the depression site, there is a thread created by Chasing Sunshine, called "New and struggling" and CS has had a number of great responses. But there is one there that has really struck me slap bang in the face (but in a good way … and ext... View more

Hi all, On the depression site, there is a thread created by Chasing Sunshine, called "New and struggling" and CS has had a number of great responses. But there is one there that has really struck me slap bang in the face (but in a good way … and extremely thought provoking). It was posted by TC and TC, I am not really into plagiarising but I really feel the need to share part of your post with the masses … because of how brilliant it is. Here is the para that resonated so deeply within me: “After managing anxiety and depression (successfully and unsuccessfully!) most of my life (am 54) .... one of the most valuable strategies for me, is to focus on NOW, and not focus on any other point in time. Avoid thinking of this afternoon, tonight, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year .... two years or five years down the track. Fight with your thoughts. Bully them into submission and tell them what you want them to do. Focus on NOW and the smallest, easiest thing you can do to help you put one foot in front of the other and move ahead.” Since reading this it really struck me how powerful those words are. Focus on NOW. Fight with your thoughts. I'm really blown away by this paragraph ... it's got me shaking and nervous and tense, but not because it's anything bad; on the contrary, it's so positive ... but I'm shaking as I my mind is not letting me do this. I can do it just for a short while but then the demons come and push the badness back again. Thank you TC for this paragraph. Kind regards Neil