Hi @Jasmine34 I just want to jump in here and say I'm SO happy for you for making the decision to stop!! I have quite a few friends who smoke a lot of weed every day and they are always saying how much they wish they had the strength and will power to give up, they've tried and failed many times - so the fact that you have is something to be so proud of!    ... View more

Hi @Animallover2003, welcome!!  I'm just here to check in with you and see how you're going? Have you been able to tell your friends how you have been feeling? and if not, is there anything that you'd like to talk about specifically that maybe we could help you with? Hope you're doing well and enjoying the beautiful weather  ... View more

good on you @lr8991 !! that's wonderful you should be very proud of yourself, all good steps in the right direction  ... View more

Hi @lr8991 - there are already some awesome suggestions on here for you, I'm just checking in with you to see how you are feeling this week? Have you tried any new coping strategies that you've found successful?  ... View more

Today I am so grateful to have the opportunity and resources to be able to study what I love at university, given that so many people in the world do not get to share this luxury.  ... View more

I smiled today because I got up at 5:40am to fit gym in before work! Im super proud because this is my third day at gym in a row after quite a few months off so I'm feeling great.. although a little sore. I think tomorrow is a rest day  ... View more

@MisoBear hey I went to California last year!! In winter too so we got all the amazing summer weather, loved it! Thankyou so so much for your recommendations and advice, I'm off to look at flight prices to Mexico....    ... View more

@MisoBear ahh thank you for that suggestion I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Mexico but hadn't heard many reviews or opinions about it.. so that's awesome to hear you had an amazing experience!! ... View more

Thankyou @ecla34  and well done everyone!! To be able to volunteer for such a great support group is so rewarding  ... View more

Hi @Looking4support    @MisoBear and @Andrea-RO have already offered some wonderful advice, support, and links to external help.. I am just checking in with you to see how you are feeling this week? Hopefully you are feeling better and this week has been kind to you, but also a reminder that if you are not we are here for you and you will never be alone. There are so many people who care about you and we are always here to listen to you! Have you done anything for self-care this week?    ... View more

hi@Tiny_leaf  !!!  ahah that would be concerning if I was using this forum to advertise ahaha ill have to rethink my titles....    Okay very interesting I've never heard much about WA so to have two recommendations in one go is telling me I should get there !!  That experience in shark bay sounds amazing !! Thats so lovely you can still remember it even though it was so long ago.. Singapore! Interesting,  I think my mum has been there and she loved it too but said the exact same thing, that it was just so so humid and if you're there for a while it starts to take its toll.  Thankyou so much for sharing your thoughts and advice !!  ... View more

@Sunflower18  its the best feeling ever!!! My family has a holiday house on NSW coast right on the beach basically so I go there almost every year and I love it. I have also been quite a few places overseas that I have loved but I have the travel bug and I just wanna go and explore !!!! ooh yes I've heard Vietnam is amazing from so many different people! I think that is definitely going to have to be on my list!!  I am from Victoria, and I don't think I've ever been to WA so that's another place I can add to the list yay thank you so much for giving me some ideas ! well if I stay in Australia I was thinking QLD, I've only ever been once (to cairns) and I absolutely loved it, im a sucker for the hot weather and the turtles !!  OR Bryon Bay, which is also apparently beautiful!  ... View more

Hi @Dleehy2002, just checking in to see how you are feeling this week?  ... View more

Hi @mspaceK  I'm so sorry to hear of your family friends passing, knowing someone who has passed away is a very intense, strange experience and feeling, and grief will come in waves, good days and bad days. I know a couple of days ago was a bad day but I hope your day today is better. Having all that work stress and your boyfriend making other plans would also add to the loneliness and stress you feel, and I'm sorry you had such a shitty day, but you should be so proud of yourself that you jumped on here to share your feelings. Please always remember that having crying/sobbing episodes is okay, sometimes our body even needs them.  If you ever feel like you need more advice about grief I have linked a RO article about grief below: https://au.reachout.com/articles/working-through-grief Hope today is a better day for you, we are here if you need  ... View more

I'm grateful for all the help my parents have given me and my sister with moving into our new apartment. I am also grateful for our new apartment.  ... View more

Welcome @missyj !! So lovely to have another builder on board! Let us know if you need help with anything  ... View more

Hi @stellbell, I'm sorry to hear about your break up. I am going through one too so I know how much it hurts.  I see this post was from about a month ago now but I am just checking in with you to see how you're going? My motto has been "one day at a time". I am here for you if you need to talk. In the meantime, here is link on how to cope with a break up that I too, have found helpful:  https://au.reachout.com/articles/coping-with-a-breakup ... View more

being alive. I am so lucky to be alive, considering how fast this privledge can be taken away.  ... View more

I adore this thread, what a beautiful idea    1. I am very organised and neat, which I love 2. I feel I am quite mature which helps me with life decisions  3. I am a very thoughtful and loyal person to all those that I care about   ... View more

