Hi @ZeodaOriginal ,    It sounds super distressing to have those fears about spiders, especially if it's affecting your sleep. I'm wondering if you've ever chatted to a doctor or a mental health professional about these feelings? I'm hearing that you're staring to have a lot of thoughts and worries about spiders especially before you go to sleep, that sounds like it would be really frustrating :(    It's definitely pretty common to have a fear of spiders, but if it's interfering with your sleep and you're finding it distressing, or you there's definitely professionals who can help you reduce those intrusive thoughts- do you think you'd feel comfortable chatting to a GP or a counsellor?      ... View more

Hi @ayrc_1904 ,    I'm so sorry, I only just saw your post now and wanted to say how sorry I am to hear about your grandfather's passing. It sounds like his last few days were really beautiful, I'm glad that he was able to enjoy some of his favourite experiences and spend time with your family. It's always so hard to say goodbye though, I have been through it with two of my grandparents over the last few years, and even when it's somewhat expected  it is still a huge shock processing that loss. I hope that you and your family are doing ok.    @StormySeas17  your thesis sounds so interesting!! I hope that the year goes smoothly for you- I definitely had a love-hate relationship with stats (and SPSS!) at uni. Your supervisor sounds really lovely too :)  ... View more

Hey @Tiny_leaf , I'm sorry to hear that things aren't great at the moment... do you feel like chatting through what's been happening ?  ... View more

Hey @chicanery ,    You've been given some great advice here, I just wanted to check in and see how you are feeling today?    I also wanted to echo what @StormySeas17  said, I'm hearing that you have quite a bit of self blame about what happened - it's really common to freeze up and find it hard to react when something unexpected like this happens, it's often something we don't have a lot of control over, and it absolutely doesn't mean that anything is your fault     I also just wanted to check, how old are you?  ... View more

Hey @Lost_Space_Explorer5 , that meme literally made me laugh out loud, thank you!!    A picnic sounds super lovely, I'm sorry to hear that your pain's still been bad though :( Chronic pain can be exhausting. Are you up to anything nice today?  ... View more

@Saltwaterdreamtime  you have been a massive part of this community, thanks for choosing to share part of your journey with us. The meme threads will live on I am sure!!! You've been so honest and generous in sharing your story and supporting other people, you've made a huge impact on so many people here.      So happy for you, your partner and your little family - you're an absolute legend and we are all going to miss you.  ... View more

Hey @MB95 , so much great advice on this thread already!    I'll be honest and say my first time around as a uni student straight out of high school was an excellent lesson in what not to do - I was a weird combination of a disorganised (and procrastinating) perfectionist - I would often end up spending hours and hours researching papers and assignments and be paralysed by anxiety and the fear of failure, and end up writing things at 2am. I didn't ask anyone for help, thought that everyone else had their shit together except for me, and tried to deal with everything on my own.  Do not recommend this approach!!    Things that helped me (especially when I went back to uni with a small kid in tow!) were being really pragmatic about time management and learning what working environments worked best for me- I tend to study better at the library or away from distractions at home, and I often find my 'flow' in the afternoon.  I definitely had to learn that sometimes things just have to be done rather than perfect! I also found having visible reminders of deadlines was super helpful - I got one of those giant wall planners which I used to map out deadlines etc, as well as using a diary/ phone, I also blocked out time for exercise, family time, doing nothing time.    The last big one for me was a huge dose of self-compassion - remembering to be gentle with myself, and accepting that often uni can feel like a totally stressful shitfight of an experience for everyone, and it's OK to have bad days! I ended up dropping down to a part time study load for a few semesters when family and life responsibilities all became a bit too much to juggle, unis are often much more supportive and understanding than you think they'll be with these things. Sending everyone massive good luck at uni vibes! It can be painful but it was definitely worth it.      ... View more

Hey @AngelJoy ,    Yep, some GP clinics bulk bill everyone, and some will often bulk bill young people under 16. Bulk billing means that Medicare pays for your whole appointment, so you don't need to pay a bill to see a GP - you just need a Medicare card.    There's not a limit for how many times you can see a GP and be bulk billed :)    A GP can also help you do a mental health care plan to see a psychologist - those sessions are limited.    This article explains some more details about Medicare works and how to get your own card (for young people who are 15 or over). The steps for getting your card are pretty simple - you'll need either your birth certificate, passport or a driver's licence as ID, then it's 3 steps:    1.  Fill out this form. 2. Bring it in to a Centrelink service centre, along with ID (your birth certificate, driver’s licence or learner’s permit, or passport). 3. Wait for Centrelink to mail you your card.   This page also has links to the forms so you can do it by mail if needed.    I hope this helps a bit! If your sister is interested in having her own card, do you think that's something you could do together?  ... View more

