Thank you so much @reach804 and @Claire-RO  . You are both so kind-hearted and supportive and I really want to thank you guys. I will look up some free counselling services and do some more Yoga  . I am really glad there are forums like ReachOut. They make a huge difference when you have things going on in your life that you find hard to talk about.   Thank you to every one who has replied on this thread  You are all amazing. ... View more

Thank you @Maddy-RO , @WheresMySquishy  and @MisoBear for all your wonderful comments and help     I definitely think practice deep breathing should help me. I guess when I am panicking I often forget to breath properly.    Also on a side note -- I love Yoga With Adrienne's youtube channel!! I've done a few of her back ones when I gotten a sore back.   I think you guys were right when you said I am grieving my sister. I just miss our old friendship so badly. I part of me doesn't know if we can ever have that again. I agree that it's important to acknowledge that the eating disorder is controlling her for now. She's not doing these things willingly.   About the councillor... I would really love to talk to someone but I just don't want to cost my parents any extra money. They are already paying a lot for my sister to go see all her specialists so I think I would feel bad to ask them to spend more.   Once again guys, thanks you so much for all your tips and support  You guys are the best!   ... View more

Thank you @Claire-RO    ... View more

Hey @MisoBear , thanks so much for asking  . I'm sorry I haven't been on Reachout the past week or so- I went to see an Opera with my mum in Sydney- it was heaps of fun! Also I finally got my Ps   Things with my sister have been a bit up and down. I have been trying really hard to be a better listener and to comfort her. At times though I get really scared and feel like I cannot breathe. I am trying to get over my fear that by spending more time with her that I will develop an eating disorder too. I know that it is silly, so I am trying to stop feeling so fearful.   A part of me is also really scared that the person who my sister was before the eating disorder is gone. I really miss the old her... we used to get along so well. These days she is always on social media and often only talks either about herself or food. I find it so hard to connect to her.   It can be really tough at times. But I am really trying my best to help her while looking after myself. Sometimes I don't know whether I am doing the right or wrong things. ... View more

Hey @MisoBear and @WheresMySquishy  thank you both so, so much for your support and wonderful replies.  You guys truly rock. I will try the great tips and ideas you guys have mentioned.  I will keep trying hard to be better.   ... View more

Thanks so much @MisoBear :)  ... View more

Today I practiced self care by going to the gym for a while with some friends. I also brought a book to the library to read during my study breaks. ... View more

I'm proud of myself for moving out of home. I was really scared at first that I wouldn't know how to do anything myself, but I found out that I am more capable than I realised :) ... View more

1. Got to sleep in a bit because I had no classes today  2. Fixed my study chair 3. Got to go to the gym with some friends. Finally could get back into it after being sick for the past two weeks  ... View more

Today I'm grateful for my gym membership :) I love doing the classes there (especially Zumba!!) ... View more

Thank you so much @N1ghtW1ng :) I definitely am feeling better now. Though I struggled at first, I have finally have created a study routine!  And I am sticking with it (well mostly anyways). I have never really created and followed a study timetable before- so it was quite surprising when I did. I realised that everyone studies a bit differently, so my study time table will probably look different from others in year 12- and that's okay! Once I realised this I was able to create a routine that is suited to me- making it much easier to follow    The HSC is so close now- only about 5 days away. I am terrified, but at the same time I am so excited. I am almost there- and summer is almost here  ... View more

1. Woke up and watched a bit of a wolf documentary 2. went skateboarding outside 3. watched a video with my sisters and laughed a bit ... View more

Hey @safari93 and @Taylor-RO, thank you so much both for your replies.   I am feeling a bit better today. I have been through the resources on reachout numerous times throughout year 12. Watching the videos of people talking about their own experiences of year 12 has been particularly helpful.    It's really hard for me to make study plans though. Even when I do make one, I just can't seem to stick with it. Also it takes me quite a while to construct them in the first place.   I do have friends that I talk about the HSC with. Like me, they are all just exhausted and want it to be over. ... View more

1. It was raining today, and it was beautiful 2. I got to go to the gym 3. I did a wild dance and made some people laugh ... View more

