Were your expectations about becoming a 'grown up' accurate? Not entirely, I thought looking for work, going to uni and being an independent human being would be tons of fun. Now that I am at that stage in my life, I wish I could tell mini-me how stressful it can be But that's okay, I still love and feel privileged to have the freedoms and opportunities I have right now! ... View more

@WheresMySquishy yeah, I wish there was more emphasis put on these issues, and maybe just a little bit less on things like studying Shakespeare  I especially agree with the Centrelink system, I never heard about it during school, and it's a challenge to work with. And I'm sorry you had to go through that. The medical system should be a lot more catering to the needs of the population, and doctors should not be dismissive of their patients at all  ... View more

What's something you wish they taught you about 'adult life' in school? Is there something you wished people would talk more about when it comes to being an 'adult'? I wish school taught us more about the difficulties of finding jobs! I remember my high school had a person come over and they taught us effective interviewing techniques - basically the skills needed during an interview. It was handy, although I feel like the person could've touched on how to gain experience for the job you want. It's very difficult to gain many jobs since they require that you have experience, however you can only gain experience at work or through volunteering. This was something I discovered on my own, and I really wish I learnt this sooner because I definitely would've volunteered during high school to get that experience.   ... View more

What are common challenges adults come across and how do you deal with it? Do you have any tips for managing life stressors that come with growing up? Adult life has quite a few challenges...work, studying, relationships, just to name a few. Therapists and psychologists are always available for you if you need help handling the difficult situations that come with growing up. Additionally, try to practise some self-care and prioritise your wellbeing. Some forms of self-care could be going for a walk outside or reaching out to people you trust, among various other things! ... View more

Driving for sure! I'm able to go to the shops whenever I feel like it, and I can drive other people around and drop them off at places. I'm not too sure why driving is so much fun, probably because of the independence I feel when I drive. Also, as an adult my parents have been a lot more relaxed with what I do, so I can pretty much go out whenever I want to and can do more things. When I was younger, my parents didn't let me go on sleepovers, but I had a sleepover with my school last year, so I think that restriction has gone away! ... View more

@WheresMySquishy omg that sounds so scary, glad to hear you had some form of support during that time! And haha I don't have the best sense of direction either, especially since my map reading skills are ... questionable  ... View more

@ecla34 hi I'm doing fine thanks! Hope you're doing good as well  And yee its my boi Edward!!! Love him, but it's been many years since I watched the show (I'm probably due for a rewatch hehe). I assume you're a full metal alchemist fan as well, nice to meet a fellow fan ... View more

@Saltwaterdreamtime argh same here! Whenever I have to make a phone call and I hear the person I'm talking to speak, my stomach drops  I much prefer emails hehe ... View more

Whoopsies sorry I'm a little bit late to the chat! I think the most daunting thing about adult life is how independent you have to be at times. Growing up, I eagerly anticipated the freedom of being an independent adult, and to some extent I love the independence I have nowadays. However, it can also be scary having to handle situations and encounter things on your own, such as paying taxes and buying your own home. This is especially since schools tend to focus on teaching very theoretical work, rather than preparing students practically and teaching them how to handle adult life. Also, because you become busier with things such as uni work, I feel as though people tend to spend more time away from loved ones as an adult. As someone who gets nervous very easily, not always having my family or friends to be beside me when I need help can be troubling.  ... View more

Hey @Tiny_leaf I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through these things. Health issues are confronting, and it's saddening to hear that the doctors haven't been meeting your needs. Doctors should be willing to address your health concerns and should not be dismissing them    The ReachOut community is here for you if you need to talk some more, or need some support. In regards to advice, have you tried indulging yourself in some self-care? You wouldn't need to do anything too laborious, you could try listening to some music, writing your thoughts in a journal or relaxing in a nice, hot bath, amongst other things.  ... View more

Hey @Pyrotechnic I'm sorry you're going through that. I'm also someone who has a lot of trouble making friends, so I can understand what you're experiencing. Could you reach out to the school councillor about your concerns? They would keep everything you say to them confidential, and they would provide you a safe space to talk. Since my social anxiety makes it difficult for me to make friends, my psychologist also gave me a tip on how to talk to people - if they ask you a question, ask them that question back. That way, they can kinda initiate the conversation, and you can just listen    And hey, I also went to a selective high school after attending a primary school with no academic pressure, so ik the transition can be tough to go through. Again, your school councillor will be there for you if you're feeling overwhelmed by your studies, if you feel like you need to reach out to someone about it. ... View more

@Bubbles99 i can't imagine how great it must feel to have three cats being affectionate with you  I'm so jealous, my dream is to one day own more than one cat! ... View more

Hey @angel_blue thanks for sharing this with us. I really related to this post since I also battle feelings of loneliness, which I want to fight off but struggle to do so since I have social anxiety.  COVID has definitely exacerbated this feeling, which I think is a common experience for everyone due to quarantine. I really admire your desire to initiate more discussions about loneliness, I think its an important topic to talk about and will help us to connect with one another more.    If you feel like you need to reach out to a professional, please do not feel ashamed in doing so. Another tip to deal with loneliness could be to write your feelings down, I find it really helps to change how I think about certain issues! ... View more

My pet cat always makes me happy, but last night I came out of the bathroom, and as soon as I walked near her she ran to me! I was so surprised, she doesn't usually show this much enthusiasm and it was so random as well    And great thread idea @Bubbles99! This isn't the most exciting event to ever happen, but it made me very happy hehe ... View more