Hi @AngelJoy , it's definitely not about getting anyone in trouble, we do just want to make sure that you can access the help and support you deserve   I think I might have mentioned this before, but thought this info may be helpful for other people in the community as well - once you're 15 and over, you're able to get your own medicare card and can see a doctor by yourself if that's something you'd ever like to try . This article also has some super practical tips on how to get help for mental health.    Sometimes it can feel weird asking for help, especially if it's not something that you really talk about in your family, but it really shows so much strength and courage.  ... View more

Hey @Lost_Space_Explorer5 , it's good to hear from you :) How are you feeling today?  ... View more

Hi @AngelJoy , that sounds like it might feel pretty isolating- I'm glad that you've been able to make some great connections with people online though. You sound like a really caring and generous friend     It can be scary when we have physical pain and we're not quite sure what it means, @Sophia-RO  mentioned asking your parents if you  can see a GP - is that something you'd feel comfortable doing? It sounds like it would be really tough to feel like you can't talk to anyone about what's happening for you - we're really happy that you've found the forums, there's always people here who are here to listen. ... View more

SO frustrating - I have been there several times. It's the worst feeling! This has saved me a few times, if you were running word you might be able to use Autorecover?  It's a bit wordy, but the site gives a good step by step on how you can sometimes recover files after your computer has crashed :) Congrats on being able to go back to work - and as awesome as blanket forts are I'm sure it will be nice to reclaim your space :)  ... View more

The computer gods can be cruel @Saltwaterdreamtime !!!  So sorry to hear that -could not be happier for you all to hear that lockdown is over though.  ... View more

@ayrc_1904  hahaha I love the idea of randomly bursting into song on public transport, you're so right! There's something a bit bizarre about so many humans in the same place , barely interacting because we're so buried in our phones.     It reminded me of this video- a carriage of people singing somewhere over the rainbow together on a cold monday morning. so pure and lovely!      I love pretty much all music! I studied and played classical music originally (violin and classical saxophone), love some indie pop too, folk, disco, lots of other artists I wouldn't know how to classify really! Live music especially brings me so much joy, some of my best memories are seeing artists I love ... View more

@Saltwaterdreamtime  yessss how good is Aldi?? The centre aisle just calls to me every time lol   ... View more

You're smashing it @Saltwaterdreamtime ! There's nothing quite like the beach at dawn, hey.    And another very important question - what cereal did you try? These things matter!  ... View more

Hey @Eden1717 , just wanted to check in  and see how you're doing ? It sucks that your usual distractions haven't been working so well, have you been able to spend some time with your friends since you've moved?    The eating stuff does sound really tricky - I know you've mentioned cooking before, do you have a kitchen where you are or do you eat on campus? Are there any easy foods you can prep that feel safe for you? Hope things are feeling a bit calmer for you today.  ... View more

Hey @Havoc , I'm sorry to hear that things haven't been stabilising for you, it sounds like you've been working really hard on trying different treatments and approaches which is amazing. It can be so frustrating when you just want someone to listen but you get unhelpful advice instead- I think there's a lot of people here that could really relate to that. Have you chatted about ECT with any of your treating professionals? It can definitely be a great option for some people. We're always here to listen ... View more

Hey @roadtonowhere, I just thought I'd check in and see how you are feeling today?    There's been heaps of great support and advice here, as a few people have mentioned, Headspace or a school or uni counsellor can be a great place to start if you want to chat with a professional, as we're not able to diagnose anyone based on what they say here :) I also just wanted to link you to these resources that explain how you can get a mental healthcare plan from your GP - basically, this can let you get medicare subsidised sessions with a private psychologist (some will even bulk bill for students, so you're not out of pocked at all) - your GP can explain the process to you, and may also have some recommendations for good psychologists in your area :)  Getting a mental healthcare plan   You mentioned that you don't think your parents would understand or support you if you decided to get professional help so you need to figure things out yourself- that sounds really hard, and I want you to know that this is a really safe space to chat about what's happening for you, and hear what may have worked for other people. I know that I had a time in my life where those everyday things like showering/ brushing my teeth felt really impossible on some days, so you're definitely  not alone there. Talking to a professional was really helpful, and simple things like making sure I get exercise most days also helped a lot. Things can feel so hard when you're in that dark space and I'm really glad that you were able to reach out here :)      ... View more

Ahahah @Saltwaterdreamtime  that old man story actually made me laugh out now, I can vv much relate to wanting to disappear into the floor when a 3 year old yells ( my daughter used to have a lot of difficulty pronouncing the word "fork". Sounded a lot like another "f" word. So I was the person with the very loud toddler proclaiming "I need a F**K! That lady has a f**k! I dropped my f**K".... ahhh, good times.    A semi permanent blanket fort loungeroom sounds like a preschooler's dream - and it sounds like despite the crappy circumstances, he'll have some really nice memories of this time ... View more

