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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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AGrace Positive Affirmations
  • replies: 21

Do you have some positive affirmations that have helped you get through difficult moments? If so, share them with us and to add to those listed below... I will end up doing more than I can imagine. Everything is as it should be in this moment. I am j... View more

Do you have some positive affirmations that have helped you get through difficult moments? If so, share them with us and to add to those listed below... I will end up doing more than I can imagine. Everything is as it should be in this moment. I am just the person I need to be. I love the ways in which I am like no one else. I may be 1 in 7 billion, but I am also 1 in 7 billion. I refuse to give up, because I haven't tried all the possible ways. AGrace

Itsnotyouitsme What came first, the chicken or the egg?
  • replies: 1

Well surprise surprise this isnt really a post about chickens or eggs its more a question of whether the depression and anxiety preceded the alcohol abuse or the alcohol abuse exacerbated an already susceptible mental health concern... I wont go into... View more

Well surprise surprise this isnt really a post about chickens or eggs its more a question of whether the depression and anxiety preceded the alcohol abuse or the alcohol abuse exacerbated an already susceptible mental health concern... I wont go into the backstory too much except to say that i struggled (a lot) with depression from as pre teen years as far back as maybe single digits as i grew up at the mercy of a violent alcoholic parent. I escaped into foster care for about year at about 14 or 15 and was medicated for depression i think for about 12 months and though ive had extensive counselling and psycholigist sessions over the years im ultimately pretty damaged from it all. It took me the best part of a decade to get my shit together but not before getting into recreational party drugs for a few years which further played havoc with my brain chemistry. But i got my shit together by my mid 20's, got a good job, started studying and then pretty much spent the next decade working full time and studying part time (and takjng the edge off socially and unsocially) with alcohol. I cant remember when it got out of hand but i can recal as far back as about a decade now having no issue in kicking off on the couch to a bottle of wine. I always worked in a corporate industry so raging friday night drinks were an acceptable norm. Fast forward to moving in with my now husband about 9 years ago and as he was a big drinker (often) and i was a big drinker (binge) i feel that we too a degree enabled each others behaviours. Ive never been an all day drinker but for a time over a few months last year when i was suffering sever anxiety and then again up to a few months ago i had no qualms (well maybe a few qualms) about taking the edge off with a bottle of wine a few nights a week. I stopped drinking almost 2 months ago and though a felt good for the first few weeks (its amazing what waking up without a hangover can do) but.... My depression and anxiety is absolutely out of control. I always took the edge of 'sad', 'stressed', 'angry', 'anxious' and now that i cant self medicate i feel like i have lost all equilibrium. Lowest of lows and wired anxiousness. I dont want to medicate as we are considering trying to conceive in the near future but i dont know how to achieve calm n chill. Ive ditched alcohol, cut out most social media, im burning essential oils, taking baths, trying to exercise (but my energy levels are so low). I need help.

Guest8901 Laughter šŸ˜€ ... the best medicine?
  • replies: 36

Do you feel better after having a good laugh? It's scientifically proven that laughter is a really strong medicine, and results in significant health benefits. Did you know that laughter gives your mood a boost, helps to diminish pain, protects you f... View more

Do you feel better after having a good laugh? It's scientifically proven that laughter is a really strong medicine, and results in significant health benefits. Did you know that laughter gives your mood a boost, helps to diminish pain, protects you from the many ill-effects of stress and aids your immune system? Kids seem to laugh a lot, but as we reach adult status we tend to become more serious and laughter becomes less frequent. No doubt everyday stresses and adult responsibilities play a large part in this transition. But wouldn't it be nice to find ways or opportunities to seek more humour and to be able to laugh more often? In doing so, you're (apparently) on track to improve emotional health, strengthen relationships, find greater happiness and possibly even add years to your life expectancy. And perhaps best of all, laughter - as an invaluable medicine - is fun, free, and user friendly. When we're in the depths of depression and anxiety it often seems almost impossible to find anything to laugh about. So I've opened this thread in the hope of sharing the benefits of laughter, and to provide a place we can share what makes us laugh and to discover new ways of bringing laughter back into our lives. If you'd like to share jokes or funny stories with others here, I'd love to read them, and hopefully others will too. Please keep jokes clean and respectful, in line with the community rules. I'd also love to hear how you're able to add a bit of lightness and humour into your life, especially when times are tough. I'll post some ideas too, as I come across some. What makes you laugh - children, pets, movies? Do you have a favourite movie, one which you can be sure will give you a real belly laugh, or at least a giggle? Please post anything to do with laughter here. Whether it's telling a personal funny story, recommending a funny movie, how you feel laughter has helped you feel better, ways you have found to bring laughter into your life. Remember ... laughter is seriously good medicine for your health, both physical and mental. So let's all share ways we can have more of it. Amanda

Tinks_Violet Help with alcohol abuse
  • replies: 3

Hi I have had a long time issue with alcohol abuse and I would really like to get help but I am so scared about people finding out... I know my family and limited friends are clearly aware that I have a problem but I don't want anyone else to find ou... View more

Hi I have had a long time issue with alcohol abuse and I would really like to get help but I am so scared about people finding out... I know my family and limited friends are clearly aware that I have a problem but I don't want anyone else to find out. My GP knows and it's up to me to change but I don't know how. Is there any online support for alcohol abuse?

