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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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Guest_4643 Struggling to cope, please help.
  • replies: 33

Hi, my name's Tayla and I'm 20. Relatively new to these forums, but I've commented on threads and made some of my own so far so if people could check this out and the others and reply it would mean a lot please, although I'm not forcing anyone. I hav... View more

Hi, my name's Tayla and I'm 20. Relatively new to these forums, but I've commented on threads and made some of my own so far so if people could check this out and the others and reply it would mean a lot please, although I'm not forcing anyone. I have a great Psychiatrist that I'm very thankful for and happy and comfortable with. However it can be a while in between sessions because he has other patients and other work to do, and other non Psychiatry work commitments with other work stuff he does. I see my GP, but I don't find her as helpful as my Psychiatrist. Yes she's nice and sometimes she helps, but I don't know, I just don't feel like she helps me as much as my Psychiatrist does. I'm not trying to be rude or say anything mean about her, that's just how I'm starting to feel lately. I live in a small town in Regional Victoria, about 4000 or so people. Lived up here for about 2 years, with my parents. I don't have any siblings, no friends online and in person and no family members apart from my Mum and Dad. They struggle some days too with depression etc also. I can't do anything here. I've looked for jobs even asked in person and I'm always told no although I'm willing to learn. I've tried to join groups here and I'm always told I'm not allowed because it's for older people. I don't know why. I'd be grateful to join and try to be positive and laugh and meet people, and do whatever they do. I also can't study because that's super expensive. All of the free courses I've looked up you need qualifications and certain things, for example you had to do a course prior to doing a free one, have to be a certain age and have certain skills, etc. So I don't. I don't have any Employment Agencies nearby, I do look things up online. I'm not really a sporty person and sometimes I regret that. Even the local sports won't accept me though. Believe me I've tried everything I can. I even called the local triage and the guy on the phone was so rude, refused to speak to me and help me and I was polite and just asked if I could come in for support because my Psychiatrist and I discussed that and he said I could give it a go. That made me feel so hurt and unwanted because I've never spoken to a triage before. I went to the local Headspace Centre and was made fun of for my mental illnesses by the managers and group members. I complained and she lost her job. eHeadspace has always been rude and unhelpful to me too. Please, please help. Anybody. I'm struggling so much. Tayla.

ilovetoread73_ harassment by nasty neighbours - question
  • replies: 3

Hello, I live in an apartment block. I have one unit who has problematic neighbours who do argue with other neighbours. However they have zoned in on me because that old conundrum when someone is not like everyone else people like to pick on those as... View more

Hello, I live in an apartment block. I have one unit who has problematic neighbours who do argue with other neighbours. However they have zoned in on me because that old conundrum when someone is not like everyone else people like to pick on those as they think they are good targets. These particular neighbours have learned by accident I have a mental illness, but don't know which. However as their lease has ended or they already had a leased that was on a "rolling" lease, no end date. Anyway they are trying to get me to move. Our household is small and they now say they shouldn't be put out because there was an incident when I got angry over noise. It was 4.30am and what I said was not said directly to them but they are using it now that they know I am sick. Is there a law against these people using m-illness to harass others. Right now they have music going very loud and they are banging everything. Someone told them to turn the music down.

Moonstruck Carrying another person's pain
  • replies: 30

Dear friends.....I didn't know which thread to post this on....hoping this one will do... I read some blogs on Tiny Buddha website to help me with having "too much"empathy...i.e. just now (it has happened before with me) a close family member is goin... View more

Dear friends.....I didn't know which thread to post this on....hoping this one will do... I read some blogs on Tiny Buddha website to help me with having "too much"empathy...i.e. just now (it has happened before with me) a close family member is going through a very bad time, seemingly unsolvable problems, and is very very low. They have been suffering emotionally and mentally for a long time now without confiding in anyone. Since knowing how bad their situation is, I think of it constantly, feeling the urge to "fix it" for them, just let me take over, make things right. It is more than "worrying" about them although of course I do worry terribly. I sort of "know" how they feel and I feel it too. It's a heavy burden even though I dearly love this person and would do anything for them......am I "carrying around their pain"? I think I am. I cry easily when I dwell too much on it...not for myself...I am OK...but for another's pain. it's almost like grieving, a deep despair that I cannot help them. I foresee more pain for them unless "I" can fix this for them. I am hurting and in pain, even though I realise it is someone else's pain that I am sort of "carrying for them". Any advice how I can put this down? Should I put this down? How do I stop dwelling on another's pain....I love this person and would do anything for them to "make them happy". I think of what they are going through practically 100% of the time. any thoughts from you would be greatly appreciated...........love...Moon S

