I always thought Valentine's Day was such a silly over-commercialised holiday but the idea to use it as a day to practice self-care or share the love by volunteering for others is so beautiful! Everyone on here is so inspirational  I was given a little chocolate heart by my mum on Valentine's Day. She said it was given to her by someone and she wanted to pass it along to me. When I saw my friend later that day I gave it to her! A small example I guess showing that it's not just about receiving gifts but about sharing the love! ... View 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?   I'm usually super busy with uni taking up most of my time, but seeing as I'm taking a year off study I've found myself very free and even quite bored over the past couple of weeks! But work, travelling to see my family and partner (who all live 2 hours away), spending time with my different friend groups, staying active, cooking, reading, and being with my housemates.   I find it pretty easy to manage. I feel like I have good organisational skills and I religiously write things down in my diary. It might get a bit tricky this year though because I'm going to be juggling multiple jobs... ... View more

If you want to have something different for your brekkys but know that you never have time in the morning, chia puddings are a good thing you can prep the night before! It's so easy; you just mix up chia seeds, coconut milk, and a dash of vanilla essence together, portion them out in little tupperwares/jars, and pop them in the fridge. Then in the morning all you have to do is get them out, maybe put some fresh berries on top, and eat! So gooooood  ... View more

Going back to sleep when I woke up at 7am. I was going to get up early to go to the gym but I've still got the remnants of a head cold lingering about and felt I could use the extra rest and not push my body so hard. It was difficult because I've been feeling kinda bad about my self-image lately and wanted to work out but I think it was the best decision.  ... View more

Hi @Eden1717, sorry for jumping on this post a little late and I don't mean to barge into the conversation but I just wanted to say that I am so in awe of you being able to share so much of yourself with this community. Just being brave enough to be this open and share with us your experiences is inspiring.  I hope the lovely people who have been posting on this thread have been able to help you in some small way. Even though you are having a tough time you sound like you are so resilient and you should be so proud of yourself for making it through each day, it's all any of us can do I hope you are able to get some restful sleep tonight and keep reaching out here if you need    ... View more

...buying lots of fruit and veg, and only having a smoothie for breakfast, after a busy holidays of overeating lots of junk foods! Time to get my eating habits back on track  ... View more

Hi all!! Just found this post and I'm really keen to join the conversation as this is an issue that I feel VERY passionately about. I try to care for the environment as much as possible and found myself getting very frustrated when I went over to a family member's house for Christmas day and saw they were using plastic plates and cutlery that they did not plan to reuse. I think we all need to learn to be continuously mindful of the long-term effects our individual and collective behaviour may be having on our earth.   What do you do to care for the Planet?  One big thing I focus on is my food consumption habits. I'm vegetarian and currently trying to transition into a totally plant-based diet - it's so much better for you and the Planet! I also try to buy local and ethically-sourced where I can, put my fruit/veg in reusable produce bags, and minimise things that are packaged in plastic (whilst always returning my soft plastics to the supermarket to be recycled). I use public transport when I can, recycle, compost, grow my own herbs and veg, only shop for what I need, and always try to up-cycle. I think it's all about being mindful of your footprint in all aspects of life! Another important thing that was already mentioned is to vote for political parties you think will act in the best interests of the earth.    How does it make you feel to look out for the environment?  It makes me feel good to care for the environment! We are all stewards of the earth and have an important role to play in it's care.   ... View more

All my love to those who have already been affected by bush fires this fire season  ... View more

Relationships are such a big and important part of our lives as human beings and social creatures so love the opportunity to have these discussions!   1. What do you think makes a healthy relationship different from an unhealthy one? (Can be romantic, sexual, companionate etc)  I think what makes a healthy relationship different from an unhealthy one is the ability to be yourself. Whether it's a romantic relationship, friendship, or family member it's so important to feel comfortable sharing your true self with the other person. Some red flags that I've noticed in my own friendships are when my opinion is repeatedly shut down and I feel like I can no longer speak, when I don't want to share things about my life because I'm afraid of the other person's adverse reaction, and when it feels like I'm always doing all of the listening and none of the sharing. As was mentioned, feeling like equals and equally validated is so important.   2. What do you value in a relationship, and why do you think people look for romantic or sexual relationships? Are there benefits? I think the things I value in a relationship are pretty standard - honesty, trust, the ability to listen without judgment, and compassion. When in a romantic relationship you need to be equals and partners. I think people look for romantic relationships because it feels nice to know there is someone out there you can rely on and share your experiences with. Life is better with someone and, for me, I often search for that someone in romantic relationships, although I also have many incredibly important non-romantic relationships too. It simply feels nice to be intimate and a little bit vulnerable with another human being. Just sharing some human experiences together. How we humans do.   3. How do you know if you are ready for a relationship? Good question! I want to say that maybe you never know if you're ready for a relationship until you give it a go? If it feels wrong at the start, or you find yourself wanting to pull away, maybe that means you have to do some more work on yourself before you dive into a romantic commitment .... or maybe that person just isn't a good fit for you.    ... View more

