Share your achievements, small or big!

[Beltane]

Another nice little topic to chat about 🙂

It's really important to those of us with mental issues to hold on to our achievements and successes, especially the ones over our illnesses. Each and every achievement, no matter how small you might think it is, is so important. We should celebrate and take pride in each achievement- because each one is a step towards recovery.

So in this topic I'd like us to share our successes. You can post as often as you like, every time you have an achievement or success you'd like to share (even if you think "but it wasn't that big a deal"). Yes it IS a big deal! Fighting an illness is hard work, so lets celebrate all our achievements!

When i first fought my anxiety, my very very first challenge was to drive to the local shops. And I achieved it, and boy did I celebrate. Might not sound like much to someone else, but to me it was like climbing Mount Everest while wearing shorts and thongs (i imagine). So you better believe I went home and danced around my house celebrating my success!

My most recent achievement I am celebrating is: I attended my first job interview in 3 years that i did NOT take any anti-anxiety medication whatsoever for. Every other interview in the last 3 years i've needed strong anti-anxiety medication. But after much therapy and hard work, i learned more and more coping skills. I was nervous about not taking the medication as I was so used to doing it, but not only did i get through the interview but i did it calmly and kept my anxiety well under control. I'm pretty proud of myself!

(Also I got the job- yay- but unfortunately i cant accept it due to other reasons. But I'm still celebrating being offered a job!!!)

So lets hear it! Whats a recent achievement, positive step or success you made? Take pride in it and celebrate it!!

[Doolhof]

Hi Dottie,

Goodness me that is some achievement being able to survive on such a small amount of money.

Uni must be really tough for a lot of students! Thinking of you and hoping you can keep up with everything!

It must be quite an achievement at times to keep your head above water.

[Doolhof]

My achievement today is going to be my ability to stay in a calm and accepting mood.

Yesterday an IT friend changed over some components in our computer. My husband and this guy assured me all of my information would be secure.

Apparently not! A huge glitch happened and all my files, e-mail, photos, documents, absolutely everything has vanished! The worked on the computer for almost 8 hours and couldn't retrieve my stuff.

My husband had secured most of his stuff, but even some of that has been wiped.

I don't understand computers...even less so now.

So I now need to have the attitude that I will start again with a clean slate with everything on the computer.

I will ensure all future photos go onto discs.

Thankfully I have left my current Independent Contractor job so hopefully won't need my business files that have disappeared!

At least I cans till contact all of you lovely people here at Beyond Blue on the lap top while the computer is hopefully being fixed.

Cheers all from Mrs. Dools

[Just Sara]

Wow! Quiettall you've impressed me!

What a wonderfully compassionate and versatile person you are. Thankyou for sharing this experience. I'm wondering if you'd like to create a new thread in 'Staying Well' relating to your experiences, and give others an opportunity to share theirs. It might also give encouragement to those who might like to 'give' to their international communities and don't know where to start.

Dottie - so amazing, you're doing it! Sacrifice for the long term benefits pays big time! When I was 17 I lived on $12 a week after rent etc with the help of my family. It taught me independence, budgeting and life skills I still use to date. Keep up the good work!

Mrs D..I bet you have Windows 10! What a dud! Like you, I booted up my computer and nothing...everything was gone. (panic attack!) My app's, doc's, photo's and defaults. I still had my operating system and access to the web, so I researched similar stories...there's plenty out there I can tell you. I ended up on the Microsoft Trouble Shooting site and found the process to get everything back - thank goodness! All it took was finding a msg from Microsoft left on my PC for me, and rebooting. When I got back on, all was returned to normal. I now backup everything regularly.

My achievement for the day? Last night I asked for help from the Rape Crisis Line and was given absolutely amazing support. I was courageous and resourceful. Kudos to me..yay!!

Love...Dizzy xoxo

[Music_Freak]

My achievement is not crying and/or being overly upset about losing a friend.

I'm just kind of letting everything go. I still don't think I'll ever have any friends...I think if it hasn't happened by 36, it likely won't

[Doolhof]

Hi Music Freak,

Here's sending you a huge hug!

Cheers to you from Mrs. Dools

[Guest_322]

Hi everyone,

Quiettall, wow, thank you for giving so much of yourself to worthy causes. It's an incredible achievement and I appreciate all the info that you've shared 😊

Mrs. Dools, that's extremely stressful. Well done for staying calm and collected. Maybe you'll benefit from some of Dizzy's advice in her post. Either way, I hope it's fixed.

Thank you so much for your encouraging words! Yes, it was a struggle but I'm proud of myself for getting by with $20 to spend last week (thankfully, this week is a lot better).

Dizzy, that's an AMAZING achievement (fully deserving of caps lock)! I can't even imagine how nerve racking it must have been to pick up the phone. I'm so glad an understanding person was on the other end of the line.

You were very courageous indeed!!!

Thank you for the wonderful support that you always give me 😊 Wow, $17 wasn't much at all. Must have been tough. But it's true that we learn a lot about independence from being so broke; it's character building ha, ha.

Music_Freak, the friend situation sounds rough but kudos to you for keeping your composure. I'll give you another virtual hug.

Dottie x

[Quiettall]

Hi one and all

Although I have done some great things, and feel inspired by the others' stories of achievements, I still feel hungry to do more. Perhaps being retired and having so much time on my hands, perhaps the uplifting experience of doing the overseas aid work, or just that I still have energy and intellect but dont seem to have things to use it on, I've taken to gardening, doing odd jobs to improve the house, studying the travel industry to put together the cheapest and best one month trip I can for my wife and myself in the USA in November. We achieved $750 return tickets to LA and so have a month to fill in. It is fascinating to set goals to challenge yourself like this. It is fun, frustrating but satisfying when you achieve things, no matter how small.

Cheers

Peter

[Just Sara]

In the past few days I've had many ups and downs. But yesterday I was productive and exhausted; it was great to feel bad if you know what I mean. I got so much done I even forgot to eat. How wonderful it is to do hard work to treat a weary mind!

Although it was to help out a group I've joined, the benefits of 'doing' for others is very gratifying as well as personally nice. As soon as the weather decides to join us with seasonally appropriate sunshine, I'll be in my own back yard and house producing similar affects..can't wait!

Hi Peter;

Could you explain your 'hunger' a bit more? You've done so much, so well..it begs asking, when will your life be 'enough'? There's a lot to be gained from a quiet peace. Are you uncomfortable with that? I'm not trying to be judgemental or say you do too much, I'm just wondering what's behind the urge to up the anti.

Personally, recovery for me requires stillness; recharge and relaxation. Too much activity plays havoc with my mind. Understanding what makes you tick is just my curious mind trying to know others better.

Respect and warm thoughts...Dizzy xo

[Quiettall]

Hi Dizzy

My "hunger" comes from doing things that are meaningful. I have had a full life, love my health and am generally happy but feel that while I have the brains and energy, I want to do more for those less fortunate than myself.

On the home front, I am also learning to do different handyman type things and having fun learning to grow plants from seeds, seedlings and learning what to plant where. I love picking flowers, vegetables and fruit that I have grown.....sounds a bit trite but every achievement is worth celebrating.

Cheers

Peter

[SDW]

Hello, this is a great topic to share our achievements. I had to defer my online course for two months because I was overwhelmed and going through relationship breakup and now I am back on track, start placement again next week and organised myself last night to get my head around it all. I submitted a few assignments I was able to work on whilst deferred. Nervously waiting for the results now!!!

And yes to getting out of bed, that was my first achievement for today as well. Massive emotional hang over from yesterday but I got out.