I am SO excited for this one - such an incredibly important conversation to have ... View more

Ah I'm sorry to hear that the public mental health system doesn't have a great reputation where you are now @Eden1717. I'm glad that you'll be able to meet up with some friends, it must be nice to be able to study on campus again :)    Sorry to hear that things have been intense for you, we're here anytime you want to chat about what's been happening if it helps. ... View more

@ayrc_1904  I just have to say how much I love this thread! Such a lovely reminder to remember the things that make our hearts sing   - I love how smells can transport me back through time - I have some gardenias in pots that are finally flowering, and the smell takes me right back to visiting my Nanna's house as a kid and all of the amazing memories we had with her -  I love seeing new things and exploring new places, I've been spending some time planning some trips for later in the year, and even if they may not happen when I hope, it's filling me with excitement thinking about all of the things I'd love to see - I love reading a new book that takes me to a totally different place - I love randomly chatting to people at bus stops /in cafes - I love spending time in the garden, getting my hands dirty and eating food that we have grown. It also fills me with so much appreciation for our farmers when I see how long it takes us to grow a handful of carrots lol - I love hearing a piece of music that I loved years ago and still remembering every mood and I how I felt back then ... View more

Hey @Eden1717 , just wanted to check in and see how your move went, will you be living on campus? How are you settling in?    I also just wanted to say I really admire how clearly and respectfully you've communicated here about how you felt over the weekend. It's very true that women in particular can be socialised to feel like we have to avoid  conflict to our own detriment, and I think you communicated your feelings so well here.  ... View more

Hey @Saltwaterdreamtime , just wanted to quickly jump in and say thank you for writing this. I can hear that you've been reflecting on stuff a lot, and it can take a lot to reflect on our own actions and how they may have hurt others. I really admire and appreciate how you've reflected on what happened.    I think your last point is a really valid one. The only thing I would suggest, though, is if someone is needing time to process things and reflect before they apologise, it might also be a good idea to step away from interacting with the people involved until they're ready.. does that make sense?      ... View more

It is absolutely shit @Saltwaterdreamtime , I have family in regional Victoria as well as Melbourne and it has been such a rollercoaster.  It does sound like they're doing a good job at contact tracing etc so I'm crossing everything for you guys that it can be lifted as planned.    Do you still have your cubby up? I loved reading about your whole room cubby situation - some of my best ever memories as a kid were when we did the same thing, would watching movies in the cubby be a decent distraction for you all?  ... View more

Hey @xXLexi_Lou122Xx ,   I'm just catching up on your posts, I'm so sorry to hear that it was such a hard week. Having an ambulance called from your swimming carnival sounds like it would have been pretty scary, how are you feeling now? I think what @Lost_Space_Explorer5  has said is so true, and so powerful - shame can be  such a powerful and overwhelming emotion. I've also experienced some chronic health issues in my life, and I will be honest and say that being compassionate to, and grateful for, my body and what it can do is still something I'm working on.    And I love what @Lost_Space_Explorer5  said so much that I'm going to quote it!!    @Lost_Space_Explorer5 wrote:  Shame is a powerful and destructive thing, and you do not deserve it. You don't deserve to be ashamed of how you look or that you're sick either. All bodies are beautiful and it's what's inside that counts the most YES!!!    I'm really sorry to hear that you hurt yourself, how are you feeling today?     I noticed that you mentioned that you'd been struggling a bit with eating, that can be really hard, especially when you have other health stuff going on as well. If you'd ever like to chat to someone about those feelings, The Butterfly Foundation are really fantastic, they specialise in all types of disordered eating and are super compassionate , non judgmental and knowledgeable   They have a national helpline on 1800 33 4673 and online chat as well. I know helplines aren't for everyone but just thought I would mention them :)    ... View more

Hey @Saltwaterdreamtime , this kind of uncertainty must be so hard to live with, I hope there's some certainty soon about when the lockdown will end - crossing everything that it works as a circuit breaker as intended.  It sounds like case numbers are low today, so hopefully things will be lifted for you as planned this week. It sounds like you were able to have some nice family time over the weekend , what do you have planned for today?  ... View more

Hey @justkeepswimming ,    So glad to hear that you were able to talk through those feelings with your counsellor and that it felt good to be able to talk through what was happening for you. I know it's really hard to have those conversations, good on you for having the courage to take that step   ... View more

Hi @Eden1717 , I'm so deeply sorry to hear about your experiences with those doctors. You deserve to be believed and supported, and I am so sorry to hear that you've been left feeling like there is no space for you in that system. You mentioned that there's a bit part of you that wants to do what the voices are wanting you to do, do you mind if I ask what that looks like for you? Also just to let you know, I will be sending you an email a little later on so keep an eye out for that.  ... View more