Hi @lc_5704   Memories are great to have. The good and the bad. Obviously we like to have more good memories than the bad. At the end of the day these are just memories. I'm sure a lot of people in the forums go over our own memories wish we did things differently and wonder how things would have turned out. But we can't live in the past. Like you said, your friend moved on to better things and so should you. Keep the good memories of your friend, and makes new memories with new friends. Don't be stuck in the past and get left behind.  ... View more

Hi @Jaredlange1   It's very nice of you to be caring for your friend in times of need. Sometimes people just might not want to speak about things and we can't force them to. All we can do is to offer our support and if they want to talk then they will reach out to you. If you keep on pushing she might respond however the more likely result is that she will withdraw even further. Let her know that you're there for her and check up on with a simple how are you every couple of days.  ... View more

Hi @Taffu   Relationships are great, until you have to break up with the other person ha. You develop a strong bond with another person and connect both on a spiritual and physical level. Someone that just completely understands you. It's great fun. Of course, like I said there a break up. Most younger relationships tend to end up in heartbreak. The 'high school sweet heart' rarely happens, only in movies are those a common occurrence. Most people develop love relationships from university, work or a friend of a friend.    Try not to feel like a loser. Being in a relationship does not define who you are and what you are worth. Many are in and stay in abusive relationships just because they don't want to be alone. Try to think of being single one experience and being in a relationship another experience. Right now you're just experience one part and soon you'll be able to experience another.  ... View more

Hey @dragon3   Things sound really hard for you, those negative thoughts are eating you alive. Try not to feel stupid because all your thoughts are valid. You know right from wrong but something our urges get the better of us and we can't help that. Try not to be so hard on yourself.    I'm sorry about that loss and your situation. Life is very unfair but we have to make the best of it. Stick it to the man. Can't let this thing called 'life' beat us, can we now? ... View more

Hi @dragon3   Love is complicated, everyone will tell you that. I don't think there's such a thing as 'love at first sight', that's just lust. I mean how can you possibly love someone you have no idea about? Just because they are super attractive you fall in love?    What I'm going to tell you, you have already said. One day it's going to come down to this. The fear being in love or the fear of being alone. Which would you rather prefer? The feelings you get when you fall in love or when falling in love are what makes love exciting and an experience nothing else can replicate however it does sound like it's a bit too overwhelming for you. Next time, go with the flow. I know you're over thinking a lot of this and probably can't help that but try to empty out those thoughts. And take things slow, maybe that will also help with the emotion overload that you experience. ... View more

Hi @TaeTae   Relationships are hard, there's always risks to going in a relationship. Like if you break up, your previous friendship with them might be lost etc. The fact that you're doubting your potential romantic relationship with said person already is not a good sign. I guess you already have an idea of what you really want (being single during Christmas) so might as well stick to what your heart tells you.    A simple 'I'm not ready for a relationship' should be a good enough reason and if your friend is mature enough then everything should turn out A-Okay. I think deep down you already know what you want to do, maybe just looking for some confirmation?  ... View more

Hi   @Mstar123   Sucks to hear that. I bet it must be hard with something being so essential to your daily work being taken away.    Sometimes the best option isn't to get out of the funk as soon as possible. I'm not saying you should stay in the dark place but it is a time where you can reflect. In time you'll slowly but automatically get out of the funk after you have gotten use to the new routine.   It sounds like you have a plan in regards to what you will do without your car which is great to see. Other than that, pretty much the only thing left to do is to learn from your mistakes and try not to do it again in the future.  ... View more

Blackmailing is serious, and maybe illegal though I'm not too sure. It is best to change the habit before you get into trouble.    Why you do you record these conversations? For fun? Or do you intend to hurt them if they ever wrong you?    And how would you feel if they did the same thing to you?  ... View more

Hey @Elle8   I understand that feeling of being surrounding people but feeling still incredibly alone. It must be hard like you said.    I don't know if it's a comfortable thing for you as it is with me. I'm usually surrounded by really nice people however not really what I would call friends because I don't know them that well.   Maybe it's a belonging issue where you don't feel like you belong with the group you're with so you feel isolated. Maybe it's a connection thing where you don't you have a deep connection with the people you're talking to? I'm not sure exactly you're feeling isolate as there could be multiple reasons.    For me anyway, it took awhile for me to feel like I wasn't alone ever when I was with a group of people. As I got more comfortable with them and I was able to express myself more and I felt I was more connected with them.   I hope those feelings go away soon.  ... View more

Hello everybody!   1. Have you heard of Movember before? If yes, have you ever been involved with it?   Yes I have and I love the concept, however I can not grow a mo or any facial hair even if my life depended on it haha. It's my genes, don't have that going for me so I never participated in the event.  ... View more

Hi @BuzzingJuneBug   It depends, distance is already hard enough but if this is just crush or this feeling is not reciprocated by the other party then I think it's best to give it up. It's not worth it in my opinion to pursue low chance love stories but then again it's what fairy-tales/movies are out made of so...   If you want to go ahead and continue, make sure it does not become an unhealthy one way obsession. You see it in a lot of people regarding celebrities these days, it's not good at all.    In terms how to deal with it, it would be the same as any other relationship but instead of saying the stuff you would face to face, you have to text it to the other person. Instead of hanging out, you just can't. That's why people find long distance relationships really hard. The options are honestly really limited in what you can do.  ... View more