Hi @Introvert2195!   Thank you so much for coming to the forums and sharing how you're feeling! As a fellow introvert, I can absolutely identify with everything you said in your post. I'm in a long distance relationship and a lot of my closest friends are now all spread out in different towns so I find it takes a lot of planning and time to catch up with them. And that doesn't particularly help when you're just having a crap day and want a last minute cuppa with someone.  Can you use your work and study connections to make friends? I find it a bit easier to make friends in these spaces because you already have something in common to talk about!   On another note, you'll always find people to talk to on the forums  ... View more

Today I practiced self care by making myself an extra yummy breakfast and taking it easy for the day!    ... View more

    Pick a gif that represents your relationship with study at the moment   This!!! Because there is just so many things racing through my head at the moment and the mental to-do list just keeps piling up and up.  Tell us a little bit about your studies Just like @ecla34 I am also finishing up my psych honours project with the thesis due in about a month (ahhhh scary thought). I want to apply for a clinical psychology masters program for 2020 and continue on the psychology path!     What do you enjoy about your studies? I actually enjoy learning about psychology because obviously the brain is super weird and cool and interesting! It's also been nice this year at uni because our cohort is a little smaller so I've been able to get really close with some of my peers.   What are the signs that you are stressed from studying/experiencing study stress? Like the GIF above I will have a million things racing through my head and find it particularly hard to relax, especially trying to quiet my mind so I can get to sleep at night. I know that it'll all be over in about a month but for the moment it is all-consuming.    What are your top study stress busters/coping strategies? I honestly need some better coping strategies, this is one thing I'm pretty shocking at! I try to go for walks as study breaks to get some exercise and fresh air, but I don't do it often enough because I feel guilty about 'wasting valuable study time'. My housemates are good support though and it's nice to just talk and debrief with them over a cuppa at the end of the day.    Set a goal for managing study stress! Goal: do little bits of study everyday to make the workload seem not so big! ... View more

Tell us what song lifts your mood and why?  One song that always uplifts me is Church by Samm Henshaw, his voice is so smooth and gets me vibin'  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_8-P4eZ1jA   Share a story/memory that demonstrates the power of music The first thing that came to mind for me in response to this is this moment I always get when I'm at a music festival. I'll be in the crowd, surrounded by both friends and strangers, and the lights are going and its hot and then one of your favourite songs come on and everyone just starts signing along and there's just this really profound moment of just like pure joy and peace. Does anyone else get this or know what I'm talking about??  ... View more

Great discussions!    Why can stereotyping be so harmful? I think imposing stereotypes on people can be very limiting. Not only will the person imposing the stereotype on someone only see that person through a certain light and fail to acknowledge all the different aspects of that human being that make them wonderful, but the person being stereotyped may also begin to believe they are only able to accomplish certain things and limit themselves.    Like @Tiny_leaf mentioned in their example, probably the best way to have your view about certain groups of people challenged is to come in contact with those people! Talk to people, listen, and learn more about their experiences.  ... View more

Hi everyone, I've been loving reading all the posts and hearing about people's different experiences with mental health workers...decided to jump on this moving train!   Do you know the difference between all the health professionals you can see for support (e.g., psychologist, counsellor, psychiatrist, social worker, occupational therapist, etc.)? Why is it important that we should know the difference between these health professionals?   I think that navigating and coordinating all the mental health support services out there can be really tricky. In my experience, a counsellor can be useful if, for example, you are going through a bit of a tough time at school or need some grief support, and with a little help you can be back on your feet again. A psychologist is useful in helping you with more long-term, distressing, mental health issues. If you're feeling like 'talk' therapy isn't working and you that may benefit from medication, you can coordinate your psychologist with your GP or see a psychiatrist.  This is just my understanding, but yes the whole system is very confusing!  I think the first point of call is always to start with your GP - they know you better as a patient and can also give you a mental health care plan so that you can access medicare rebated sessions.   ... View more

Yayyy! Nice work everyone!!   ... View more

Yes, very good points!   For me, implementing good sleep hygiene becomes super important around exam time. It's so tempting to stay up late studying but if you've already been awake for more than 15 hours your brain really doesn't do a good job of retaining information. And like @ecla34  said, it's also important in consolidating your memories and making sure you learn the info you're studying!    I think it's always very obvious how much more productive you are after a good nights sleep. I know if I've gone out late on the weekend the next day can be pretty hard, not only due to a potential hangover but because I haven't had much sleep, and the fact that drinking can also increase your sleep awakenings in the second half of the night, meaning the sleep you do get is pretty crappy.      ... View more

