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Sophie_M Money stress? You are not alone!
  • replies: 4

So, I’ve been chatting with my friends over here at Beyond Blue and it seems we all have something in common right now: money worries. Whether it’s stressors about finding enough cash for the basics or wishing we had enough money for a holiday, we al... View more

So, I’ve been chatting with my friends over here at Beyond Blue and it seems we all have something in common right now: money worries. Whether it’s stressors about finding enough cash for the basics or wishing we had enough money for a holiday, we all seem to be experiencing a greater amount of stress surrounding money than we have in the past. And it’s impacting our ability to show up fully for the things we love. It’s not uncommon for us to experience shame and fear around expressing our financial challenges; it can be hard and somewhat taboo to openly discuss money matters. However, we believe this conversation is incredibly important and beneficial to have. Like all challenges, ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’, so let’s help each other out. Of course, discussions about the economy and how to manage our money during inflation are a much larger (and frustrating!) conversation… but what we would really love to know is what your personal experience around money is. Are you feeling the pinch too? How is added financial pressure impacting your wellbeing? When was the last time things felt even slightly easier? And if you have struggled with money in the past but come out the other side, what suggestions do you have for others who might still be finding their feet? This is an opportunity to share openly and honestly about your experience in a judgement-free space. There are no wrong answers, and we encourage you to share all the things that you might be finding hard to express in your every day life. Looking forward to your answers! Abundant hugs from yours truly, 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

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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?

Lilly18 Solffegio frequencies
  • replies: 1

Hi, Im curious to know if anyone has tried listening to solfeggio frequencies? I did for the first time a few nights ago, im not the type of person who cries easily but the day after I listened to it I cried many times, at the pet shop trying to buy ... View more

Hi, Im curious to know if anyone has tried listening to solfeggio frequencies? I did for the first time a few nights ago, im not the type of person who cries easily but the day after I listened to it I cried many times, at the pet shop trying to buy a collar for my dog whist talking to the store assistant, in a job agency appointment and just on my own. It is so not me to be like that. I think I will listen again one night soon and see if it happens again.

new_beginning Reiki healing experiences
  • replies: 4

I am very curious about Reiki, the benefits and where to start... just wondering if anyone has practiced this and found peace.. What has your experience been

I am very curious about Reiki, the benefits and where to start... just wondering if anyone has practiced this and found peace.. What has your experience been

PsychedelicFur What are some healthy/natural remedies when dealing with anger?
  • replies: 4

Hello there, just a quick question : what are some healthy remedies when dealing with anger? I do like to draw, listen to music and exercise. However what are some other tips or pieces of advice some of you fellow forum friends can suggest? Many than... View more

Hello there, just a quick question : what are some healthy remedies when dealing with anger? I do like to draw, listen to music and exercise. However what are some other tips or pieces of advice some of you fellow forum friends can suggest? Many thanks, PsychedelicFur.