Absolutely love this! Can't wait to get involved  ... View more

@DruidChild me too! I remember going to work the day I watched the episode where she died and I was so upset, no one understood what was happening  don't worry, no spoilers! I'll have to track it down too, I don't think it's on Netflix yet  ... View more

@DruidChild OMG I love The 100! Isn't it the best? Lexa was my absolute FAVOURITE! I haven't watched the latest season, but you've inspired me to get back into it, so thank you! ... View more

1. I was running late this morning but I still made time to meditate and have breakfast 2. I made daily and weekly checklists of the things I need to achieve for myself outside of uni work (diet, exercise, relationships, self-care, etc.) and I have officially stuck to using them for a week 3. I went to the pool and swam laps today for the first time in 7 years! It felt so good to be in the water, it is my favourite kind of exercise! (but I am going to be hellishly sore tomorrow)  ... View more

@Cheeseburger I can only imagine how difficult it must be, particularly given that the two of you are so close. My heart goes out to you    It's great to hear that you have some friends and family that are going to help you work through this difficult time. Would you feel comfortable reaching out to one of them to talk through how you're feeling?   If not, I always find that writing things down helps me sort through my emotions. When I'm faced with an emotional situation that just seems insurmountable, I write out everything I'm feeling as honestly as I can, and then rip up the pages. It can be really cathartic. Do you feel like this could work for you?   Hang in there @Cheeseburger, you will get through this. You're not alone  ... View more

@letitgo I'm only a few chapters in, but so far, it's brilliant! ... View more

@beagle866 I absolutely LOVE dystopian fiction. I like We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, it was the inspiration for George Orwell's 1984, as well as Messiah by Gore Vidal because it has a really interesting death cult dimension. By far, my favourite dystopian text would have to be The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood. She is an Australian author and the setting of her text reminds me of my hometown. I was even lucky enough to meet and interview her about her book a few years ago!   At the moment, I am loving non-fiction texts. I've been reading QueerStories in preparation for Mardi Gras, which is a collection of short stories about life in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales (the news anchor from the 7:30 Report). It is all about recovering from trauma and what lies after the worst day of your life and it has been a real eye opener. It reminds me to be grateful every day! ... View more

Thanks @May_, things have been tough but I am getting there. One day at a time. My family have been a wonderful support, I'm incredibly lucky to have them, as well as this online community :)  ... View more

I'm so incredibly sorry to hear that @Cheeseburger. Please know that we are always here to support you, especially during this difficult time. Just keep taking one day at a time, and know that there is a strength within you that can overcome anything. I'll be thinking about you today, so keep reaching out when things get hard and be as kind to yourself as possible  ... View more

Hey @anonymousgirl101! I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to check in and see how things are going with your friend. Did you end up going to the university party?  ... View more

Hey @litgym, I'm sorry you're having a difficult night. It can be so scary and difficult to persevere when your thoughts are out of control. I'm glad to hear that you're safe. Is there anything you can do to distract yourself for a while?   I've seen some of your posts before, so I know that there is a deep strength within you. You can get through this. Remember that we are always here for you  ... View more

@beagle866 Have you read Night by Elie Wiesel? It was written by a survivor of the Holocaust and it was so moving as well! I'm definitely going to check out your recommendations, they sound like awesome reads! ... View more

This quote dramatically changed my life. It is a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, but I first heard it in one of Brené Brown's Ted Talks about dealing with vulnerability and shame. I heard this quote while I was in the midst of my HSC, coming out as LGBT, being bullied, and coping with my first serious bout of OCD and depression. It inspired me to hold on and keep showing up to school every single day, no matter what was in store. 3 years later, it still fuels my fire during the most difficult times, and reminds me of the importance of persevering through adversity and taking a chance on myself. I hope it can help someone else in the same way xx   "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly." ... View more

Okay, great! I completely understand that if you guys have some history and haven't spoken for a while that it might be awkward reaching out to her out of the blue. Perhaps it would help if you made a list of the things you want to include in an email to her? What is the main thing you want reaching out to her to achieve?  ... View more

My Hands - Running Touch  ... View more

Hey @aebarrie12, I'm sorry things are awkward between you and this girl. When friendships fall away, it can sometimes be quite uncomfortable and weird for a while. Can I ask, why can't you email her? If that isn't an option, what other ways of reaching out to her would you be comfortable with?  ... View more

