Hey everyone, I really like this activity because I'm starting a new course at a new uni this week so can definitely relate!   What are some reasons that you have for wanting to meet someone new? I really want to meet new people because I think you can learn a lot from different people. It's good also to have different groups of people you see at different times because sometimes you might not be on good terms with a friend or group of people for whatever reason, or you might need a break from them. It can take the pressure off needing one person or a group of friends to fulfil all your social/friendship needs.  What are some strategies you find help with meeting new people? Meeting new people can be quite intimidating if you're in a social situation where you know no one. I recently went to a uni O Day event where I knew no-one. I was really nervous on the day, but I forced myself to go up to some people who were waiting to go into the room and say "Are you here for the course introduction?". From then, I just asked them which stream they were doing in the course and then it sort of broke the ice. I think it's helpful to remember people are probably as nervous as you in that sort of situation, and that they aren't going to be rude or ignore you.  Another tip is to force yourself to go to social events, even if you don't really feel like it. It's super easy to stay isolated if you're a more introverted person, but sometimes it's important to get out of your comfort zone and go with a friend to a party or hangout, or sign up to a class or club so you can meet people with shared interests. If you can't think of anything to talk about with someone, a genuine compliment can be a good way to open a conversation.  What have you found to be most difficult with meeting new people? It's hard to meet new people if you live in a small town because there isn't a wide range of people, and it can feel like you're not ever going to find 'your people' sometimes. I've experienced this before and it's really hard. Again the most important thing is to try and push yourself a bit out of your comfort zone and go to events and meetups if you can. ... View more

One of my favourites is in my signature (is that what you call it haha?). It's from Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. In the book, the protagonist is living with OCD and reading it really was a) validating as someone who experiences differing levels of anxiety on a daily basis and b) helped me understand more about OCD and the experience of those who live with it. The author experiences OCD and elements of the book are drawn from his life. The quote is "Your now is not your forever". I think it's a really great quote in terms of thinking about mental health or life struggles. I say this quote to myself when I'm feeling depressed or anxious, because I know that there will be a time that I won't feel what I'm feeling now. It's also a good quote in terms of mindfulness and appreciating the moment you're in right now, because time keeps on moving. ... View more

Sounds like you have a lot of different things to manage @xXLexi_Lou122Xx. I can completely relate to finding Summer a bit boring because I'm not at uni, so I find that if my work isn't giving me that many shifts that I can feel quite bored or useless! I try to schedule in self-care stuff during this time though, because I feel like I need it more.    What things do you commit your time to? e.g. school work, family, hobbies. Do you find it easy or hard to manage your schedule? - Uni (doing my Masters this year) - Part time work - Spending time with my partner and friends - Spending time with family - Managing to do some self-care and relax - Looking after and spending time with my cat - Trying to get my thesis published    I'm quite a procrastinator so I try really hard to set out strict schedules for my days in order to be productive. I often get burnt out, but at the same time, I've achieved a lot over the years so I must be reasonably good at managing my time haha.  I feel like I could be better though, which is why I've taken up bullet journaling in order to schedule and plan more effectively.  ... View more

I'm proud of you @MB95, there is absolutely no shame in being on medication (I've been there and so many others have as well). I'm proud of you for recognising the challenges you're facing and doing the best thing for you.   ... View more

Hey @MB95,   I definitely understand feeling a bit dissapointed that you don't have any iron deficiencies etc and that the reason for your fatigue is your mental health. I think deep down many people feel that physical issues are easier to deal with (whether or not that is the case) because working on your mental health is such a huge undertaking. However, the fact that you've even checked in on your iron and B12 levels is a really great proactive step you've taken in helping yourself. You should be proud of that!   I can understand feeling daunted about tapering your medication. If you're having second thoughts, it's completely fine to stay on them for now and reassess later down the track. In medication can help us to feel a bit more stable and therapy can really help get to the root cause of what's happening and help you form better habits and understand your behaviour better. Sometimes we have really high expectations of what medication can do, but you've also got to put in the hard work too (which I know you've been doing). Whatever you decide, I know you'll do the right thing for you.  ... View more

Hey @BAILEY_, Sounds like you're feeling pretty worried about losing this person because they're really important to you. Are these mood swings normal for you, or is it a new thing?  ... View more

That sounds really tough @Tiny_leaf. My sister struggles with disordered eating. It's really difficult for her too so while I haven't been through exactly what you've been through, I can kind of relate. Is there anything that is even mildly appetising for you. Or maybe you could have some water just to stay hydrated? ... View more

Hey @Bee,   I'm so so sorry you're going through all this, sounds like a hell of a lot to deal with. You are a really strong person, I've seen that here on the forums. I think you've been able to really reflect well on what you're going through and the struggles you're currently facing. This is great because it will help you find the answers eventually. Is there anything you can do for yourself right now to help you unwind and feel safe and secure?  ... View more

Hey @xXLexi_Lou122Xx, that completely sucks. Did you get through the trip ok?  ... View more

Hey @Tiny_leaf,   Is there anything, in particular, that's going on right now for you, apart from the usual stuff?  ... View more

Hey @MB95,   It's always a good idea to have your iron and B12 etc checked. Good on you for being proactive and taking charge of your health with your GP, even if you don't have a great relationship with her.  Maybe you could ask your psychologist for a good recommendation for a GP, my psych actually recommended a great GP for me and often people in health fields know each other and share referrals.  ... View more

