Staying well

Making The Most Of Our Isolation

replies: 2

Hi all! I would like to share a piece I wrote on making the most of your isolation and working out what matters most to you. --- // MAXIMISING OUR ISOLATION // Physical distancing presents many challenges, but one benefit is that most of us can slow ... View more

Hi all! I would like to share a piece I wrote on making the most of your isolation and working out what matters most to you. --- // MAXIMISING OUR ISOLATION // Physical distancing presents many challenges, but one benefit is that most of us can slow down, reorient our values and prioritise what matters most. Ask yourself… What do you want, need and truly care about? Whether bunkered down with loved ones or acquaintances, they’re our in-person family, community and tribe for the next little while. Find a way to work together. If you’re by yourself, find ways to enjoy your own company. It’s a crucial time for us to stay informed about what’s going on in our city, country and the world, but over-consuming news and getting sucked into social media holes is detrimental to our health. There’s plenty of important information out there, but there’s also lots of biased, unproven and impractical content. Know, trust and condense your sources. At times, all of us need to turn off, tune out and disentangle from this new reality, but always seeking escapism won't serve us. Whether it’s watching Netflix, eating meals or conversing with others, see if you can treat it as an opportunity to experience something that educates or inspires, to laugh or make others laugh, to be creative, to feel energised. Some things I’m enjoying right now include; extending my morning routine (which I’ll elaborate on in the future), reading, writing and sharing with others, discovering and developing online community groups and completing a course in permaculture living. I feel very fortunate and grateful for my privilege, and that I have time, space and energy to explore these interests. Whatever your situation is, know that you always have moments in time, even just 5 seconds, where you can close down your eyes, breathe deeply, check in with yourself and find some sense of peace. Calm. Connected. Optimistic. Expansive. Inspired. Free. Many of us have, or will, experience these feelings as well. Do you prioritise productivity, fulfilment, relaxation, helping others or something else? What can you do and enjoy more? How can you make the most of your isolation? There's nothing to prove to anyone. Just be honest with yourself. --- I would love to hear about any practices you are including in your home life to stay grounded and positive I'm also very open to any feedback or reflections and I hope you enjoyed! Nico

Discover your inner heart

replies: 1

Only you have the key to your inner heart, a sanctuary, but so much more. Once you find that key your greatest challenge is over, from that moment on you’ll know the rest is an ongoing journey of peace, happiness and contentment.. a place void of tim... View more

Only you have the key to your inner heart, a sanctuary, but so much more. Once you find that key your greatest challenge is over, from that moment on you’ll know the rest is an ongoing journey of peace, happiness and contentment.. a place void of time for there is no rush so if you are impatient you won’t be when in this zone for you’ll want to live every moment of the pleasure. Tears will fall so easily But you be unaware because they are on the outside you will not care.... And so you search for that key to your inner heart, but elusive it will be. There are souls you can visit that will point you there google beyondblue he helped me for 25 years- Maharaji Dont be afraid, once you enter the room to your inner heart, although you have never been there, it will be more “home” than you’ve ever felt before. You belong there. I be all alone inside my inner heart Not a soul to share my grief but their is gold in my solitude belief, belief, belief.... Yes perhaps for the first time you will feel some faith, that has been wandering aimlessly. Alone, you won’t crave how you present yourself, no one will ever join you in your inner heart, their voices will have no volume. They knock hard but there is no sound because inner peace is found as you must do any simple task you don that well worn facial mask smile at all faces in the street Do your deeds and usual greets You fitted into mounds of outer dark back to the wonder of your inner heart... This road I suggest is a plan to seek. Your brain will be as if it is reset. Things like total relaxation you will introduce to your routine. You’ll love your new mental home. So to start. Find a very quiet place like the top of a hill or a spare room, relax, think about any sounds you can hear, accept them, consider the value of your mind, it is priceless, discount all thoughts about humans, their expectations, smile, focus on you. Most will not understand And all alone you will prop a rich man gave the beggar a dollar but the penny didn’t drop... So remember, this will be your ultimate goal. A place that is safe, no one can harm you there, no one can shout at you, no one can stop you from entering your inner heart. Find the key. You will know when you have it. The journey in finding your key is almost as amazing as using it. So don’t despair if it takes... A little longer than... forever TonyWK

Your Morning De-Stress Routine

replies: 4

Hi everyone! This morning and the past few mornings I have been finding it difficult sometimes to wake up and feel ready to tackle the day! Usually if I am a bit worried about something, taking a hot shower or listening to my favourite calming music ... View more

Hi everyone! This morning and the past few mornings I have been finding it difficult sometimes to wake up and feel ready to tackle the day! Usually if I am a bit worried about something, taking a hot shower or listening to my favourite calming music helps me out. Other times I like to do some stretches. This isn't always possible though if you have to get in to work at a reasonable time haha. I was just curious, for anyone else that has these times what do you find helps you? Maybe we can help each other out! Nimi