Whatnext23 Just need to talk.
  • replies: 2

I am pregnant with my 3rd child, I've been on anti dā€™s for a while for my anxiety. I was advised to stop taking them because I am pregnant and its not good for the development of the baby, which I agree with. Unfortunately I suffer from hyperemesis g... View more

I am pregnant with my 3rd child, I've been on anti dā€™s for a while for my anxiety. I was advised to stop taking them because I am pregnant and its not good for the development of the baby, which I agree with. Unfortunately I suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum and I am on a spiralling disaster of emotions and just want to stop this now. I don't know if I want to abort the baby to feel normal again, but at the same time I really don't want to and feel I would regrate it. I am so confused and over feeling so so so sick. I am falling apart.

16sundayz Anxiety
  • replies: 7

What else can you do when all of your distraction plans no longer work and you are so distressed ?

What else can you do when all of your distraction plans no longer work and you are so distressed ?

Needsmotivation LIVE my life not exist!!
  • replies: 2

I want to get back to how I felt a few years ago where I was LIVING my life not just existing!! Any suggestions greatly appreciated as I just feel like a loner.

I want to get back to how I felt a few years ago where I was LIVING my life not just existing!! Any suggestions greatly appreciated as I just feel like a loner.

Mealiac complicated monster
  • replies: 1

i feel sad. I feel that I'm not good enough in how I look. Strangely enough I really like who I am, and people like me. I do well in my work, I have a fantastic husband, lovely friends. Overall it should be all good right? But I always can't help but... View more

i feel sad. I feel that I'm not good enough in how I look. Strangely enough I really like who I am, and people like me. I do well in my work, I have a fantastic husband, lovely friends. Overall it should be all good right? But I always can't help but thinking that if i was just skinnier, or more beautiful or hotter, my life would be better and easier. and so I hate myself and I hate my body, and I push my husband away and cause fights because he says im beautiful and he likes my body but i get so angry because i say he's lying and tricking me. Because i can't believe anyone would truly find me attractive and that he must be liking other girls secretly. I know i know i know. i sound like a psycho. then i apologise to him and say im sorry i didt mean it and thank you for the compliments and i love you. but deep in my heart none of my feelings about how ugly and fat i am ever get resolved and so then im constantly just feeling like im on my own to deal with my body issues. the thing is i'm 173cm and 57kg, im a size 8-10. To most people they would say 'you are great' 'you look good'. but i guess i feel like unless im bloody Kendall Jenner on a runway with insane body and beauty im not good enough or anything. I don't know who else to talk to this about, as no one takes it seriously. I truely feel like a monster, i hate my freckle pale skin, my little eyes. I hated my lips so much I even got filler in them and I get botox regulalrly. Dont worry, dont judge me i dont look like a freak, in fact no one ever even suspects as it looks so natural. But even getting this done and having spray tans etc i still just feel like so horrible and worthless and pathetic because im so average. its so hard to look on social media and see beautiful girls literally having life handed to them on a platter, because people just are obessesed with their beauty. and it makes me jealous as i have to work so hard for everything i have, and if i was just beautiful my life would be easy. I can't talk to my friends about this, as they just brush me off. I can't talk to my husband about it as he doesn't believe that i am monster. i dont know how to talk to anyone about this as i don't think they put the same standards on themselves. I don't want to have to pretend im beautiful, i'd like to actually be beautiful, but im not. Im super smart but the world doesnt give a damn about a smart woman. just her breasts and her ass

16sundayz Diary keeping
  • replies: 2

Does anyone else write down thoughts and feelings and take them to their psychologist/counsellor/psychiatrist appointments? I do that with mine, he reads them and then we discuss. I find it easier to write them down than actually saying them vocally ... View more

Does anyone else write down thoughts and feelings and take them to their psychologist/counsellor/psychiatrist appointments? I do that with mine, he reads them and then we discuss. I find it easier to write them down than actually saying them vocally and it helps me get them out better.

smallwolf A guided "meditation"
  • replies: 4

In the first couple of months I was here, and I replied to other users, I sometimes included a small story to take the posters mind from the current worries. While reading a few posts recently, it came to me that having something to listen to, or in ... View more

In the first couple of months I was here, and I replied to other users, I sometimes included a small story to take the posters mind from the current worries. While reading a few posts recently, it came to me that having something to listen to, or in this case, turn your mind to, might give you a moment of peace. And as you read this, try to engage all of your senses - your sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. If you have short story/meditation to add, please do so... WATERFALLS IN THE FOREST A winding trail covered with damp leaves from last nights rain leads into a forest. Along the edges of the path are small plants with flowers of many colors, of red, white, blues, and other colors. Small butterflies fly from bush to bush, eating the nectar from the flowers. Your presense does not appear to bother them at all. Looking up into the forest trees you also see birds, chirping, making song that fill the forest. And through the tree-tops rays of sunlight can be seen, creating patterns of the forest floor, highlighting droplets of water that shine like diamonds. Walking further into the forest, you see a small stream of clear water revealing a bed of sand and smooth pebbles. You step into the water, the cool, refreshing touch of water on your feet and then walking upstream, the stream opens up into much larger pool sourced by a waterfall... water cascading down rocks that have been made smooth by (millions of) years of falling water. As water from the waterfall falls into the pool, creating a splash, mist fills the air, seeming to create an atmosphere of calm and quiet. Around the edge of the pool, are moss covered rocks with the moss acting like soft pillows. You dip your hand into the pool, lifting up a handful of pure water to your lips. Tasting the water, it is like the best drink you have ever had; healing you from the inside, with feelings of tranquility. You lie down with your head on one of the pillows of moss and relaxing, letting go of your worries and stresses. And when you are relaxed and ready, you get up, leave the pool and walk back down the stream until you meet the path again and exit the forest. And whenever you feel down or stressed you remember this place and can return here for a moment of peace and calm.