Staying well

Mental and physical health - anxiety, depression

replies: 1

Hi everyone! Would love to hear from anyone who has a story to tell about managing their lives. Some important learnings for me about my anxiety and depression. Over the past year I have had significant episodes of heightened anxiety and the followin... View more

Hi everyone! Would love to hear from anyone who has a story to tell about managing their lives. Some important learnings for me about my anxiety and depression. Over the past year I have had significant episodes of heightened anxiety and the following depression. There have been a number of things that have been happening which I put these down to: getting a medical procedure done learning to be a retiree worrying about where money was going to come from and how to live with very little However, there was one thing that I really didn't consider, even though it happened last year too. I have a low functioning thyroid and early last year, after I went to the doctor with severe anxiety and depression, and had my annual blood tests done it was found my thyroid medication needed adjusting. After a month or more, my mental health returned to normal. Then, recently the same thing started happening. So I learnt my lesson and went to the doctors and had my test down. I've now had a recall, so I wait for the results. My thoughts are I have to reduce my thyroid medication even further. Have to wait till Monday to find out. What I think is important (especially for me), is not to second guess or try to diagnose myself. For instance, my anxiety is up because I'm having severe palpitations, my nerves are so bad I can't settle down or I'm perspiring significantly. These can also be symptoms of too much thyroid medication when my system doesn't need it. The strategy is to - get it checked out by a doctor, no matter how much one thinks it could be due to anxiety or depression or PTSD. I see many posts in the forums where people give us their symptoms and ask us what our thoughts are, or what our advice is. Please get it checked out by your doctor! There could be any number of reasons for the symptoms I've talked about above. Does anyone else have a story to tell about staying well? Kind regards PamelaR

Repairing your life

replies: 4

Many facets in life have stepping stones - setting agendas that has steps to achieve the end goal. My son in law is one example how he, at 31yo is to complete his doctorate this year. The steps he has had to accomplish along the way is amazing. When ... View more

Many facets in life have stepping stones - setting agendas that has steps to achieve the end goal. My son in law is one example how he, at 31yo is to complete his doctorate this year. The steps he has had to accomplish along the way is amazing. When it dawns on us that we have a mental illness we are often in shock. We likely were one of the 90% of people that didn't have a clue about what that entailed as such illnesses - "only happened to other families." Therefore our knowledge was limited. Our next reaction is to seek a "cure". Illnesses have different outcomes. Anxiety for example is easier to cure than depression. Each are as serious as each other so it isn't easy to group them all together in terms of long term remedies. However, we can draw up a rough plan of the stepping stones needed to reach the happy bank on the other side of the river of mental illness. Our GP is our friend. Not happy with the one you seek for consultations about mental illness? seek another. In fact I attend a medical clinic that has 6 doctors 4 of which come and go. I swap doctors regularly to get overall medical opinions. Referrals. Some GP's can treat you. If more serious then he/she might recommend a psychiatrist, psychologist or counselor/therapist for further treatment. Please do attend. You'll be amazed at what help they can provide. Acceptance. The stigma associated with mental illness is huge and it can play with our minds to make us desperate to find a cure. We humans are imperfect, we need to accept that we can need a helping hand on occasions getting through basic life. Once you accept that you have a mental illness and it isn't any big deal, you'll cope better. You'll accept that the bad days come and go, that when you begin to feel better you can kick start your life again, return to your doctor and fine tune medications and so on. A positive state of mind. If you have negativity it wont help you. You'll need to find motivation and positive thinking by means you might not have thought of like attending motivation lectures or reading books. Distractions. Find a hobby or sport. What is happiness? Learn to live as a happy person. Preventing a return. Safeguarding yourself from toxic people. You'll function better. Confidence- build on it. Move on from childhood issues if possible. Care for yourself. Meditate And all through this journey return your appreciation to those that love you Can you add to those stepping stones? TonyWK

Too little, too soon

replies: 1

Hi all, how you doing? Last week I posted about a visit with my doctor, and how she said I can go off my puffers altogether, and I got so excited! ..... but I think we both may have jumped the gun a little. I'm feeling a little bit flat today. I thin... View more

Hi all, how you doing? Last week I posted about a visit with my doctor, and how she said I can go off my puffers altogether, and I got so excited! ..... but I think we both may have jumped the gun a little. I'm feeling a little bit flat today. I think both my doctor and myself maybe mistook a 'good few weeks and months' for a permanent change, and I need to go back on my preventative puffers. I've been feeling quite wheezy and tight-chested in the last couple of days. I know that this medication, and in fact my medical condition are not necessarily mental health related directly, and that I'm not talking about mental health meds, but it does affect my thinking and feeling somewhat. I know I probably shouldn't feel disappointed, but I do. I was really looking forward to be free from medication. Especially does that really does have a downer kind of side effect. Anyway, just for today, I may not be medication free, but I am upright and breathing and grateful to be here. Plus, I was very brave thismorning and had my flu shot! Enjoy your day everyone. xo

Healthy living

replies: 2

Hello. Does anyone have tips for healthy eating to keep mentally well? In particular how to have a balanced healthy diet that is easy to stcik to (especially for a full time worker), and resisting the temptation for ‘comfort food’ such as high carbs,... View more