Hi @Shambers good on you for jumping on here and getting some help    Now @ecla34 has already given you some awesome advice and support, especially the part about talking with the friend your moving in with about the planning process because I agree, it could be a great way to rekindle a bit and have something you can both be invested in together! However, I just wanted to add in that its perfectly normal to feel like this. Going from school to the "real world" is a HUGE adjustment.. and it's also very normal (although disappointing and sad) to drift from your friends when you are all going through different phases and parts of your life. Sometimes not being in contact doesn't always been you've lost them or they no longer want to be your friend.. sometimes people are just very busy and caught up in their lives and then when they get a chance to see friends again, it can often feel even better, you have lots to talk about and catch up on. I have good friends that I only see like once every 2 months..and I don't really text or call much in-between this time because I am so busy but it doesn't mean I don't love or care about them any less. As for moving out of home.. what a very exciting, nerve racking, stressful step in your life! I can totally understand why you must be struggling, especially with everything else going on for you at the moment! Change is scary, and I know it must feel all a bit much right now but moving out of home is an incredible experience, I have grown so much since I left home. The independency is awesome and it really is a chance for you to find out a bit more about yourself and how you fit into the world. However, also know that if things don't work out with this friends, it is okay to say no and back out of your decision, you have to happy and comfortable with who you are living with, and there will always be another opportunity    Sorry for the long reply... I hope you are feeling a bit better today. Do you have a self care routine to help you when you're stressed? We are here for you!  ... View more

New Caledonia!  ... View more

Thankyou so much for your reply @Jess1-RO, it made me cry ahah...    I hope that it is okay that even as a builder I made such a post, but I honestly just needed a place to write it all down.  Thank you for your words of wisdom, I am pretty good with keeping on top of my mental and physical health so hopefully I can keep it up during this time. I went for a big walk with my sister yesterday afternoon (who has been amazing!!) and my gorgeous best friend delivered flowers and chocolate to my door today so I have a great support system, lucky me.  ... View more

Thanks @xXLexi_Lou122Xx, & that still is long-term! I'm sorry to hear about your break-up also    ... View more

wow @queenP     that's incredible !!!!! go you!  ... View more

Hi @Aluzar, welcome to reach out!  Im very sorry to hear you're dealing with a lot right now and that you are feeling overwhelmed with feelings and worries. You've done the right thing by coming on here, I hope the opportunity to express your thoughts lightened the heavy load on your shoulders, even just a bit. I see you have written that your parents refusing to believe you are in pain has meant you are unable to talk with a professional other than your school counsellor. Have you ever tried online or phone counselling? This is the number to kids helpline: 1800 55 1800, it is free, private and confidential and you could access this service without your parents knowledge. This is also not the only one, I also know headspace has an online and phone anonymous help service as well. I'll also attach an article of ours that helps you with how to call a helpline if you're unsure or nervous; https://au.reachout.com/articles/how-to-call-a-helpline I'm sorry to read about your friends moving schools, and that your only friend may be moving away, that sure does make it tough when you are wanting to have someone to hang out with. Is there anyone in your classes that you think could be a potential new friend? Perhaps you could ask to sit with someone else's group for a lunch and see how it goes?  Break ups are very tough, and can often leave us feeling very lonely and confused. I'll also attach another reach out article on coping with a break up so that you can read that you are not alone with your feelings and there ARE tricks and tips on moving on and taking care of yourself. Do you have a self care routine at all?  https://au.reachout.com/articles/coping-with-a-breakup Hopefully this gives you some stuff to read and focus on, we do not want you to be suffering in silence any longer. We are here for you, and we will help you in any way that we can      ... View more

normal socks ! bath or shower? ... View more

Hi @xo_aki welcome!!!  Along with @Jess1-RO, your post also resonates with me. I am of very similar age to you, only a year older, I too am in a long term happy relationship and I too have lost contact with a lot of friends but still have a couple very good friends. I think as you get older it just does become harder to catch up with people, the busy side of our lives starts to take hold, but if they are real friends I am sure they will make an effort to keep in touch with you, and if they don't, maybe you don't want them around you anyway. It's so important to surround yourself with people who want to be there. I also love makeup however I definitely would not be as good as you, I learn everything off my best friend who does makeup as a secondary side job. (have you ever thought about making makeup your career? maybe you could hold makeup workshops for other young girls?) And I too also get the lonely feelings you describe, despite having a wonderful life. (I think we will make great friends haha). The only difference I think is that I am still studying at university and have not finished yet.  First of all I want to say that it is completely normal to have these feelings, and I know of many many people who have finished studying and still have not found a job in their field or are not sure what they want to pursue as a career. In fact I have people I know who haven't even started studying yet because they are still so unsure of what to do, so you're one step ahead already! I'm glad you spoke to your friend about how you're feeling, and that she understood your feelings must have been a huge relief! The fact you can recognise your feelings and be proactive about them (telling your friends, joining RO etc) shows you are very confident in yourself and that's something to be proud of. This confidence will help you get the job that you want once you find one to apply for and that is right for you. Perhaps you should go travelling??? Travelling changes many peoples lives, for the better, and can open all sorts of opportunities.  It's okay to feel not 'content' with your life the way you feel like you should, it doesn't mean you're not grateful for the things you have, it only makes you human. I too am sorry for the long reply, but I totally can relate to everything you were saying and I look forward to talking to you more & getting to know you better x  ... View more

@hellofriend thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings during this difficult time for you, I know it can be daunting sometimes writing it all down, but I hope it gave you some release! It's been just over a week since your post and I know you said you're slow with replies, which is totally normal and okay (so am I), but I just wanted and check in and make sure you're okay(?) and ask how things are going for you? Thinking of you, hope you're well   ... View more