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

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

All discussions

Start a discussion

Guest_96793600 Burnt out Health Care Giver
  • replies: 1

I'm a healthcare giver, have been looking after people for over 43 years and always put other people first, so much so when it comes to myself, there's nothing left in the tank. I'm burnt out. Done.It's very difficult to have a regular exercise routi... View more

I'm a healthcare giver, have been looking after people for over 43 years and always put other people first, so much so when it comes to myself, there's nothing left in the tank. I'm burnt out. Done.It's very difficult to have a regular exercise routine when I work shift work and am exhausted by the time get home. Eating sensibly and regular exercise requires discipline, determination and organisation - yet I know it makes me feel good when I apply myself. I am 15-20 kgs over my healthy weight range, feel like a beached whale and totally unattractive. I am good at my job and am mostly appreciated at work but feel there has got to be more to life. I have friends and family but cannot really express how badly I feel about myself. I see a Psychologist usually once per month but this does not help much. I'm on anti anxiety medications but tend to resort to alcohol more than I should which does not help the situation. I just don't know how to get my Mojo back and strengthen my will power muscle. I'd appreciate any pearls of wisdom in the vain hope that I can put into action some strategies and feel better about myself before it's too late.

quirkywords The skill of worrying or minding less? How is it achieved? What does it mean?
  • replies: 60

Yes you read the title correctly, How do we mind less , How do we learn not to worry over every thing, How do we stop getting upset over every comment we feel is not positive. I would like to discuss ways people have learnt to stop worrying about sma... View more

Yes you read the title correctly, How do we mind less , How do we learn not to worry over every thing, How do we stop getting upset over every comment we feel is not positive. I would like to discuss ways people have learnt to stop worrying about small things,and how to not mind about what other people think. Also how can we stop being reactive and turn that into creative response, not sure how to do this but others may have an idea. Sometimes we can get angry over lots of things and it is hard to learn how to channel that anger. I know the more I let things get to me, the worse I feel. I have always tried hard to do mindfulness but I still struggle. Maybe if I can stop minding about things that don’t matter I can stop overthinking. I would like this thread to be a place where we can exchange ideas and share personal experiences about what works for them and what does not. Feel free to post and let’s get the discussion going. Quirky

Guest_40175004 Recovery addict
  • replies: 1

My partner is a recovering addict, we got together when he was still using, have known each other for about 14 years. Anyway I said things wouldn't work with him.using so he has stopped 4 months clean and before that he was using less and less.I'm su... View more

My partner is a recovering addict, we got together when he was still using, have known each other for about 14 years. Anyway I said things wouldn't work with him.using so he has stopped 4 months clean and before that he was using less and less.I'm super proud of how far he has come, growing so much as an individual and re building relationships with family members. But I feel like our relationship is falling apart, it's like he has no interest in me, this starting happening the less he was using and is completely gone, not affectionate at all.. is this a part of the recovery process ? I ask him all the time and he says we're fine he just doesn't know what's wrong with sexually!! I just don't know how to feel anymore, I feel like he has lost all love for me I'm not even sure what im looking for here

car10001 Sharing My Knee Injury Experience
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I'm here to share my experience with a knee injury I had a while back. I hope my story can help others who might be going through something similar. A few years ago, I was working at a shop when I twisted my knee while unloading some ite... View more

Hi everyone, I'm here to share my experience with a knee injury I had a while back. I hope my story can help others who might be going through something similar. A few years ago, I was working at a shop when I twisted my knee while unloading some items. At first, I thought I might have done serious damage. The pain was pretty intense initially, and I thought id done some damage and couldnt walk on it for a few moments. Fortunately, I was able to walk again after a few minutes, which felt like a relief but i still had to be careful to not shock the knee for rest of the afternoon while not making it obvious. then oneday at a school my knee injury came back and was limping a little to a point i had to hold onto something to take weight off for just a moment. luckily that afternoon i sat at computers with leg up on desk frame resting it while doing the admin side of a job all afternoon. This experience taught me the importance of self-care and being mindful of my body. If you're dealing with a knee injury or any pain, please remember to take care of yourself and seek help if needed. You're not alone in this. I’d love to hear about your experiences or any tips you might have for dealing with injuries. Let's support each other! thanks

white knight Inexpensive recovery idea - camping
  • replies: 36

My wife and I wanted to attend a country dog show held last Sunday and located half way between Ballarat and Geelong...about 90 minutes drive from Melbourne. We are lucky as we have a fully equipped camper trailer. But I do recall many years ago when... View more