Today I practiced self care by not setting an alarm, because I don't have anything major on today, and letting myself sleep in a little and wake up naturally! ... View more

Wow @tasminspeedd I'm so sorry you're being treated this way. No one deserves to be spoken to like that.    I'm also glad that you reached out and are going to speak to the school's wellbeing team. That was really brave. Hopefully they can help sort this out so she doesn't bully you anymore.  ... View more

Thank you, that's kind of you!    That sounds very frustrating, does that mean you will have to travel to go see one?   It may take a while to see physical changes, but making step by step changes to your diet you might start to feel differently? ... View more

Hey @xXLexi_Lou122Xx, I don't really know your full situation but I was on here and thought it might be okay if I replied?    It's hard when you have something out of your control preventing you from what you love to do...how long until you get to see your cardiologist?  And it sounds like your healthy eating is going well (you have more control than me, my diet is so bad at the moment)! Eating well might be enough to keep you healthy until you're allowed to get back into exercise!  ... View more

I too am jumping onto this one a little late, sorry!  But I think the idea of international day of friendship is super cute and also our social supports are so so important in maintaining positive mental health.  Sometimes you need your alone time but in the end it is always better for you to have your friends around    What is the role and value of friendship in your life? Friendship plays a big role in my life! I always had trouble finding good housemates who I could live and get along with and having that stress at home led to some crappy times. Now I live with two friends who I had fell out of touch with for a while but moved in with and I couldn't be happier with my situation! They're lovely people and so supportive and I value every single day with them  How can friendship help to promote peace and harmony?I believe that when you're surrounded by good people, you're happier, which makes you exert happier vibezz on the world making it a better place. Also I've found if you treat everyone you meet like your friend, you'll find people will respond to you better too! What will you do this International Friendship Day to celebrate the friendships in your life?Even though I've technically missed International Friendship Day, this weekend I'm going to put my study aside to spend some quality chill time with my friend for her birthday    ... View more

I second the beautiful response by @happycat45 !   And you never ever have to feel like you're bothering anyone on here, this is what the forums are for. You don't have to go through this alone. We all just want to make sure you feel supported through this tough time  ... View more

@mspaceK  I'm so sorry to hear that you've been feeling anxious and distressed. You said this kind of situation can happen to you often, is there anything that has helped you overcome a bad night in the past?  ... View more

Wow @KaiRoe  the process to get hormones seems quite difficult... do you find that there is also a cost barrier that might be an issue for a lot of people?  ... View more

I've always been one to fall asleep pretty easily but earlier this year I had a bit of a stressful time where I found myself needing to implement some useful sleep hygiene improvement techniques, and they really do help!    Do you have any tips for improving sleep hygiene? If you have been tossing and turning, don't stay in bed as it can make you more and more frustrated. Try getting up, walking around the house, getting a drink, or maybe doing a quiet non-technology based activity in a different room for a while.  Keep the phone plugged in across the room, not next to your bed, as it will remove that distraction when going to sleep while also forcing you to get up to turn off your mobile alarm in the morning!  Don't have a light-up clock with the time visible from your bed, you'll start fixating on it rather than relaxing and getting to sleep.    What will you try this week to improve your sleep? I've been getting up and going for a walk along the creek near my house first thing in the morning lately and it makes me feel so good! I'm going to put in a real effort this week to keep that activity going.  ... View more

Oooops, and my answer to the recent question...   How do you deal with stress about the future? Are you more que sera, sera, or do you want to know now for certain where you're headed in future?  I definitely like to know where I'm headed and like to try to control my future as much as possible. Probably not the healthiest mindset but I think I'm becoming slightly more relaxed and 'go with the flow' recently.  ... View more

Wow I like hearing about so many people wanting to work in the mental health sector! It's cool that even though we are all dealing with our own stressors and hardships a lot of you are still willing to put yourself out there to try and help others      What are your plans for the future? Could be for next week or for 15 years from now in your dream career! If you're a bit stuck/unsure, what are you doing nowadays?   In the very near future I have a job interview in a fortnight that I am super excited about! I don't want to get my hopes up too much, because I'm sure there are others interviewing for the position, but it is exactly the kind of job I want and need right now!   ... View more

@SomeoneNADJS  how good is it? I feel like I learned so much, it was so interesting! I didn't realise how old they were, like BCE old!  ... View more

Is that because you won't already know people in the program? There might be lots of other kids in the program from different places who won't know anyone either!   Do you often get nervous going into social situations and is there anything you can do that will help calm your nerves? I find coming up with a few talking points (E.g. for me lately it has been talking about the new spiderman movie tehe) can really help going into new social territories  ... View more