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Sophie_M Sleep and Mental Health
  • replies: 0

Many of us have struggled with bouts of troubled sleep, and needless to say, these periods of nocturnal restlessness can be utterly overwhelming and exhausting. Sleeplessness can filter into every aspect of our lives: our ability to be present, remem... View more

Many of us have struggled with bouts of troubled sleep, and needless to say, these periods of nocturnal restlessness can be utterly overwhelming and exhausting. Sleeplessness can filter into every aspect of our lives: our ability to be present, remember things, regulate our emotions, or to feel excited and energised… it can change the way we think and feel in such a significant and impactful way. Whether it’s due to big life changes, global pandemics, financial or work stressors, health concerns (like menopause), how much ‘you’ time you have, or even unprocessed emotions you weren’t aware were there – so many things can impact how you sleep. All of this goes to show that not only do your daily habits, routines, and experiences play a huge role in maintaining healthy sleep cycles, but so does your mental health. And frustratingly enough, your sleep also impacts and informs your mental health and daily habits. Like most things, it’s a very easy cycle to fall into. So, it’s imperative that we are gentle and compassionate with ourselves on our journey to understanding what is making us so hypervigilant and unable to rest in the first place. Studies show that journaling or mindfulness practices throughout the day, healthy food, movement, sunshine, connection with loved ones, and support from health professionals can help us to feel more grounded and able to rest. But we are curious… what has worked for you? When do you notice that your sleep is most affected vs. when you get the best rest? And is there a way you could practice regulating your nervous system more throughout the day to help promote better sleep at night? We would love to hear your thoughts! Let us know if you have any questions and be sure to check out our page on ‘Sleep and Mental Health’ for more guidance and insight into a more supported and restful night’s sleep: Sleep and mental health - Beyond Blue - Beyond Blue Looking forward to hearing from you! Kind regards, Sophie M

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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white knight How to take a breath
  • replies: 0

I’m guilty of this, not taking a big breath before making decisions. I can suspect its because of some anxiety lingering from a past of anxiety as a full blown illness, but it matters not the cause when you are trying to find a remedy. It’s there, it... View more

I’m guilty of this, not taking a big breath before making decisions. I can suspect its because of some anxiety lingering from a past of anxiety as a full blown illness, but it matters not the cause when you are trying to find a remedy. It’s there, it’s real and it must be tackled not ignored. With some people taking a breath before answering a question is natural. In fact an old school friend of mine would indeed do that automatically and it was painful to wait for his response. That delay, often around 3 seconds, you could almost watch the cogs turning, however as he was really intelligent A student, his answers were always detailed and accurate. Rarely did he have to apologise for answering wrongly simply because he had done his thinking on the topic in that 3 seconds. However, that isn’t me and it might not be you?, But what we can learn is to take a breath before you answer and that breath can be 3 seconds long, enforced time delay while you do such thinking. I now do that with an “ummmm” and that helps as that word relays to the receiver that I’m about to answer so they don’t fill that void with more chatter. People with mental health issues can have side issues with communication. Eg “foot in mouth” the fault of saying something inappropriate before thinking is common with ADHD and getting distressed over a traumatic topic before all the facts are conveyed can be seen as catastrophizing are two examples of reactions or automatic responses that can find us in trouble with people. I can recall my mother once over reacting when my father arrived home and said “now don’t take this to heart…” – that was enough for her to yell “oh no” and start welling up in the eyes. She assumed he’d lost his job. He finished “I hit the curb with the car, we need a new tyre”. Clearly there was no easy way of breaking any news to her.eg if he said “come and look at the car” she would have thought it was a right off… and so on. Whereas, had she taken a breath and waited 3 seconds the rest of his statement would have finished and she would have realized it wasn’t the end of the world. Easy to say hard to do however. Being an individual includes not being within the boundaries of what is considered “normal” interaction. Mental illness or not, we are ourselves and if that means saying the wrong thing a quick apology should always suffice. If not hold your head up high and accept that the receiver is not being receptive to that individual- the amazing and wonderful- YOU.

Croix Store Your Happy Memories Here:
  • replies: 1003

Dear All~ What this place is for: This thread is a tool, a resource, and also I guess a dash of entertainment. I’ve found that when life is grim that sometimes thoughts of past happiness can create a chink of light in the grey overwhelming press of d... View more

Dear All~ What this place is for: This thread is a tool, a resource, and also I guess a dash of entertainment. I’ve found that when life is grim that sometimes thoughts of past happiness can create a chink of light in the grey overwhelming press of down. They can help occupy the mind with lighter reflections. With that in view I invite people to set down a brief passage describing some happy event they look back to with fondness and peace. They - and others too - can then return to it when they feel the need to glean a little warmth. It is not a place for gloomy or dire tales, those can go elsewhere. What to do: Just set out, as simply as you like, your recollection of some past experience that means something good to you, something you enjoyed, something from safe times. It can be, like my story below, anything – from an account of visiting grandparents to simply cooking and eating a melted-cheese sandwich in a favorite kitchen – you get to choose. How to do it: Write. Write enough so someone else can feel the mood, know what happened, find the goodness. (stop at 2,500 characters please!) Grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation are not compulsory, just write as you can – the only important thing is the content - not literary merit. Short or long - it does not matter. I hope you enjoy, contribute and find a little distraction here when you need it. Croix