Damn, that's more courage than I have that's for sure @TheHamburglar23! But I think it means nothing, some people fidget when they have a conversation, just a habit maybe?    Try having a conversation with her again, this will give a much more indication of whether she wants to continue to talk to you or just leave her to do her own thing.  ... View more

7. Do you think society puts too much pressure on those sitting exams? How can we lessen the pressure?    Oh yes no doubt about it. There's a consensus in society that if you don't go to university, you're failure which is utterly untrue. The fact is that the majority of the population don't actually go to university and the majority live similar lives. Of course if you're going to be some lawyer or doctor you're going to have a much better live in terms of income than a lot of people.    Doing a trade, going to TAFE are great options. Honestly university is overrated. Don't go unless your dream jobs requires it. We can lessen the pressure by acknowledge there are other ways to living a 'successful' life. Changing the stigma of what 'success' is. Terrible example but it has it's merits. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were both college drops out, what does that say about college? (Again, pretty bad example because they are absolute geniuses and we are not ha). ... View more

Hello everyone!   When you were in high school what did you want to do? Or if you still are in high school, what do you want to do?   I knew what I wanted to do in year 10 after years of having no clue. Try to remember that once you find what you want to do, it doesn't mean you that you are stuck or trapped in that occupation. People can change their mind and their careers, mid-way through university, after it, in their 30s or 40s.     3. Did your exam marks affect what you ended up studying? Are you liking what you are currently doing?   Haha, my marks were no where near the course I wanted to get into. Luckily these days there are a number of different ways of getting into the course you want. Transfers, doing graduate course etc. There's a lot of ways to get into your dream course even if you didn't get the marks needed. And don't buy into the university 'prestige' bs. Universities are pretty much the same in terms of education. Obviously different universities are going to have different kinds of people attending but most university students are there to further their career and not waste thousands of dollars a year just to fuck around.      ... View more

That's a wonderful and in-depth reflection @redhead! We are all very proud of you. You have great strength and courage! ... View more

Hi @Irawd   Why do you want to kill yourself that bad? What are the issues you are having? Maybe we can talk about them?   We only get one chance at life, try not to throw it away. ... View more

Hi @Blurryphaced   Recovery/trying to get better is a hard process and it is very draining. We are all very proud of you for trying. Since it is a long process, we all tend to have those periods where we just can't be bothered to do anything and that's okay! We need time to get our energy back so we can keep going. Obviously during this period we can't just go back to our old ways, but we can take a step back, relax a bit and not be so hard on ourselves if we didn't do certain things and did the best for our mental health.    It's okay, you do deserve being better. All in time. Please call a hotline or post here if you're feeling worse. Remember that there's nothing wrong with these periods where you don't feel like doing anything. ... View more

How can we take care of our mental health?   I think the best way to take care of our mental health is to be proactive about it. Don't let it get out of control because at that point it is really hard to get into the right mind set.    Have daily routines, ways to relax, unwind and release your emotions. It not always easy to do but it will reduce the negative impact when your mental health gets a bit too much. Remember the early signs of a relapse, everyone notice different things about themselves. Once you notice signs, be extra careful with yourself. ... View more

My mental health has been okay. Nothing too challenging. Life has been boring so no real dramas or major issues to deal with. Once you get into that routine, everything does slow down. However sometimes it does to get too boring and I find myself lacking the energy or wanting to do things but that might just be me being lazy.    Do you know the difference between mental health and mental illness? How are they connected?   Well in simple terms I guess mental health is the overall health of our minds. What we think about, how often, etc. And mental illness the additional negative thoughts that we get when we are trying to think normally.    If you are struggling with your mental health who could you talk to it about?   My best friend. Probably the only one I would talk to about my mental health. If they aren't around then I would just bear it/hold it in. If it's really bad then I'll have to go to a psychologist. Personally I don't find hotlines helpful so I much rather just go straight to the psych.  ... View more

Hi @hellofriend   I'm sorry about your past experiences with health professionals. They are hit and miss, there are some psychologist you connect with and there are some you don't. We are people after and we open up to people differently. Some people just seem more trustworthy than others because how they looks, dress, talk or whatever is the case. A bit rude to say that people who have spent years studying and practising psychology a scam. Just because it hasn't worked for you, doesn't mean it doesn't work for others.    Therapy is a proven practice, it works. However that's not saying it works for everyone as everyone is different. Since you have said you tried all these health professional and they have done nothing for you and medication hasn't worked then maybe it's time to look for alternative therapy where it doesn't involve the normal type of talkative therapy. I heard 'Pet therapy' was a thing but these types of therapy are unknown in terms how much they would help.  ... View more

