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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

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Guest_032 Sleep help
  • replies: 1

I’m really struggling with sleep. I’ve managed to get an average of 2-3 hours a night for the last few weeks. I’ve been trying so many different things. Yoga. Meditation. Sleeping tablets. Nothing seems to be helping. Any tips?

I’m really struggling with sleep. I’ve managed to get an average of 2-3 hours a night for the last few weeks. I’ve been trying so many different things. Yoga. Meditation. Sleeping tablets. Nothing seems to be helping. Any tips?

Mummabear001 Help with information
  • replies: 2

My husband has PTSD, a young other conditions that they have diagnosed due to being assaulted at work by a colleague (he works in a prison) Work has offered him voluntary medical retirement package with a separation date of the 22 August. He replied ... View more

My husband has PTSD, a young other conditions that they have diagnosed due to being assaulted at work by a colleague (he works in a prison) Work has offered him voluntary medical retirement package with a separation date of the 22 August. He replied by email that it was fine as he wants to move on as we have been dealing with this for nearly 2 years. Does anyone know how long he has to wait for the payment. Its affecting our life sitting here with him in limbo and every day he checks the bank and when nothing shows it sends him on a spiral for the next few hours. Hes unmotivated and feels nobody cares. He thinks if he can get this to come through then he can start looking for more work and do something with his life. We have 3 children and the emotional toll it's taken on them over this time has not been good. I feel like I am playing a juggling game with them all trying to support everyone and work myself and I need him to feel better. Everything to do with this issue has had me behind him trying to get him through as he can't function effectively by himself yet. I am so drained and want this issue over with so I can deal with the next one, one at a time. Waiting is a mind game that causes issues everyday. I know the money wont solve our problems but it would sure take a burden off me and help with all the psych bill's.

mddx Someone who wants enjoy life again - Anxiety and depression
  • replies: 8

Hi all, Not sure who to start to this, but here it goes I am a working professional with higher degree education and currently working 8-5 job. I have been avoiding the signs of depression and anxiety for years. Last year after a break up from a long... View more

Hi all, Not sure who to start to this, but here it goes I am a working professional with higher degree education and currently working 8-5 job. I have been avoiding the signs of depression and anxiety for years. Last year after a break up from a long relationship, I have decided to focus on the issue at hand as I realized that I am full of negativity, anger, and sadness all the time. It ended up me being home all the time apart from work and necessities. My random day offs have started to raise and my performance at work also got affected. My family (consists of my Mother) has no idea as she lives overseas (back in my home country) by herself and last thing I'd want is to worry her. Considering I am the only child and has to support my family (therefore, career break is not an option), it also pressures me a lot because I can't help myself but think the worst case scenario of losing my job because of one reason or another. Another effect of it is that I cannot talk to my family about my condition. A while back, I have started seeing a psychologist and started to take medication as advised by GP. Unfortunately, first 3 meds either had side effects or did not work well for me. During a financially tight period, I have stopped going to the psychologist and the GP with the total disappointment of not being able to show any permanent signs of improvement. Due to physical injuries and a desk job, I have gained weight, lost my hair due to bad genetics and constant state of stress, and eventually I have lost my confidence in myself After 9 months of trying, currently I am on no med nor seeing a psychologist. I still catch the glimpses of joy time to time like a feeling you cannot hold onto, but it is no secret that I have forgotten to smile and enjoy life. As most of you, I feel like I am not the hero of my own story but watch others while I feel like I do not belong and have nothing to say to anyone. My hope is to get back my mental health to live a peaceful life.

therising What skills were you taught when it comes to dealing with life's challenges?
  • replies: 13

Hi to all reading this I'm interested to hear if anyone was ever taught a set of life skills, in overcoming challenges (big or small). Whenever I've asked such a question, I'm typically met with a brief pause before the realisation 'I suppose I wasn'... View more

Hi to all reading this I'm interested to hear if anyone was ever taught a set of life skills, in overcoming challenges (big or small). Whenever I've asked such a question, I'm typically met with a brief pause before the realisation 'I suppose I wasn't really taught anything like that'. Most people will say that, as kids, they were told to 'Just get on with things' or given a 'You'll be right' kind of encouragement and that's it, with no real guidance. I've also met a couple of people who have told me that such skills can't be taught (they don't exist). So, what strategies were you taught when it comes to accepting and rolling with the challenges, whether those challenges are welcomed or not? -M-

Wild2free59 Isolation
  • replies: 1

Thoughts and experiences....I despair

Thoughts and experiences....I despair

Millsey Mental Heath Plan.
  • replies: 6

Hi All... We are deciding between a mental health plan and just paying for councillor services. We have a friend who had issues getting into the fire brigade, as he had previously used a mental health plan. I also understand a mental health plan can ... View more

Hi All... We are deciding between a mental health plan and just paying for councillor services. We have a friend who had issues getting into the fire brigade, as he had previously used a mental health plan. I also understand a mental health plan can cause issues getting into Police and some military roles. Does anyone have any experience or information on how a mental health plan can have negative consequences later in life for young people? Thanks Craig.