calmseeker Housing and mental health.
  • replies: 101

Hi All, I have been thinking lately about the link between good mental health and housing. Yet again, I have a pending move, which I know is a trigger for my anxiety. I tend to get quite ill after a move, there have been too many moves for me recentl... View more

Hi All, I have been thinking lately about the link between good mental health and housing. Yet again, I have a pending move, which I know is a trigger for my anxiety. I tend to get quite ill after a move, there have been too many moves for me recently. mostly because am in the private housing market and my owners always either move back into their property or sell the property. I yearn for a stable, long term home (I could never afford to buy). I am such a 'homely' person. I feel that if I could remain somewhere for a reasonable amount of time I could really relax and focus on my mental health, I feel like I never can, I am always moving or catching up financially from a move or trying to settle in somewhere new. The cost is phenomenal to rent now, it really blows my mind. What a person needs to come up with for a rental property is quite a lot, not just the rent itself but the moving costs, cleaning of previous property, etc. I am aware of NRAS but those properties rarely come up. Housing Dep have told me 10-15 plus year wait. Private market ridiculously expensive. I am very thankful to even have a roof over my head, don't get me wrong (not that I can afford that roof though). I realise there are lots of people who don't even have a home so I am really not ungrateful, just sick of the stress that comes with searching for affordable, decent housing where I can hopefully lay my hat for a few years. A home should be a place where a person can feel safe and relaxed and heal and survive - not feel like a hotel. My ranting was not meant to actually be a big whinge about my situation (sorry if its turned out that way!) more so just a comment on the link between good mental health and stable housing really.

Struggler Poets' Corner
  • replies: 2

Hi Christopher May I suggest a section for posting poems? There are many talented poets in the membership & I think such a section would benefit everyone. Poets' Corner? Struggler

Hi Christopher May I suggest a section for posting poems? There are many talented poets in the membership & I think such a section would benefit everyone. Poets' Corner? Struggler

Zephyr360 Detox diet
  • replies: 5

Gday, i have been on various medications for five years. I have started to tapper off meds as they just were Not working & i had bad side effects, almost fatal . I have changed my diet to a paleo/keto/raw style diet, i really didnt think i could but ... View more

Gday, i have been on various medications for five years. I have started to tapper off meds as they just were Not working & i had bad side effects, almost fatal . I have changed my diet to a paleo/keto/raw style diet, i really didnt think i could but it has been great for my mental health, i thought i’d share my meal plan & gut health plan, it really helps. Gut health- in my research i have found that 85-90% of seritonin is produced in the gut, this has been a game changer for me. Probiotics- Yakult, kombucha( trust me you get used to the taste haha) kimchi, etc etc all are good ways to start. Also bone broth or vege broth is a good way to repare the gut lining. Carbs - this was the hardest thing for me to give up- pasta,rice,potato’s etc yum! Haha, but there is plenty of really good recipes out there, pete evans is pretty swiched on, we got some ideas from him but there is lots of good food that assist in helping mental health. i will post a typical weeks meals that my wife and I are both eating, this has really helped us & we are both loosing weight too : )

white knight Empathy
  • replies: 17

If we asked people on the street if they had a family member with depression what that persons greatest need was you might get the following responses- Sympathy Sleep Dominance from myself More medication More therapy Theyve just got to snap out of i... View more