My wife and I wanted to attend a country dog show held last Sunday and located half way between Ballarat and Geelong...about 90 minutes drive from Melbourne. We are lucky as we have a fully equipped camper trailer. But I do recall many years ago when single I camped in a tent. Last Saturday night we used a free camping guide, a book that lists all free camping spots in Australia. We found a great spot in the hills, alone and free. The birds singing was so good we woke up early at 5am to hear them, cook our eggs and bacon and ....RELAX. There is something about camping more so than ever because social media has drowned many of us and taken us away from the basics of living. Some of us need to get back to nature even for a short time...even overnight. So what is required for a basic camping adventure? Assuming you have a car although I've seen some people camp with motorcycles and push bikes or just a backpack if you are ultra fit. Free camping spots book $50, two person tent $30, blow up mattress with pump $60, sleeping bag- no- take your doona, pillow- take your pillow, one burner stove with butane gas pressure packs $30 + $7 for 4 cans of gas, kettle, water container 20L, fry pan, cutlery, bucket for dishes etc. In the scheme of things it is cheap entertainment. One of the best accessories has been a solar powered light on a baseball cap for $30, where ever you look there is light. Keep it on your cars rear parcel shelf to charge. Shower? Shower tents are fold up for $45. 12 volt shower pump $15- just boil your kettle and add to cold water in the bucket = great shower. You can get a porta potti for $100 and place it in the shower tent. Want to move up to a camper trailer? Only have a 4 cylinder car? Search for motorcycle campers. They are smaller and lighter to tow but most still have a queen size bed. Add a trunk on the drawbar and you can add a fridge. Mount a dry cell battery under the camper floor wired up to charge by your towing vehicle. Motorcycle campers start at around $7000. Which ever way you do it - just do it funds permitting. It really is recharging your batteries. It can help you recover from a down period. It can contribute towards your relationships. Dont forget to take a book. Something soulful, comforting and educational. We have a book of Australian birds and we try to identify them. Take a telescope for the stars. Once I found Saturn in the night sky and I could just see its rings- amazing. Your mind needs rest. Camping is good.

splinter Eating Disorder/Anxiety eating (Trigger warning)
  • replies: 2

Hello,A few years ago I started a "health journey" and began working out to shape my body and began dieting. It started off really well and I felt and looked a lot better. After a while I became very obsessive with how I looked and began excessively ... View more

Hello,A few years ago I started a "health journey" and began working out to shape my body and began dieting. It started off really well and I felt and looked a lot better. After a while I became very obsessive with how I looked and began excessively excersising multiple times a day and severely restricting my diet. I developed a lot of health issues and it wasn't until I spoke to my doctor my parents and I realised I had an eating disorder. I was nearly 15 at the time and it took me about a year to get over my health issues and become in a positive mental space to eat and excersise without harming myself. I have felt very happy and carefree for a year now, I am now 17. However, I have started getting thoughts about my body again that have left me anxious and unsettled. I am beginning to feel uncomfortable in my body again and it is hard to focus whenever I'm eating as the guilt is beginning to consume me again. My family and friends don't know how to support me, so I haven't spoken to them about my concerns, but I am very anxious I will go back to being obsessive and affecting my health. I don't really know what help I'm asking for but I know talking here will be easier than talking to my family. Thankyou ❤

Agrowingman Learning to be honest with my self
  • replies: 3

I like drinking but it's affecting my relationships with family. It's a selfish thing. I keep losing my phone, wallet and keys every month or so. I know I should stop but I don't really want to. I think I may be covering pain with alcohol. View more

I like drinking but it's affecting my relationships with family. It's a selfish thing. I keep losing my phone, wallet and keys every month or so. I know I should stop but I don't really want to. I think I may be covering pain with alcohol.

Guest_95403700 Prioritising when multiple problems emerge
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone! Does anyone else feel like the whole world has turned to poo? In the past four years I’ve experienced workplace trauma, sexual assault and drifted apart from friends who have socially retreated for a number of reasons (mostly the times w... View more

Hi everyone! Does anyone else feel like the whole world has turned to poo? In the past four years I’ve experienced workplace trauma, sexual assault and drifted apart from friends who have socially retreated for a number of reasons (mostly the times we’re living in and I’ve sort of done the same thing!). I’m also facing housing issues and am now going through a bunch of stress with a major restructure at work which is becoming combative and draining. Having escaped a toxic work situation I’m worried about going down the same track. On top of all of this I’ve been contacted by a recruiter and am being interviewed for a big job interstate. Old me would have been super excited about the change and jumped at it, but it feels too hard and I haven’t had the headspace to prepare. The thought of leaving my very small support network (mostly family) also upsets me but I know deep down that I need to find a job before things get really bad. I adore my team but we’ll probably be disbanded anyway. Though, I don’t know this for sure yet. I should add that this new job would be a significant payrise and would be amazing for my CV and future. Due to all of the above, I’m suffering with anxiety and the occasional bout of depression, which has affected my confidence as well as my health. I’ve stacked on weight and am feeling it. How do I wade through all of this and prioritise in order to protect my wellbeing? Does anyone have journal prompts or tools they use when feeling overwhelmed? I’m very action oriented and pretty pragmatic but this is a lot! I’ve tried medication and counselling but haven’t had much luck. I feel really stuck and worry about my health mainly. My heart is often raising and I’m not moving my body or taking good care with my nutrition. It kind of feels like I’m in freeze mode. I’m single, female and in my 40s, living alone and given up on dating. Apologies for the lengthy post!

Moving forward happy Too skinny
  • replies: 4

I don’t know what to do, my sister growing up was always over weight and over recent years she has lost a lot and was loving how she looked, but in recent times her weight has dropped so much that it’s starting to scare me. She is very unhealthy, loo... View more

I don’t know what to do, my sister growing up was always over weight and over recent years she has lost a lot and was loving how she looked, but in recent times her weight has dropped so much that it’s starting to scare me. She is very unhealthy, looks like skin and bones but in her mind she still feels fat and panicks whenever she puts on any weight. I have spoken with her and tried to be as honest and open as I can be but I don’t know how to support her, I don’t know what to do next to actually get her the help that she needs, financially neither of us have a great deal of money either. If any one could tell me what worked for them or any resources I could use it would be much appreciated.

Gokul Hi everyone
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone. Just signed up today.

Hello everyone. Just signed up today.