Mandalaar Menopause, Anxiety...........and no Gallbladder
  • replies: 5

Hi all, this is my first post. I am 50 years old an anxiety sufferer, 4 months post op gastric sleeve and 3 months post op gallbladder removal. I am having many many symptoms of menopause, I see my GP next week. I was wondering if HRT has interfered ... View more

Hi all, this is my first post. I am 50 years old an anxiety sufferer, 4 months post op gastric sleeve and 3 months post op gallbladder removal. I am having many many symptoms of menopause, I see my GP next week. I was wondering if HRT has interfered with anyone's medication and whether you can take HRT without a gallbladder. Thank you in advance

Jt87 Lost the plot
  • replies: 12

So after 8 months of sobriety. Last Tuesday I slipped and had a flask of Vodka at Lunch Time as my work load and some conflict got to me, My employers were told by a colleague and gave me a letter 3 days ago, asking for a meeting to discuss some conc... View more

So after 8 months of sobriety. Last Tuesday I slipped and had a flask of Vodka at Lunch Time as my work load and some conflict got to me, My employers were told by a colleague and gave me a letter 3 days ago, asking for a meeting to discuss some concerns colleagues had, which completely pushed me over the edge... I wound up leaving at lunch on the day of the meeting (3:30pm Friday), getting completely wasted and coming back getting sent home in a taxi by my boss (which he paid for), although I didn't go home I went to a pub near my house, so when my employer didn't get a message saying I'd got home safely him and his wife called me 9 times. I didn't hear my phone, they wound up calling my parents to find out if I was still alive. I went home and my best friend and parents called the cops and I spent the night in hospital under suicide watch and freaking out about losing my job (I have no coping skills for this sort of thing). So on Sunday the employer called me and rescheduled the meeting to next Monday (8 days away, as the hospital gave me a certificate for a week). I feel incredibly stressed, I'm in Australia, and If I lose this job, I might lose everything. It was a stupid decision on the Tuesday days ago, but losing it on the Friday resulted in a mess with everyone concerned about me. I was just going to lay it all on the table next Monday and explain my depression and anxiety, and how I am now on more meds and more frequent counselling, but I don't know what the best plan of attack is. I have a letter from my GP and My Psychologist outlining that i am now receiving additional help in both departments, how I have struggled for years and how they know I am trying to get better. My boss has always been quite understanding and easy to talk to. I mean I imagine that if this had been it they wouldn't have rescheduled the meeting to the following Monday they would have canned me on the spot. I just don't know what the best course of action is at this point. I want to improve, this was a one off and I will never let it happen again. I am seeking help for coping mechanisms and I am on anti anxiety and anti alcohol meds now (even though I am not an alcoholic. I just abuse it when I start drinking due to depression and make bad decisions because of unfounded guilt I have).

Oat_Bran Setting yourself up for success
  • replies: 3

Thought I might start a thread for people to share strategies on how they force themselves to do things they don't like doing! For example, going to the gym, getting out of bed, procrastination, etc. Tell us what you struggle to do, and how you cheat... View more

Thought I might start a thread for people to share strategies on how they force themselves to do things they don't like doing! For example, going to the gym, getting out of bed, procrastination, etc. Tell us what you struggle to do, and how you cheat yourself into doing it! I'll start... Struggle #1: Getting out of bed in the morning - I put the alarm clock in the lounge room so I have no choice but to get out of bed! Struggle #2: Meditating daily - I put my phone into flight mode the night before and I'm not allowed to turn it off in the morning until AFTER I have meditated.

Morgan241191 I’m having trouble sleeping
  • replies: 2

Help! I can’t seem to get to sleep easily. Even when I exercise during the day, drink warm milk in the evening and get off my electronic devices an hour before bed, I end up falling asleep more than an hour after I get into bed. I also wake up freque... View more

Help! I can’t seem to get to sleep easily. Even when I exercise during the day, drink warm milk in the evening and get off my electronic devices an hour before bed, I end up falling asleep more than an hour after I get into bed. I also wake up frequently during the night and have trouble falling asleep afterwards. Does anyone have any tips for me?