1. Made some tofu and black bean tacos and I'm very excited to eat them! 2. Got organised and accomplished some tasks I've been putting off today 3. Enjoyed some sunshine and painted outside! ... View more

Hey @MB95,   I'm so proud of you, being in nature can be so healing.   ... View more

Today I practised self-care by going to yoga in the morning. It felt good to move my body. ... View more

Hi @Jess1-RO,   I don't have a self-care kit yet. To be honest, I struggle a lot with self-care and don't have much spare income at the moment, so the kind of things I'd like to put in my self-care kit aren't really within my access/or things I struggle to believe that I deserve to have. Sorry to be negative, I'm not in the greatest headspace to think about this right now, but I'll come back when I'm feeling a bit better and have a good answer for you!  ... View more

Hi @MB95,   Thanks for acknowledging my post. I'm glad other users have also been able to help you. I'm just finding this thread really triggering at the moment and I think I need to take a step back. A lot of what you're writing about is just hitting way too close to home, which is not your fault at all but I don't think I can respond without becoming really distressed and I don't want to distress anyone else on here. I support you and know you will do the best thing for you. Stay strong :) ... View more

Hey @MB95,   I'm sorry things have been so tough for you. That really sucks and I wish there was more I could do for you, but I'll offer my words of support.   I completely get feeling like your psychologist has made things worse, I've definitely felt that way in the past. I'm wondering if I might be able to shed a bit of light onto some of her actions (obviously I don't know her and your situation intimately, but I have also seen psychologists on and off for many years. I have seen my current psychologist for 3 years now).   1) The trauma stuff. I can also completely get where you're coming from. If you're not ready to talk about it, the number one thing that I would do in your situation is to just be firm and say that you'd prefer to focus on x, y z (i.e. your current major issues). I think that unpacking trauma is important to get to the deeper causes or reasons for what you're feeling, but it needs to be something that's done when you feel ready to do it. That might not be for ages, but your psychologist may think you're ready for it because you haven't been fully transparent with her about how you're feeling. I know this might be tough to hear, but your psychologist won't know how you're feeling unless you're completely honest with her. That's not easy, and requires a lot of trust (which it seems like maybe you're not quite there yet and that's completely fine). It also takes time, I sometimes am not fully honest with my psych because I worry that telling her things may burden her. But you're actually paying for her to listen to you say whatever you need to say, and work through whatever you need to work through. As weird as it sounds, her feelings kind of don't matter. She will work through what she needs to work through in her own time, but she's there for you to tell everything you can't tell other people in your life. If you really feel like she's not the right fit for you, maybe you could ask for a referral to someone else who is better suited.    2) Cutting back sessions. Psychologists usually do this because they think you're getting better and therefore they aren't charging you for weekly sessions you don't need anymore. If you're struggling with stuff but not telling her, she may just think you're making a lot more improvement than you are. I know it seems like she's pulling away, and maybe she is (I don't know her as I said), but I would hazard a guess that she thinks you're doing a lot better and therefore she doesn't want to charge you for sessions you don't need (that would be considered unethical by the standards of practice as a psychologist). I went from weekly sessions to fortnightly sessions, to monthly sessions to now just calling and booking when I need a check in. I remember feeling kind of offended when my psych first suggested meeting less often. It's like you pour your heart out to someone and then it clicks that they're actually a professional who's helping you, because sometimes it can feel like talking to a friend. If you want to see her more frequently then you may need to let her know that you need more support than you're getting. I'm sorry because I know that's really hard, but I think this would be better than just stopping seeing her, but it's ultimately your life and your decision and I know you'll make the right one for you.    3) Please work with your doctor to come off your meds, if you decide to. It's really dangerous to try and come off them by yourself. Also, in my experience the times where I wanted to come off medication were usually the times where I actually needed it the most. I've seen many friends do the same thing and suffer for it. I took myself suddenly off anti-depressants and it was an awful, awful experience. Please consult with a doctor if you want to do it.   4) That's awesome that you're hoping to get some more family support, you deserve nothing but support and love. I'm sorry if this message seemed a bit tough love, I think you're such a great member of the RO community and I care a lot about you. I have so much empathy for your situation. I've been there, I've hit my rock bottom and it really sucked. I hope that you're able to do what's right for you, but also act cautiously. Sometimes we think we can do things alone, but in my experience, everything just gets harder. Humans need other humans, it's how we're hardwired. You deserve so much support and I hope that you get it.  ... View more

Ok so I'm a bit of a TV fiend. I love me a bit of telly. My favourite new show is called The Circle. It's a competitive reality show where people are in apartments by themselves but in the same building as their competitors and can only talk to each other via a voice-activated social media platform called The Circle. The aim is to become the most popular player but it's got a lot of twists and turns. One of the funniest things about it is that people can 'catfish' as other people they think would be more popular in The Circle. It's a really fun, funny show. I love competitive reality shows like Survivor as well because I'm fascinated by people and their behaviour. Honestly the way The Circle is filmed and edited is really fun too. I've watched the US version which is out on Netflix and the second season of the UK version (which is a lot better and is the original). I can also highly recommend Australian Survivor which starts back in February. As for non-reality shows, I've been enjoying the new season of Brooklyn Nine Nine! ... View more

@Tiny_leaf not sure there's much I can say except for keep going and stay as strong as you can. You constantly astound me with how compassionate and helpful you are to other users, while you're going through so much yourself.  ... View more

No worries @NicholasJ, glad you found it helpful. ... View more

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