Hey @StarGirl101 amazing thread idea! As someone who struggles with self-worth, a little gratitude could really remind me of the wonderful things about life. The three things I'm grateful for are: 1. My amazing and supportive family who have been helping me with my mental health during quarantine 2. Doing the uni course I've wanted to do since early high school, at the uni I wanted to study at 3. My cat, who sleeps with me constantly and is the light of my life  ... View more

Hi @dragon3 I'm so sorry that you're going through that. As someone who also likes to draw, I understand the struggle of not producing satisfactory artworks. Sometimes, when I draw something I'm not happy with, I move on and draw something really simple, like an eye or a face rather than drawing the whole body. Or, I'll begin writing random words or drawing scribbles. This simplified, random and purposeless doodling distracts me from actively trying to create something I would be happy with. This helps me to do drawing just for relaxation, perhaps you could try this out!   You also mentioned that you couldn't talk to your teachers about it. Could you reach out to the school councillor? They would probably let the teachers know about it as well, so they may be able to help you better during class time.  ... View more

Hey @DisneyFan22 I'm so sorry your going through that, your boundaries deserve to be respected and you are worthy of everything. The ReachOut community is here for you if you need to talk, or need support    @Maddy-RO already mentioned that professional support could be useful for helping you deal with your anxiety and depression, which I definitely agree with. Councillors are trained to listen to your concerns without judgement and will keep your information confidential, so I think it could help to discuss your problems with them. ... View more

Oh boy, I'm not the best when it comes to dealing with disappointing marks  It's good to indulge yourself in some self-care and step away from the assignment, to start off with. I think it's also important to consider the fact that academic success is something we can work on, rather than something that cannot be improved on. This is related to the idea of a growth mindset, where intelligence is not fixed and can be worked on through hard work. Finally, reach out to others if you need help with understanding the assignment, or if you just want to talk. These are just the tips I wanted to share, everyone else has already made some great suggestions! ... View more

Great thread idea @ecla34 and thanks for tagging me @WheresMySquishy    As a recent high school graduate, the stress of studying is still fresh in my mind. I think the first tip to deal with stress is to do some acts of self-care and take breaks from your work. I remember during the HSC, I would allow myself to eat some tasty treats and played tennis every week.   Another tip is to find the right studying habit for you. I think this is a bit trickier, since I've seen a lot of posts where people explain how they study for exams. However, study habits are not a 'one-size-fits-all' scenario, so you should find one that suits you. I, for example, find it helpful to listen to music when I'm writing down notes, but not when doing more intensive revision since it can be a bit distracting. Some people are able to write concise and short notes, but I prefer writing more detailed notes since I'm a very visual learner.   Finally, talk to family, friends and other trusted people if you have any concerns or questions about exams (the school councillor, year advisors or teacher, for example). Connecting with others is itself a form of self-care, especially during this stressful period!   I know that the upcoming exam period can be daunting, particularly under the current circumstances. I wish everyone the best of luck for their tests, you're more than welcome to reach out (hehe) to us on this site if you need to  ... View more

Tomato!   ... View more

Water lol ... View more

Another day passed, another day conquered. ... View more

Hi @Abderian, great thread idea! And for me personally, walking outside, exercising and talking to other people helps me with my mental health  ... View more

Hi @Hozzles, it rly sucks that your mum isn't treating you very well, and that you're not getting the support you need. People shouldn't be treating you like you're a burden. I hope writing this post was cathartic for you  ... View more

Hi @Hozzles the post seems fine to me, everything makes sense Anyway, I'm so sorry you're going through that! Health issues are confronting, especially when you don't know what exactly is going on. Thanks for entrusting us with this information, we're here for you if you need support.   I noticed that the doctor is waiting on conducting further tests, have you spoken to them about your concerns with the last scan? Or perhaps you could discuss this with someone you trust, like close friends? I think the doctor should be providing clarification on why they haven't conducted another MRI scan that is more suitable for your current condition, as a patient you have the right to know exactly what is going on.   I also saw that you're worried about uni, have you been able to talk with a tutor or academic staff about it, or someone you trust? I hope your uni will be able to accommodate for your needs and help you out.   I'm glad to see you're doing well mentally, especially considering your circumstances. Your new volunteering role sounds so cool and valuable - it's so important that we raise awareness about mental health in the community. And I'm jealous of your lazy day out on the hammock, sounds super relaxing!    ... View more

Hey @Agenderandproudofit I'm sorry you're feeling this way, we're here for you if you need to talk to anyone. I think the others have already made lots of great suggestions on how to make your birthday a memorable occasion, and last but certainly not least - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!  ... View more

Crash ... View more

5 ways to illuminate something: Torch Lamp  Using the light from your phone  Matches  Fireworks   5 ways to draw a circle ~ ... View more

If you're struggling w self-acceptance, here are a few things you could do: Reach out for help - talk to a trusted friend, family member, doctor or counsellor/therapist Self-care! Take a nice long bath, eat some treats, go outside under the sun; these are just a few things you can do to help your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing Keep a journal of your strengths - write down hardships you've overcome, goals you've accomplished and attributes about yourself that you like Surround yourself with people who will support you for who you are, and will help you out It's been lovely participating in my first GR tonight, I had so much fun listening to everyone's discussions! Hopefully people will find these tips helpful, and hope you all have a great night  ... View more

@WheresMySquishy I'm sorry you had to go through that! I think for self-acceptance to be promoted, society as a whole needs to advocate for a variety of looks rather than fixating on one 'ideal' image, which is so prevalent on social media and media outlets. ... View more