RandR WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FINALLY FEEL HAPPY & ALMOST EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS GOING WELL
  • replies: 8

Hi fellow forum members, I hope you all well. It's been some time since my last post due to some bad news regarding my mum however life must continue and go on. And she would say the same. Since overcoming depression (which I had for 12 years) I fina... View more

Hi fellow forum members, I hope you all well. It's been some time since my last post due to some bad news regarding my mum however life must continue and go on. And she would say the same. Since overcoming depression (which I had for 12 years) I finally for the first time feel like almost everything in life is on track. I feel happy, not worried, not depressed and not questioning. Yes, all the opposites to when I suffered major depression. Due to this I thought I would shed some of my feelings and thoughts around 'what to do when you finally feel happy & almost everything in life is going well'; * Don't worry and overthink - simply smile and remind yourself that you are deserving of this feeling * Rather than questioning all the good in your life, embrace it. * Ride the wave - stay on your feet even when you start to feel shakey * Reach out - Be the strength to other's who might be in need * Forget all the 'what if's that pop up in your head'! If things are going well it's for a reason * Write down in a journal changes you've made or some things you do on a weekly basis and SHARE with other's on gthe Beyond Blue forum * Lastly - remind yourself how strong you really, really are and that tough times don't last but tough people do Many thanks and I hope this may be of some help and that hopefully some of you may be able to relate to this feeling. Raman.

blondguy 'Smart Watches' and Sleep Monitoring..Does it work For YOU!
  • replies: 7

Hey Hey Everyone! I heard a excellent discussion (with a psychologist) on 3AW re the benefits/negatives of having a 'Smart Watch' track the quality of our sleep. I can see the technical benefits of sleep tracking yet just asking for your opinions if ... View more

Hey Hey Everyone! I heard a excellent discussion (with a psychologist) on 3AW re the benefits/negatives of having a 'Smart Watch' track the quality of our sleep. I can see the technical benefits of sleep tracking yet just asking for your opinions if you find this 'sleep quality tracker helpful? Just for myself I know that doing heavy duty gardening/landscaping always make me sleep so well! I have a Garmin Epix 2 Sapphire and a Samsung 5 Pro watch...yet I dont see the point of tracking sleep quality. Your assistance, experience and advice are very welcome my kindest always Paul

splinter Overpowering negative emotions
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I recently turned 18, I graduated high school at the end of 2024, I've started uni, met new people and my life from an outside perspective is going so well. However, lately I have felt so so low and unlike myself that it is starting to w... View more

Hi everyone, I recently turned 18, I graduated high school at the end of 2024, I've started uni, met new people and my life from an outside perspective is going so well. However, lately I have felt so so low and unlike myself that it is starting to worry me. I work really hard to be a positive person and I'm pretty sure everyone in my life can say I am optimistic and take each day head strong and with an open mind. Which is why lately I've found it extra difficult to be going through a rough patch at the monent. I am having significant troubles sleeping and I've been focusing on areas of my health to hopefully improve this issue, it has really affected my mood but other than this nothing seems to be going wrong. I feel I have no support when I am going through a hard time, despite me always being there for them when everyone else is. It also seems like when I'm down, everyone else flourishes- which I know is just my mind sabotaging me but it adds a lot of pressure for me to get back to my cheery self. I'm honestly exhausted and trying everything I can. I hate reaching out for help and talking about myself, but I was just hoping for some guidance here and I just really miss myself x

CMF Meditation, Manifesting, Gratitude & The Law of Attraction
  • replies: 721

Hi everyone, Not sure where to start so hope I can express myself clearly and maybe with others' input we can expand on this. I'm interested in people's thoughts/ experience with meditation, manifesting, gratitude & the law of attraction. I've recent... View more

