Immediate support
Immediate support

Staying well

Support each other to stay well, from mindfulness, sleep, diet and exercise to reducing drug and alcohol use and coping with difficult emotions.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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

All discussions

Start a discussion

Belieber95 Anxiety/panic attack
  • replies: 2

I have had anxiety for quite a few years and only just this week It has been like panic attacks and I'm wondering what could be behind all of this

I have had anxiety for quite a few years and only just this week It has been like panic attacks and I'm wondering what could be behind all of this

savanah covid-19
  • replies: 4

hi guys how are I'm here to talk to you guys about how to stay safe 

hi guys how are I'm here to talk to you guys about how to stay safe 

white knight Accepting yourself, the frog and the scorpion
  • replies: 42

As part of your "staying well" program, accepting yourself for being YOU is crucial, almost a fundamental need if you want to move forward with your life and put your illness behind you in terms of the worry. Your goal should be to get on with life w... View more

As part of your "staying well" program, accepting yourself for being YOU is crucial, almost a fundamental need if you want to move forward with your life and put your illness behind you in terms of the worry. Your goal should be to get on with life with your illness as part of you, your meds taken as part of a nightly ritual barely entering your mind.Those that don't know about the "frog and the scorpion" story briefly it goes like this.A scorpion eager to get to the other side of the river asked a frog to transport him there in his back. The frog refused telling the scorpion that he'd sting him once he got there and he'd die. The scorpion insisted he wouldn't kill him so the frog took him to the other side. Almost at the bank the scorpion sung the frog and before dying the frog asked the scorpion (that was drowning)why he did that as he pledged he wouldn't....the scorpion replied "because its in my nature"....then both diedThe story has an almost daily place in my thoughts because all day everyday there are behaviours and actions, thoughts and fears that are there due to our "nature". We are who we are,..to an extent. That doesn't mean that if we rob a bank and get caught we say to ourselves "well that's me, I'm a bank robber and so be it, I wont change". It means that some of our characteristics, our responses, our humour our judgements and so on are essentially how we individually operate often like no other person on this planet. Every person has their right to individuality, there is no other like you (twins and triplets excluded) and there never will be.We should, as part of "staying well" value that, cradle it, nurture it and ...promote it within you and to everyone around you.How do we carry out this? Baby steps is essential. I notice this uniqueness among many. Jess Rowe a channel 10 celebrity (and BB ambassador) has a loud snort when she laughs. It's her, it is not intentional and some might find it unsavoury. She has mentioned it at times, that "it's me". It indeed is and I find that snort hilarious. I don't see it as a reason to dislike her...but some would.We live in a judgemental world and some will never accept us for being ourselves. We need that to sink in. We cannot "save the world" by wanting a blanket acceptance.So should we be the frog or the scorpion? Well the scorpion survives right! But we are not scorpions, we the ones on these pages are frogs that need to develop a little more wisdom wary of who you oblige.Tony WK

darkenedsun new grad and work
  • replies: 1

I'm a new grad nurse and started in the ED recently in a very busy public hospital, and I've been there a total of 6 weeks. This is my first full-time job as a full-blown RN, and I got the job 2 months after graduation so I was pretty excited. I knew... View more

I'm a new grad nurse and started in the ED recently in a very busy public hospital, and I've been there a total of 6 weeks. This is my first full-time job as a full-blown RN, and I got the job 2 months after graduation so I was pretty excited. I knew it wasn't going to be all peonies and roses working as a nurse, especially not in the ED, but I feel like this job is sucking the absolute life out of me. In orientation, they told us about transition shock that happens when we go from being a student to a professional and what it means, but holy moly is this horrible. I feel like I have become obsolete, like a zombie... an angry one. I don't blow up at work but when I come home I am angry at everything. I feel like throwing sh*t when I get home from work. I don't take care of myself like I used to. I don't have the motivation or the energy to shower when I get home. I used to love skincare as a sort of self-care thing, but now I just can't give a damn. I feel like I don't have a life anymore. I barely have the energy to engage socially, like even just talk with my parents, much less friends. I forget to answer texts and calls and am starting to feel some repercussions. I get so angry, like teeth-gritting angry when I'm home. I used to love to go to the beach or just for a drive, but now I just can't be bothered. I stay at home all day on my days off, and just binge eat.. I would probably eat the entire house if my stomach could handle it, and I hate how I physically feel after, all bloated and gross. I just don't have the energy to hit the gym. I just feel so emotionally drained. I feel like an empty husk of a person. At work, it's just putting out one dumpster fire after another, with the daily trainwreck right at the end of the shift, also while averaging about 20000 steps a day while also not having time to go on a break or even drink a sip of water. Doing all this, get abused by patients and getting paid a measly amount every fortnight. I feel so nauseous and anxious every time before I go to work. I don't know, I feel so emotionally and physically depleted. I don't have anyone who would actually listen to this shit without telling me to start a business. I had one of the worst days at work so far, and right after I had handover, all I could think was, damn I hate this place (the hospital) and I hate nursing. I can't really switch careers now, and in no way shape or form would I do anything that would harm my patients.