Hey @annabethxchase,  I was just about to make a post about this topic, when I saw your post. I have parents sort of like your friend's- my mother in particular is very controlling, which can be very hard at times.   Although my experience probably differs slightly from your friends, I can give you some tips of what has worked for me. I hope they help    So in my experience, I found it very hard to change my parent's expectations. They are strict- so they tend to be pretty stubborn too. However, a big thing that helped me was changing my way of thinking. Instead of always saying to myself 'I have to live up to my parents expectations- I don't want to disappoint them' I would remind myself that the most important thing is for me to be happy/proud of me  . I would remind myself that I am not studying for my parents- I am studying for me, to build my future.  Of course, this can be quite difficult to get in the habit of- especially since parents are a major part of our lives. Naturally we don't want to upset or disobey them. But, I have to say that it is very important for your friend to follow her own dreams and to believe in herself. She should still try to do as best she can with her studies, but rather than making her parents proud, she should aim to make herself proud. I have seen so many people who have simply done what their parents wanted, rather than listen to their own wishes- and it usually does not turn out that well. It is pretty hard to be happy when you are living someone else's (i.e. your parents) life.   I just wanted to say that it is so awesome that you are trying to help a friend, @annabethxchase.  Great work   ... View more

1. Got to go to the gym 2. It was a beautiful day.  3. Laughed with my mum and sister at weird fashion ... View more

ha ha yeah @scared01, I would have to concentrate quite a bit too- especially when I'm just getting the hang of things. Just having the music and TV for background noice is a good idea- I wouldn't want to be in complete silence. ... View more

Do you do it while watching some tv @scared01? If I gave it a go, I would probably catch up on some of my favourite shows while crocheting.  ... View more

Thank you so much @LeoTheLion  . I agree with you completely- it is very important that I remember to do things just for enjoyment. Sometimes I forget that I am human and need to give myself time to do stuff I like. ... View more

Hey @scared01, those are great suggestions. I have always wanted to try crochetting- maybe now is the time  ... View more

fuss ... View more

Hey @Birdeye, thanks so much for your response  . I feel like our experiences are very similar indeed. I can definitely relate to preferring fiction over non-fiction. Also, I agree completely that there is not enough time to read all the brilliant books out there!  When I was younger, I also found non-fiction dull and information-heavy - and wondered why people read them as all. Growing up, that thought stayed with me for a while, which I guess caused me to avoid reading non-fiction all together. Lately however, I have found that some non-fiction is actually quite good- and like you I have been much more careful in selecting which non-fiction books to read.  I coming to terms now that it is okay to read a book simply for enjoyment. And I think that your approach- allowing yourself to do different things at different times- is great.  I guess I'm the sort of person who is all-or-nothing, which can be very unhealthy. So, I hope I can be more like you in the way that you allow yourself to do a variety of things  ... View more

Hey @Asche, thanks so much for your reply  it has helped me out heaps. I think I often forget that fiction can be educational too. I just read the article you attached and it was wonderful  . It has brought up many great points that I hadn't even thought of. Thank you so much!  It is also great to find someone else who enjoys reading as much as I do  ... View more

I know I'm sorta late to this chat, but I wanted to answer some of the questions anyways because the final HSC exams are coming up    okay so:   5. How are you going to take care of yourself during the end-of-year study-slog? - make sure I get enough sleep (and relax an hour or so before bed) - drink lots of water - stay positive   6. Thinking back to your previous exams, is there any advice you would give yourself? - dont stress too much --> just remember you are trying your best - start early and don't leave things last minute   7. What the best way to celebrate finishing exams? - sleeping  - meeting up with friends - enjoying summer :) ... View more

Hey @litgym, thanks for the suggestion  I think that will help heaps.  I sorta have a sleep routine- I brush my teeth and then hop in bed to read for half an hour or so.  ... View more

Well I guess this is technically for yesterday since its like 2 am now.   1. went out and had a fathers day brekkie with whole family 2. me and my family helped save a plover's nest (which was located just outside of the restaurant we had breakfast at) - we put flowers and branches around the eggs so that people wouldn't accidentally step on them 3. then we went to go bowling and I almost beat my mum. It was great going bowling, especially since I haven't been for so long.  ... View more