Hello. Does anyone have tips for healthy eating to keep mentally well? In particular how to have a balanced healthy diet that is easy to stcik to (especially for a full time worker), and resisting the temptation for ‘comfort food’ such as high carbs, sugar, oily food, etc? Any other lifestlye tips welcomed too! Thank you

Gratitude

replies: 2

Three things you are grateful for today? (say them out loud as well, it feels so much better) Did you know you can retrain your brain by saying three things you are grateful for everyday for 21 days ! I'll start: 1: I am grateful to have easy access ... View more

Three things you are grateful for today? (say them out loud as well, it feels so much better) Did you know you can retrain your brain by saying three things you are grateful for everyday for 21 days ! I'll start: 1: I am grateful to have easy access to fresh drinking water 2. I am grateful to be able to feel the air going into my lungs and breath out (thanks trees) 3. I am grateful to be living on this beautiful planet, to be able to connect with people on the internet even when I feel so isolated. THANK YOU !

What do you do to love yourself?

replies: 1

Hey guys! I am curious as to what you do for yourself, to give love back to yourself and heal? I'm continuously trying variations such as meditation, yoga and sound healing ! (they are all very healing) Manifesting out loud, giving thanks to myself a... View more

Hey guys! I am curious as to what you do for yourself, to give love back to yourself and heal? I'm continuously trying variations such as meditation, yoga and sound healing ! (they are all very healing) Manifesting out loud, giving thanks to myself and to be alive. Recently I went to church for the first time as well, I've never been to church in my life nor come from a faithful background; there's a lack of connection within society which makes us feel isolated. I'm always wanting to hear/understand peoples journeys what's yours? What have you found helps you? Much Love Kyra

What's the worst that can happen? EVERY step of trying counts even for a second of freedom!

replies: 2

Hi everyone, people have said this to me alot. I think it's actually pivotal to remember so that we don't fall victim to things that really aren't that bad. Like something in my life that I get anxious over I notice immediately if I tell myself 'what... View more

Hi everyone, people have said this to me alot. I think it's actually pivotal to remember so that we don't fall victim to things that really aren't that bad. Like something in my life that I get anxious over I notice immediately if I tell myself 'what is the worst that can happen' at least this helps me to some extent. My anxiety lessens. A lady on a call helpline actually said this to me once and she said it so powerfully that I have never forgotten it. Some days I find it really hard and I step outside and I want to go for a walk just a simple walk and then I feel this horrible feeling inside me that wants to hide. I continue to say to myself 'what is the worst that can happen'?. It lightens everything even if it's not enough to take away those feelings and then I push through it all and do it anyhow. This has been one of my latest things actually that no matter WHAT MY FEELINGS ARE I DO IT. This in itself has been hard to find for me. Amidst the most debilitating feelings of anxiety and depression and other things to actually just do it anyhow and feel them even worse as I go along has been an incredible breakthrough....after all what is the worst that can happen? I go through MORE HORRIBLE FEELINGS? YEP:). The other day I went to go for a walk and every single step my emotions and feelings were saying 'no go back SOMETHING is going to happen or YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH' or some sort of debilitating thought and feeling was happening to me. So I went step by step I didn't want to see anyone....by the time I reached about 1 kilometre I noticed I'd made it. Nothing bad had happened. I still felt crap and I wanted to go back but I kept walking through the horrible feelings step by step. Eventually I noticed that when I'd reached about 2 kilometres my mood had lifted. By the time I got back I felt great. The feelings started up again but I DID IT! I was in a pretty bad way that day. EVERY STEP MATTERS AFTER ALL WHAT IS THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN? I hope this helps someone. If you are down step outside your yard and take a step then take another...keep going fight through those feelings it is so worth it. It may only save you from them for the time you are walking or maybe only a little of the walk but what is the worst that can happen and it's so worth it to push yourself BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTH IT. Every second of your day you are worth it. Jessica.

Do you like talking about the weather?

replies: 6

I happen to like talking about the weather, both the forecast and the science behind it. Within my family, it's common to talk about the weather. However, with my friends, if I bring it up, they go quiet and change subject. I'm sure the weather may n... View more

I happen to like talking about the weather, both the forecast and the science behind it. Within my family, it's common to talk about the weather. However, with my friends, if I bring it up, they go quiet and change subject. I'm sure the weather may not be very interesting to everyone, but I always like going into the Bureau of Meteorology website to find the weather for today. Then I can plan my tasks and errands around it. It's a great mental exercise and makes me feel less depressed and looking more forward to a good day.

First World Problems

replies: 1

Hi all. Just checking in and sharing a trick that I sometimes find helpful; If I'm starting to feel stressed out about things that don't really seem to make sense as to why I am stressing, I ask myself two questions 1) Is it still gonna affect me in ... View more

Hi all. Just checking in and sharing a trick that I sometimes find helpful; If I'm starting to feel stressed out about things that don't really seem to make sense as to why I am stressing, I ask myself two questions 1) Is it still gonna affect me in a month or a year's time? 2) Is it perhaps a first-world problem, for which I have forgotten to be grateful about? I don't do it trivialize or dismiss what's going on, but it helps me to keep perspective and to know what issues need more attention.

Fun activities

replies: 3

hi everyone me and the wife have just recently split up (7 weeks) but what I would like to know is what activities do guys 35-40 do by themselves?

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A Bouquet for Pearls - share your appreciation for other members

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