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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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Jaz_B 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.

Nico_B 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

Guest_9043 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

white knight 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

LaurieD 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

Larnzi 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

blondguy 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

Guest_1643 Making friends when vulnerable
  • replies: 33

Hi all, I'm building myself up after I was unwell recently and was linked in t the Triage, who helped me manage some severe depression/anxiety/suicdal ideation. I'm lucky it's gone well for me, but am now looking to connect more to new people and org... View more

Hi all, I'm building myself up after I was unwell recently and was linked in t the Triage, who helped me manage some severe depression/anxiety/suicdal ideation. I'm lucky it's gone well for me, but am now looking to connect more to new people and organisations. I am starting to meet people, but they are now in recovery groups etc and have their own mental health problems - i'm wary although also curious, if maybe they could be real friends for me. I'm also just enjoying being out and about with people. My feeling was alwys that i'd rather be alone than be with toxic friends who don't support my mental health, and when i was very low i feel like my friends gave awful advice, and even discouraged me from taking the time off to get better and get well. So, screw that. But finding friends who can be there for me seems really challenging. How do you connect to people when you feel really vulnerable?

Wilee How to stay well with new social distancing rules
  • replies: 4

I have noticed my mood/mental health has gone down hill since the new social distancing rule has rolled out. I feel very alone and isolated. I live by myself and I normally keep myself active socially by in order to stay well. But literally everythin... View more

I have noticed my mood/mental health has gone down hill since the new social distancing rule has rolled out. I feel very alone and isolated. I live by myself and I normally keep myself active socially by in order to stay well. But literally everything social has shutter down, I find it extremely hard to feel that I am a part something or I should say I have lost the sense of belonging. Friends also have withdrawn themselves for social distancing. I understand all that is necessary but I really need some advise on what I need to do to get out of this feeling

Guest_9043 Studying while in recovery from a mental breakdown.
  • replies: 4

Hi all, My head is still a bit messy after my mental breakdown. Slowly I can feel the fog starting to clear a tiny bit. Still a way to go. Before my mental breakdown I was looking into a Proofreading and Editing course I really want to do. I still wa... View more

Hi all, My head is still a bit messy after my mental breakdown. Slowly I can feel the fog starting to clear a tiny bit. Still a way to go. Before my mental breakdown I was looking into a Proofreading and Editing course I really want to do. I still want to do. I am not working or studying at the moment. It's been on my mind the last two days. It has very much a sel paced online course. I'm thinking if it is the right time to go for it now or is it bad timing after a mental breakdown recently. With everything happening with the Covid 19 isolation, social distancing and event after event being cancelled, I am wondering if this is a good thing to keep me occupied and perhaps communicating with others. Study buddies online etc? I am very passionate about this course and I know I will put my 150% in. I want to feel like I have some purpose and it may also help with a routine for me. Also a distraction from personal issues and raising my self esteem. Helping me too with my loneliness issues. I'm just trying to decide if it is a good move right now concerning my nervous breakdown and that I'm sleeping somewhat more due to fixing my exhaustion. Thoughts are much appreciated.