Hi, welcome
Here at Beyondblue forums we are members and community champions the latter we use lived experience from our lives with mental health issues. So I'm glad you've arrived here and asked a very good question.
One of the most practical things you can do with many mental health illnesses is to distract yourself. To do that the best way is to fill your hours up every day with activities.
There is a saying "A rolling stone gather no moss", meaning its always rolling but if it stops then moss can grow on it. Us humans fall into a trap when-
- We dont have a passion (a passion is when you are obsessed with a hobby)
- Dont have a hobby or interest like sport
- Cannot distract yourself
- Subconsciously want to be sad due to some underlining illness like dysthymia (which I have along with bipolar
- Dont take medications because one hasnt been diagnosed with an illness or is defiant for some reason Some people go through life without being an expert on anything, sort of a jack of all trades master of none. That can cause you to feel unfulfilled and you lose self esteem. So have you got a profession? go to school? feel you are very good at anything?
To care for yourself is to take the mature step of accepting that you need doctors and specialists to get through life or a period in your life. Self harm is an action that need professional care, care that we likely wont be able to fulfill you with fully. I've made use of my GP doctor many many times and sought professional help when needed and that has got me to where I am today, confident and secure. I have self harmed once many years ago but not since.
Here is a post you can read about distraction. I hope you feel better, reply anytime
https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/depression-distraction-and-variety/td-p/275790
TonyWK