car10001 When it’s time for own house and space
  • replies: 1

hi everyone was just wondering what the clues are that it may be time for your own house and what you can do to hang on for as long as it takes until you can buy and not pay as much in rent and not be able to do what you want to place and possibly sh... View more

hi everyone was just wondering what the clues are that it may be time for your own house and what you can do to hang on for as long as it takes until you can buy and not pay as much in rent and not be able to do what you want to place and possibly shift at anytime plus go through the problems people are having. where am living which am otherwise happy doing at moment the property isn’t really big enough for you to have your own space as in space with bathroom and kitchen and laundry and lounge area and a proper shed. plus am not only one living there and the freezer for example is full of their stuff and it’s hard to put what you need to put in as well because they put everything in there and you feel like you can’t have the room for what you need and you just want your own. also am not only one using kitchen as well and you feel like you can’t always have what you want in it plus don’t have own space to be able to have functions when you want and have people over when you want and the space be yours. sometimes it seems buying own place could be out of reach or take forever and want to buy so you can do what you want to place and not relocate at anytime or go through rental problems and that’s one reason why it’s taking so long. other reason is because am on low income/pension and if you had a house there wouldn’t be much if anything left to save and have a quality of life by time you cover your bills. plus want a better shed as well which is most important but council won’t approve a shed on vacant block without submitting plans to build house. it feels like you are working as hard as your great grandmothers generation did in the 40s/50s plus it’s only fair to pay your own way and you do right thing and pay own way and wait and you suffer for it. want to be able to also have a quality of life as well. most would accept when it may be time and would be happy renting if it’s only option but some are hanging on till they can buy. am ok ok just needing someone to talk to

tjo111 Coping with Mental illness.
  • replies: 2

i keep forgetting that coping with mental illness means developing a set of coping skills that works for you, building a routine that keeps your mental health stable, knowing what your triggers are and how to keep yourself safe and feel cared for whe... View more

i keep forgetting that coping with mental illness means developing a set of coping skills that works for you, building a routine that keeps your mental health stable, knowing what your triggers are and how to keep yourself safe and feel cared for when an episode comes up. it requires consistent upkeep. it’s not about finding a “magic fix” that will make your symptoms go away. it’s not about doing the work sometimes and never experiencing symptoms again. it’s accepting that mental illness is something you have and experience—similar to another health condition like diabetes that requires monitoring and upkeep. these health conditions aren’t different but they’re treated like they are. you have a mental illness and that’s okay. given how stigmatised it is, it’s something most people will not understand, but what matters right now is caring for yourself. tending to your needs. accepting what you cannot control and being there for yourself in ways you can control. you did not choose depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addiction, eating disorders, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, etc. you did not choose any of these things. understanding that and accepting that is very important. so, let’s get better. let’s de-stigmatize mental illness. let’s recognise all that we have been through and how strong we are for making it through all of the pain. let’s also honour those who experienced mental illness but passed by suicide. they were strong, too, just like you. And most importantly, I am so proud of you.

ric012 failing maths and it’s ruining me
  • replies: 2

Hi all, Currently taking gen math and failing. It has taken a toll on my well-being and i have an upcoming exam in a few days i need a B on the exam to pass general math for the year. I try my best, study until i can’t anymore but i always fail. whil... View more

Hi all, Currently taking gen math and failing. It has taken a toll on my well-being and i have an upcoming exam in a few days i need a B on the exam to pass general math for the year. I try my best, study until i can’t anymore but i always fail. while everyone’s having fun on holidays soon i’m going to be stuck at school doing maths for 2 weeks and i won’t be able to do it next year… everyday keeps getting worse the amount of pressure building inside of me is making me sick.

Whimbo Work Stress
  • replies: 2

Hello Forum, I (M, 25) work in a call center and I usually enjoy it. However the last few weeks have been particularly bad and I feel like I really need help. The issue is when clients call up and shout at me for things that I have no control over. T... View more

Hello Forum, I (M, 25) work in a call center and I usually enjoy it. However the last few weeks have been particularly bad and I feel like I really need help. The issue is when clients call up and shout at me for things that I have no control over. To make things harder, my partner, who is one of my sources of stability, is currently interstate visiting family. I'm feeling quite isolated. I understand the concept of displacement. They are stressed in the moment and they don't have the skillset to manage that stress without lashing out. However, intellectualizing this verbal harassment doesn't stop my heart from palpitating and my hands from shaking when I'm in the moment. Then I just ruminate about it for hours. And this rumination is effecting my sleep (it is currently midnight and I have work tomorrow). To cope with it I have found myself drinking more than I normally do. I am fully aware of the danger of it, but sometimes I have around ten standard drinks a night to numb my anger and anxiousness. Since my partner is gone I am using it to fill the void, plus with them around I drink much, much less so they won't worry about me (my dad was an alcoholic and I inherited his addictive personality). During my spare time at home I am still mentally at work so I'm not really getting adequate rest (and not getting paid overtime). I'm getting burnt out. I don't know what I'm looking for with this post, it would be great to have some guidance, but maybe just posting this will help me get something out of my system.

oliver_gutz wanting to find friends
  • replies: 3

hey so i recently got diagnosed with level two autism and i was wondering if anyone knew any groups or services where i can make friends with autism as well preferably online if not i hope everyone who sees this has a great day night or afternoon

hey so i recently got diagnosed with level two autism and i was wondering if anyone knew any groups or services where i can make friends with autism as well preferably online if not i hope everyone who sees this has a great day night or afternoon

meercat Does "life Begin at 60"
  • replies: 115

As the saying goes "life begins at 60" Since turning 64 recently iv been wondering.. am i different since i hit 60... Has your life changed since then? Someone said the other day.."try to get to know yourself.. find out what you want to get out of li... View more

As the saying goes "life begins at 60" Since turning 64 recently iv been wondering.. am i different since i hit 60... Has your life changed since then? Someone said the other day.."try to get to know yourself.. find out what you want to get out of life?" Statistically iv got 29 years to find myself.. my dad's 93.. When we hit 60 where do we go..what do we do? meercat xx