Anxiety and overcoming drug cravings

replies: 2

I am struggling. i'm 6-7 months clean and sober from any substance but im in physical pain from my anxiety with the cravings I have to numb myself and I don't know how to escape it "anxiety". I've done exercise and online yoga class and walked the do... View more

I am struggling. i'm 6-7 months clean and sober from any substance but im in physical pain from my anxiety with the cravings I have to numb myself and I don't know how to escape it "anxiety". I've done exercise and online yoga class and walked the dogs heaps, called 3 different helplines. I have personality disorder, I have C-PTSD "Complex post traumatic stress disorder" and I have an anxiety disorder which is pretty much inclusive of my clinical diagnosis. im having those cravings "self-sabotage" that I get when I really wanna use and numb myself its come out of know where and im snuggling to shake it off. im feeling so sick from my literal anxiety. im scared. I think im in need to abuse myself again.

Finding The Silver Lining

replies: 2

Hello all! I want to share a piece I wrote on 'finding the silver lining'. After a rough 48hrs a few weeks back, I reframed my mindset by finding my silver lining in COVID-19. It helped me to feel positive, motivated, optimistic and opportunistic. My... View more

Hello all! I want to share a piece I wrote on 'finding the silver lining'. After a rough 48hrs a few weeks back, I reframed my mindset by finding my silver lining in COVID-19. It helped me to feel positive, motivated, optimistic and opportunistic. My hope is that this post will resonate and offer you a different lens to view your world from --- // FINDING THE SILVER LINING // We’re amidst wildly unprecedented times. Scary and challenging times. Historic times. Interesting times. Times of change. Maybe this all feels like a giant slap in the face and that “normal life" is indefinitely postponed. But maybe your reality doesn’t need to be viewed through that lens. Perhaps you’ll find a new wave of opportunities emerging. Perhaps you can see some light shining through. Remember that behind the clouds, there is always blue sky. An event you were excited for has been cancelled. A business you’re associated with has shut up shop. You're confined to your home. You contract the virus. These are all experiences that cause varying levels of pain, but you have the power to decide if you suffer or not. There is always a separation between what we experience and how we interpret that experience. As author Mark Manson wisely notes: “Because pain is the universal constant of life, the opportunities to grow from that pain are constant in life”. Let your pain be a mirror, a teacher, an inspiration, a motivation. What do you wish you started, continued or completed that’s nagging away at you? What are you avoiding? What is your intuition screaming out to you? With the closing of one door, another door always opens. For me, I see this as an opportunity to offer others some light, to prioritise those dearest to me, to write more, to appreciate the little things and be grateful for all that I have, to further upskill and educate myself, to reorient my career, to consciously reorganise my new life. Perhaps you can learn a new skill, discover a creative outlet, explore a fresh routine or develop a practice that will become sacred to you. Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to learn to love your own company. Just for one moment, I invite you to close down your eyes. Take a deep breath and ask yourself... 'what’s my silver lining in all of this?' --- I would love to hear what your silver lining is in the comments below Cheers, Nico

I don't understand. Need help understanding fast

replies: 2

Can someone please help me? I need some reliable and easy to understand articles or you tube videos to help explain what is going on with me. I could not put my finger on it at all today. I need to know how to help myself. I guess the easiest way to ... View more

Can someone please help me? I need some reliable and easy to understand articles or you tube videos to help explain what is going on with me. I could not put my finger on it at all today. I need to know how to help myself. I guess the easiest way to put it was I was remembering things that happened to me as a child by both parents and then I would pretty much feel like her. Almost go back to that age. I was remembering things that happened to me as a teenager and feel like I was my teenager self, so again that I would pretty much feel like her at that age. No matter how hard I tried my mothers voice and scenarios from various times in my life kept repeating in my mind and I could visually see what was happening too. Like visions I suppose. It was a damn hard day. Tonight I burst into tears more like sobbed and whimpered like a child. I was so frightened. I had to really work hard at grounding myself and coming back to my space which is completely safe. I went into a daze most of the day, would just stare into nothingness. At times I wanted to lash out to my mum and dad. I need to get an understanding of what is happening to me so I can help myself. I just do not know where to start in order to help myself. It is really frightening when you do not feel in control and you don't understand what is happening so you can stop it. (Please do not suggest hospital) Thanks. 2quik

Quotes on mental illness

replies: 19

A place where you can make a maximum impact with few words Ill kick it off from Stephen Fry, entertainer ”if I’m reincarnated I hope to return with my depression with me, I know no other way to live”... and one from me ”without bipolar I wouldn’t be ... View more