Hi @medium2   Being told what and to feel sucks, especially when someone doesn't understand how you are feeling. Honestly in terms of speaking your mind, the best option is talking to a health professional like a psychologist or a counselor. Trying to talk to the average person you'll get a response like your step-dad. They are caring but they might say the correct things.    You have potential. Think about it, how much do babies, kids, teens provide to society? Nothing so in that sense, so are they worthless? It's about potential, for when you grow up. I don't contribute much to society so maybe I'm worthless in that sense but I like to think as I get older the more I'll be able to give back and add to my 'worth'.    Try talking to one of the anonymous hotlines that other members have suggested. Try not to bottle up your emotions. Hope you feel better soon! ... View more

You can start with a schedule @Girthquake. Not a lot of nightcrawlers out there so the chances of making friends dramatically decreases. I mean I guess you can make internet friends with Americans. Those hours line up with their day time but I'm sure you want more than online interaction. Making  a schedule and fixing your sleeping pattern so you are wake up at a reasonable time.   There comes a certain point in life where the most likely place to meet new friends is at work if you don't go to school/university. Maybe try to find a casual job working 2/3 days a week?  ... View more

I would just send an email to your hiring manager saying you want to pull out of the job, you don't have to state a reason but you can if you wish. You should read your contract if you have signed one on whether you have to work a week or two or whatever it is.    It's always best to do something that you enjoy and you're passionate about. Obviously sometimes we can't do achieve but that's okay as well, as long as you're working towards your goals!  ... View more

Hi @Clarke   I totally understand that feeling. I think it's anxiety or the 'it's too good to be true' feeling. Like when I walk outside of the house fully knowing I checked the stove and locked the doors but when I'm outside I start panicing on whether I've locked the doors or not.    I think it's our brains are always on high alert, thinking something bad will happen even though nothing will occur. I've noticed my brain has slowly calmed down gradually after some time. The more you get use to things being okay I think your brain will follow.    I'm sorry that you are experiencing that, hang in there! It's always good to talk about your feelings so anytime you feel like that, please make a post!  ... View more

Hi @SakuraN   If you don't want to go back to the retail job then don't. Pretty simple. I assume you're not super dependant on the income since you were unemployed for a year before so you have the luxury of looking for jobs you're more interested in. If your circumstances were different, maybe you have bills to pay etc. then probably you would need to stay until you find another job you like.   Congratulations on your nursing position though! Hope you enjoy it. You could try finding another part time nursing job or maybe even an admin position in a clinic? ... View more

How can we bring up mental health and our struggles with it in everyday conversation?   Ooo, this is a tough question @mrmusic! Honestly I believe we should only bring it up to those who are able to understand. Some people might not know what to say. Like me for example, if someone came up to me and said I have depression, I wouldn't know how to deal with that. I'll probably just respond with 'Are you okay?'    I think we can talk about how our day/week is going, say if I was having a shitty week, and I would discuss that with my friends/colleagues. I don't want to burden them with my mental illness but just casual conversation about my what I'm feeling/going through would be good. Everyone talks about what a horrible day they are having. But when it comes to the full on stuff, maybe leave it to the professionals. I wouldn't have a clue on what to do if someone said I'm having suicidal thoughts...  ... View more

How can we help society see that mental health is just as important as physical health?   The negative stigma around mental health is beyond bad. I don't know if we can achieve that anytime soon. The study of mental health is relevantly new. Back then if you had some mental disorder you were just labelled as crazy but medicine and physicians were a plenty. In that sense mental health has a long ways to catch up to be labelled just an important as physical health if not more.    The only ways if to talk about it and reduce the negative stigma around it so people don't have to feel ashamed if they want to see a psychologist or a doctor about their depression. Obviously this is especially true in around men as they have 'tis but a scratch!' mentality when it comes to injury; any type of injury.  ... View more

Hey @FootyFan26   It's always letting it out than holding it in! Talking about releases some of the weight on your shoulders and sometimes you can actually feel your chest losen after you've written about your feelings.    School holidays are bitter sweet. It has it's pros and cons. I find reading books one of the better ways to keep the mind stimulated.  ... View more

Hi @MemphisBelle   I wouldn't consider them your friends if they made fun of you... What I've learnt recently is that you never should keep toxic people no matter who they are or what they meant to you in the past. It does seem like they are bullying you psychologically.   You should always work towards your dreams! But in saying this, you have to be realistic about them. At the end of the day, you have to put food on the table for yourself (making enough money to survive). I love photography but I have no idea if it become a 'professional' because there are already so many photographers out there. I shifted photography into a hobby only, of course I'm going to keep on working in it but the main thing is my current job. You have to think about are you going earn enough or get a job with the profession you're trying to pursue or do you have to move it to as being a hobby only?    ... View more

I argee those apps suck @BunnyWalks. I try to keep contact through phone numbers but if everyone is using Facebook you don't want to be left out etc. The only reason why I have 'social media' is to keep in touch with those I don't have numbers for. I never post anything on them.    Is it realistic to stop using these apps? Yes and no. Yes if everyone you know is not using it and no if everyone know you is using it. And if you're into privacy then What's App is the way to go because they don't store your messages and everything is encrypted I believe. ... View more