Hey @Cheeseburger, just checking in to see how you went with Valentine's Day yesterday? I recently broke up with my girlfriend, so I know how tough it can be. I hope you are doing okay :)  ... View more

Reaching out to a new psychologist :)  ... View more

As someone who has recently broken up with her partner, I was absolutely dreading this Valentine's Day. Seeing people walking down the street with bunches of flowers brought a tear to my eye, because all I could think about was the whirlwind day I had planned for myself and my girlfriend in my mind and the fact that this would never be a reality. However, although that experience was horrible, I am also thankful for Valentine's Day, even in the midst of a break up. The sadness and pain reminded me that I have been brave and courageous to have loved at all, and that this is something to be proud of and grateful for regardless of the end result of the relationship. Similarly, it reminded me the value of non-romantic love. My beautiful sister bought me a bunch of flowers and chocolates, and my Dad took me out to dinner and we were able to have a really open discussion about my mental health and how I'm feeling at the moment in the wake of a break up. While Valentine's Day might be incredibly cheesy and commercial (*vomit*), at it's heart, it is still about love, in all its wonderful forms. For me, V Day is a big YAY :)  ... View more

1. I got up the courage to enrol in a difficult uni subject today. It's way out of my comfort zone (pure mathematics, and I'm a humanities gal), but I'm ready for the challenge. 2. I was able to support my Mum with some personal difficulties surrounding her job and make her feel a bit better 3. I had sushi for lunch!  ... View more

Hi @missep! I certainly do! I have OCD, and as of late, it has been especially difficult for me to keep my mind focused on the task or experience at hand rather than drifting into a spiral of 'what ifs' and anxiety. A trick I've picked up along the way is to remind myself of my intentions and the aim of whatever I'm doing, rather than being results-focused. For example, I was finding it really difficult to remain present at dinner with my family last night, but I grounded myself in the moment by making a mental note - "I came here to spend time with my grandparents, who I haven't seen in a long time, and to enjoy some fabulous food. I may be feeling anxious and a little uncomfortable, but I did not come here to indulge my OCD." I tend to become so wrapped up in my emotions or what a 'perfect' experience would be like, but sometimes that is the very thing that affects my ability to be grateful for the wonderful things in front of me! One of my psychologists told me that a successful day isn't defined by the absence of stress or negative emotions or sensations, it's defined by the ability to allow these experiences to coexist with moments and to make the choice to persevere anyway. I still find that a struggle, but the more I remind myself to choose what I want my day to look like from moment to moment, rather than being ruled by my moods, the more in control I feel. Really relatable post! ... View more

Hi @anonymousgirl101! I'm sorry that you've had an argument with your friend, that can be a really difficult experience, especially when you have history with the person or care about them. You are certainly not weak for experiencing such a strong emotional response. If anything, it shows how caring you are! Keeping in contact with people after high school can be really tricky, and by the sounds of things, you did your best to reach out to her and keep in contact where possible, so I'm sorry she reacted this way. Moving forward, would you be interested in attempting to repair the friendship, or would you prefer to keep some distance?   As for university, you definitely won't look like a loser if you're alone! When I started university a few years ago, I didn't know a soul because I had moved towns, but everyone else was in exactly the same boat and was very friendly. What would make you feel more comfortable about heading to your uni party?  ... View more

1. My grandparents have come to stay with us for the weekend, and I hardly ever get to see them  2. It's a beautiful day outside  3. I start work again tomorrow after a leave of absence and I'm really looking forward to it! ... View more

5 random things about me: 1. I love to read, but only short stories or essays (it takes a LOT to keep me interested for a whole book) 2. I spent my whole life thinking I was a dog person until 3 years ago when I got my first cat, Winston. Now I am officially on #teamcat 3. I adore Florence + the Machine  4. My first crush was Natasha Negovanlis, so when she cut her hair short...so did I (*cringe*) 5. I've worn red lipstick every day since graduating high school 3 years ago :D  ... View more

Busy Earnin' - Jungle  ... View more

Today I practiced self-care by putting on some of my favourite tunes while I cleaned the house! Music always makes me feel calm, so I put on some upbeat tracks to keep me in a positive headspace :)  ... View more