If we asked people on the street if they had a family member with depression what that persons greatest need was you might get the following responses- Sympathy Sleep Dominance from myself More medication More therapy Theyve just got to snap out of it However, in general, I would propose that EMPATHY is the most valued quality a carer, family member or friend could possess. Someone that shows empathy is a listener, they are genuinely concerned and they have a rare ability of having the capacity of “walking in your shoes”. Someone able to do that is rare because being able to extend your kindness to someone with an illness they cannot see, restrictions that aren’t obvious and internal turmoil usually invisible, takes a special human being. For us that need such empathy the least we can do is return some of it. Carers need support as well and such support can be given even as tokenism by way of a cuppa when they return from work, for example. Back to the mentally unwell. There are various levels of empathy. In my experience and I could be wrong but the less empathy the more selfish a person can be or they have not acquired the basics in their childhood- to reach out. Regardless of the reason you will not transform a person into an empathetic person with demands nor any other method, If you have a mental illness be wary of your need for empathy in others. Sadly, you might, like me, reduce your social circle to include only such quality people... Mixing with people with empathy and reducing contact with those that haven’t got that quality is a form of protection along with a means to be much happier. What are your major needs from other people? TonyWK

SteveB1978 Can anything good come out of mental illness
  • replies: 5

Hey everyone, Hope everyone is going ok today.. I wanted to write and ask if anyone has a success story coming out of their Mental illness. I watch lots of success stories on YouTube of people who came out of mental illness and now are psychologists ... View more

Hey everyone, Hope everyone is going ok today.. I wanted to write and ask if anyone has a success story coming out of their Mental illness. I watch lots of success stories on YouTube of people who came out of mental illness and now are psychologists or mental health doctors etc. which makes me feel a small glimmer of hope. I’m 41 years old and still deep into my struggles. My life is a real mess and I’m currently unemployed coming from losing everything including my business after my divorce.However, on days I feel my brain can focus and function just a little bit, I drift and think of hopes my life might look like, if I can control my depression and anxiety so I can return back to some sort of work and feel less hopeless and start enjoying life again. I dream that I will change my career (as my old career/ business which I lost causes me to must to much sadness after all the hard work I put into it) I would love to study again so I can work in social work/counseling/psychology I would like to write a biography of my life and self help book how I got out of my “rock bottom situation (after I’m well of course.. I’m hoping for a success story). I’ve been through so much, if I can get out of this will be a miracle. Would love to hear if anyone has experienced their life becoming more positive because of their mental health. Would be a so helpful to hear some positive stories, knowing a nice future is possible would be a great help. thank you steve

abusedtoy On disability and feeling aimless/ useless
  • replies: 3

I’m currently on disability, too mentally disabled that I’m home bound most of the time, with lack of relationships and friendships, due to my deep seated mistrust, as directly birthed out of very extensive traumas and, cannot attend university, due ... View more

I’m currently on disability, too mentally disabled that I’m home bound most of the time, with lack of relationships and friendships, due to my deep seated mistrust, as directly birthed out of very extensive traumas and, cannot attend university, due to being intellectually disabled by my abusers. I’m in a mess right now, as though there’s no hope. I’m coping with RA flashbacks still, which froze me into my traumatised position day in and out.

known Best jobs/changing careers for anxiety and depression?
  • replies: 2

Hi there, I'm working through an intense time of anxiety, panic attacks and little sleep. I started a new job in a new sector late last year. Although the workplace has a very kind culture, I have found the workload overwhelming, and my role has lots... View more

Hi there, I'm working through an intense time of anxiety, panic attacks and little sleep. I started a new job in a new sector late last year. Although the workplace has a very kind culture, I have found the workload overwhelming, and my role has lots of different aspects to it, including client-facing work, and because it's a new organisation, we are building as we go. The result at the moment is I feel totally overwhelmed and I am finding it very difficult to concentrate, I'm forgetting things, and I can't prioritise. I have been putting things off, and then working on my days off to catch up. I'm aware that it is not a good cycle and I have started to put some things in place to address this, with the help of my GP, family and therapist. However, I can't help but think that perhaps this is just the wrong type of role for me. I think I need space and time to really flourish in my work, and I feel so much pressure here. Does anyone have experience in "designing" your work life so that work actually helps your mental health? I'm finding it hard to tell if the anxious thoughts are making me think it's the job, or if it's worth exploring other options, because I have left three jobs in the past two years from stress, which puts more pressure on the next job to "work out". Does anyone relate? How do you manage your working life with anxiety and depression? What jobs have you enjoyed?