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BeyondBlue Tradies National Health Month
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, August is Tradies National Health Month, to highlight the importance of health and safety among Australia’s trade workers. Mental health and wellbeing is crucial to the safety of anyone in the mining or construction industries, so Beyond... View more

Hi everyone, August is Tradies National Health Month, to highlight the importance of health and safety among Australia’s trade workers. Mental health and wellbeing is crucial to the safety of anyone in the mining or construction industries, so Beyond Blue is hosting a special free webinar for our tradie community on Tuesday 12 August at 4.30pm which you can register for here. We know that Tradies can face unique stressors, with a culture of toughness and difficult job demands that can impact personal time and self-care. It can also be tough for partners and family members who aren’t sure how to support someone in a trade who may be showing signs that their mental health isn’t at its best. If you’re unsure where to start your conversation this is the space for you. Whether you want to share your own experiences, ask questions, or simply connect with others who understand what you're going through, you're in the right place. If you're seeking additional support, here are some resources: Hope Assistance Local Tradies: Home This Is A Conversation Starter: TIACS - This is a Conversation Starter Mates in Construction: MATES - Industry Based Suicide Prevention - MATES Don’t forget - our counsellors are always here for you on 1300 22 46 36. We’ll also use this space to post some of the questions and answers from the webinar discussion. Feel free to dive in and keep the conversation going. Thank you again for joining us — we’re glad you’re here.

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 Getting to the end of my tether
  • replies: 5

Sorry that I’ve made a number of new posts recently. I’m really struggling and at the point of not really knowing what to do next. My main issue is sleep, and I know the whole being on the computer isn’t helping, but I’ve been up for 4 hours now, don... View more

Sorry that I’ve made a number of new posts recently. I’m really struggling and at the point of not really knowing what to do next. My main issue is sleep, and I know the whole being on the computer isn’t helping, but I’ve been up for 4 hours now, done meditation, yoga, deep breathing, resting etc... so I really don’t think I’m going to get back to sleep. Plus I’m on iPad with the night time mode on, so trying to limit the blue light. Plus I need some form of support. It's hard. I do fantasise about not being here anymore. But more in the way of not having these things on my shoulders anymore. There's no way I could actually go through with anything. At the moment I'm just so exhausted that it would feel amazing to go to sleep and never wake up. But in saying that. I want to - my kids, my boyfriend, my family, my friends. I have so many reasons to be here, and so many things that make me ‘happy’. I just feel that my anxiety and depression at the moment is robbing me of my joy. It’s taking the good out of my life and my feelings. I just want what I'm dealing with at the moment to stop. In a way being told by one of my psychologists that she feels things are related to stress makes me feel good. Means that hopefully if I can manage the stress and how I relate to it, deal with it etc. Then I might be able to get on top of all of this. Because it's all encompassing. I don't feel like a person. I just feel like I'm existing. Not even existing. Just there. I feel like positive emotions are out of reach. And when I do get them on the rare occasion, I feel too exhausted and frazzled to enjoy them. Think I do really need to sort out a bit of a bare minimum. Most of my 'self care' has been using food to work through my feelings. Even now. Chocolate plays a big part. Helps to numb. Numb is almost positive, because it’s not so negative. I just feel like I'm in a ditch. In a pool that I can't get out of. It's exhausting to stay down here. My head doesn't seem to know what to do anymore. Especially being so sleep deprived. I find it so frustrating in a way. I’m usually a high achiever. Yet at the moment, sometimes having a shower is too much. I still try and put on that happy face at work so that I can get through the day. But even that’s starting to crack.

Guest_032 Plan for down days
  • replies: 10

Hi Just seeing if anyone has worked on a plan for the days where things aren’t going so well. Thinking along the lines of things that I need to try and do. Things that if I push myself to do I know I’ll feel better for. Also a list of things that I c... View more

Hi Just seeing if anyone has worked on a plan for the days where things aren’t going so well. Thinking along the lines of things that I need to try and do. Things that if I push myself to do I know I’ll feel better for. Also a list of things that I can do to help, people I can talk to, apps etc. Has anyone done anything like this? Sounds like a good idea, so surely I’m not the only one that has thought of it lol. I just find that on my days where I’m really low, I need a bit of a checklist. Then I don’t actually have to use any brain power to decide what I need to do, and it helps to prevent me from spiralling too far down.

butterfly_123 dellusional disorder
  • replies: 1

has anyone been diagnosed with dellusional disorder or disacciative episodes. how did your recovery go? does it still impact you after medication

has anyone been diagnosed with dellusional disorder or disacciative episodes. how did your recovery go? does it still impact you after medication

Guest_032 Self Care
  • replies: 1

What do you do for self care? I work full time. Mum of 2. Both with special needs. So time is limited. But I also understand that I need to look after myself. Apparently my major depression and anxiety are probably caused from chronic stress.

What do you do for self care? I work full time. Mum of 2. Both with special needs. So time is limited. But I also understand that I need to look after myself. Apparently my major depression and anxiety are probably caused from chronic stress.

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.