A place where you can make a maximum impact with few words Ill kick it off from Stephen Fry, entertainer ”if I’m reincarnated I hope to return with my depression with me, I know no other way to live”... and one from me ”without bipolar I wouldn’t be able to write poetry, a tiny but significant lifeline”... TonyWK

Sharing & Encouragement = Resilience, Endurance & Meaning in Life

replies: 2

Hey lovely people I'm hoping in this thread that we can share about experiences, what gives us strength & hope, to encourage. Life can be brutal but there's still beauty in it too. By sharing the wisdom etc we've learned perhaps it'll help someone el... View more

Hey lovely people I'm hoping in this thread that we can share about experiences, what gives us strength & hope, to encourage. Life can be brutal but there's still beauty in it too. By sharing the wisdom etc we've learned perhaps it'll help someone else = great stuff :). My brief definitions: Resilience = bouncing back Endurance = sticking with it for the long haul Meaning in life = “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” Friedrich Nietzsche Atm my life's tough - anniversary times (PTSD, grief), have to leave my beloved island n move, daughter has suppressed immune system in a pandemic, fragile health... I try to believe things like: sometimes life is fair & good & sometimes it isn't; I can learn to be content anywhere, get used to a new place & still grow; it's not what happens to me that matters but how I respond to it. I need only get through this day, this moment. I stop still, tune out the world, close my eyes & tune to my 4 other senses & seek peace. Most things aren't a crisis & don't even matter - takes a while to realise that sometimes sigh. And why bother with what life is asking of me now? Why go on? Because I have artwork to create, wisdom to discover, love to give and I want to become bigger than my problems, faults & shortcomings - to be a wonderful person regardless. Recently I heard this in a Sherlock Holmes audiobook (by Arthur Conan Doyle): "Our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me to rest in the flowers. All other things - our powers, desires, food - are really necessary for our existence, but this rose is an extra. It's smell, it's colour, are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only Goodness which gives such extras and they shine like stars in our world of shadows where treachery & betrayal are the currency of life, driving poor human beings into madness and despair." It's not easy. Too often it's damn tough to take my attention off the brutal & seek out the beautiful, even if just for a few moments. We can celebrate the lovely moments together, not in denial of the hard stuff but in spite of it. I think of my body as a container for a whole universe inside of me; that universe is as beautiful and wonderful as I choose no matter what's happening in the outer universe. Such power! I am still free to choose my attitude (as Frankl taught). Often it's a stinking attitude lol but at least I can choose a good one too; much nicer. I wish you courage & peace. Laurie

Feeling like Self Isolation is a setback

replies: 2

Hi all, Hope you are all keeping safe in this crisis. I am finding self isolation a bit hard. I can fill my days & find things to occupy me but I'm feeling quite lonely. A couple people knew I was feeling quite anxious about this because I was worrie... View more

Hi all, Hope you are all keeping safe in this crisis. I am finding self isolation a bit hard. I can fill my days & find things to occupy me but I'm feeling quite lonely. A couple people knew I was feeling quite anxious about this because I was worried about being at home with my family 24/7, not having the social contact with people I would normally have when on a term break & having my routine broken. I have been in isolation for almost a week, lots of arguments at home with my family & not one person except my brother has contacted me to see how I'm going. I know I could contact people but that is one of my fears I am working on with my psychologist at the moment as I think if I contact anyone when I "need" they will see me as the old clingy needy me & so therefore I won't contact anyone. But to my surprise I did text 3 people to check in & see how they are - only one asked me back how I was & that kind of hurt. Although I keep busy during the day, I am spending my day also hoping someone would contact me just so I feel somewhat cared about. Am I alone in feeling this way? Two weeks ago I was living life with not having to have people contact me to validate me feeling cared about but the last few days I feel like that is coming undone. Any advice or just to know I'm not alone in this would be great. Thanks so much. Larnzi

Coronavirus & Your Music...A Feel Good Thread

replies: 15

Hi Everyone! New members are always welcome to post too This thread topic and the Coronavirus have one thing in common...They are both temporary! This is only a 'Feel Good' thread topic as the music you LOVE can help with its energising effect thus p... View more

Hi Everyone! New members are always welcome to post too This thread topic and the Coronavirus have one thing in common...They are both temporary! This is only a 'Feel Good' thread topic as the music you LOVE can help with its energising effect thus providing a feeling of relaxation...increased focus and emotional well being too Sometimes going through periods of huge stress/anxiety I always forget to use music as a self nurturing method to 'ground/distract' myself What is your 'FEEL GOOD' song/artist that helps lift your spirits in this difficult time? my kindest always......Paul Note: Beyond Blue have provided the official thread about 'Coping during the coronavirus outbreak' for everyone in the link below www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/coping-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

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A Bouquet for Pearls - share your appreciation for other members

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