Hi everyone, Not sure where to start so hope I can express myself clearly and maybe with others' input we can expand on this. I'm interested in people's thoughts/ experience with meditation, manifesting, gratitude & the law of attraction. I've recently started using the Smiling Mind app to meditate when going to sleep and sometimes when feeling a little anxious, like tonight. It is something i thought i could never do as my mind rarely stops, however, with persistence, I find I enjoy it. I guess i tend to have a negative mindset which I am determined to change.I always felt uneasy about thinking positive things as i thought i would jinx myself, and that whenever I made a positive comment or felt happy it would go wrong or something negative would happen. So i refrained from allowing myself to be too happy, I guess to 'protect' myself. Recently i have been feeling happier, stronger, expressing gratitude and taking note of when things have come to me when i needed them. Coincidence, or answers to what i put out to the Universe? I like to think the latter. A work colleague one day told me to manifest something i wanted, put it out to the universe , so I'm trying. Example, recently we needed to measure the floor space at reception so we could calculate how many people we could have in at one time. I needed a tape measure, which i did not have. At that moment our handyman walked into the office. Guess what he had? I am getting into the habit of practising positive thinking instead of thinking/expecting negatives. If something 'negative' does crop up, it can be dealt with, it's not the end of the world. I look for the positive in every negative situation. I am becoming more aware of being grateful for little things, things like getting a good car park at work, a warn cosy bed, a tidy house. I feel when i am expressing gratitude I am putting positive thoughts out into the universe and I notice more positives instead of focusing on negatives. Late last week we had internet issues at work and a colleague i found a little annoying. I've been feeling very drained, agitated, negative for a few days. This morning things were not running smoothly for me. A result of my negative mind perhaps? Little things became a big deal, my morning was crap. If i look back, it wasn't really an issue, i just did things in a different order which gave me more relax time this evening. The Law of Attraction, positive thoughts, positive experiences. What are your thoughts? cmf x

Thelongestroad Energy levels and sleep
  • replies: 2

Does anyone have any experiences with feeling so low on energy that it almost feels like you’re temporarily paralysed to get up? Sometimes I feel scared of not waking up on time and I’ve seen a doctor about it but to no avail have I had any changes

Does anyone have any experiences with feeling so low on energy that it almost feels like you’re temporarily paralysed to get up? Sometimes I feel scared of not waking up on time and I’ve seen a doctor about it but to no avail have I had any changes

Sophie_M Sleep and Mental Health
  • replies: 0

Many of us have struggled with bouts of troubled sleep, and needless to say, these periods of nocturnal restlessness can be utterly overwhelming and exhausting. Sleeplessness can filter into every aspect of our lives: our ability to be present, remem... View more

Many of us have struggled with bouts of troubled sleep, and needless to say, these periods of nocturnal restlessness can be utterly overwhelming and exhausting. Sleeplessness can filter into every aspect of our lives: our ability to be present, remember things, regulate our emotions, or to feel excited and energised… it can change the way we think and feel in such a significant and impactful way. Whether it’s due to big life changes, global pandemics, financial or work stressors, health concerns (like menopause), how much ‘you’ time you have, or even unprocessed emotions you weren’t aware were there – so many things can impact how you sleep. All of this goes to show that not only do your daily habits, routines, and experiences play a huge role in maintaining healthy sleep cycles, but so does your mental health. And frustratingly enough, your sleep also impacts and informs your mental health and daily habits. Like most things, it’s a very easy cycle to fall into. So, it’s imperative that we are gentle and compassionate with ourselves on our journey to understanding what is making us so hypervigilant and unable to rest in the first place. Studies show that journaling or mindfulness practices throughout the day, healthy food, movement, sunshine, connection with loved ones, and support from health professionals can help us to feel more grounded and able to rest. But we are curious… what has worked for you? When do you notice that your sleep is most affected vs. when you get the best rest? And is there a way you could practice regulating your nervous system more throughout the day to help promote better sleep at night? We would love to hear your thoughts! Let us know if you have any questions and be sure to check out our page on ‘Sleep and Mental Health’ for more guidance and insight into a more supported and restful night’s sleep: Sleep and mental health - Beyond Blue - Beyond Blue Looking forward to hearing from you! Kind regards, Sophie M

1_at_Peace Hi and asking how to receive support at work
  • replies: 15

Hi all, I've just joined and would like to know if any members have received effective support for their depression and/or anxiety at work - particularly in public service? I've been isolated and despite requesting training and support, I haven't rec... View more

Hi all, I've just joined and would like to know if any members have received effective support for their depression and/or anxiety at work - particularly in public service? I've been isolated and despite requesting training and support, I haven't received any while others were offered so much training & support. I complained which made things worse, caused aggravation of my mental health and untrue accusations about my performance. I don't feel I can apply for other jobs as I'm unlikely to get positive references from my supervisors. I've also lost so much confidence. I've been bullied like this before also. Instead of them agreeing to adjustments recommended by my practitioners, I was directed to stop working after I was assessed as unfit for duty by a psych they engaged. I have to wait until late March for an independent psych to assess my fitness to return to work So I've had to use up all my paid leave. This has caused me financial stress also. Having some time off was good but not 2.5 months! All I asked for was to have equitable support and training. There's much literature at work that suggest employers will support people with mental health but it hasn't ever been my experience. I've looked into legalities - I'm told it's too hard and expensive to make a successful case. So if there are any ideas for support, who I can turn to etc, I 'd be most grateful. Many thanks for taking the time to read my post.

bfic12 Socially awkward
  • replies: 5

Does anyone know of a dating website or app specifically for socially awkward people? I feel like there would be so many people out there that would benefit from this. I feel like i cant be the only person thinking this, there must be other socially ... View more

Does anyone know of a dating website or app specifically for socially awkward people? I feel like there would be so many people out there that would benefit from this. I feel like i cant be the only person thinking this, there must be other socially awkward people out there wanting to connect with someone. How do i find these people?