Hey @Wolfie_  Sorry for the late reply, it has been an extremely busy week at work with us trying to catch up on the days we lost due to the brief lockdown. We sure did handle it well, very proud of everyone. The Melbourne situation was certainly a big case of hindsight and it would seem that the South Australian authorities have learnt from that so perhaps we have you guys to thank  Anyways, thankyou for your kind words, I hope you're doing well also!  ... View more

@sunnygirl606 Thankyou for the shout out, very thoughtful of you  Also congrats on the promotion to moderator and good on you for taking the next step!! Well done to everyone as always  ... View more

Hey @Maddy-RO   Thanks for your kind words and yes thats exactly right! Just a few handful of cases so its entirely a preventative measure. No new cases yesterday so its looking well! ... View more

@Jess1-RO best of luck with your future endeavours! You have been a fantastic role model for myself and many others in this space. Thankyou for your fabulous efforts  ... View more

Hey @Nuav3998, I am very sorry to hear about your struggles! Good on you for taking the time to reach out about them. It sounds like life has been absolutely hectic recently. I'm going to have to certainly agree with @Hannah-RO, it would take great courage and resilience to achieve what you have! I hope things settle down for you soon! We're all thinking of you and are here for you  ... View more

Hey @A_Friend    Awesome idea, music is certainly a powerful thing!   I'll have to check out your suggestions. I find Holy Holy's album 'My Own Pool of Light' meets this need well! Rüfüs Du Sol's Innerbloom and most recent album 'Solace' is also great! ... View more

Hey @MB95    Good to hear from you    Awesome! Let me know if you are able to dig anything up. I'll also try and remember to ask during the next session if something similar is provided in the other states! ... View more

Hey @Bre-RO    This is a great post, thanks for sharing! I have found this really helpful and insightful.    I fully agree that sharing a story or even aspects of one is a great way to provide support. It really does help convey a humanistic feeling through text which some may otherwise find hard to connect with.    I also really liked your point about providing support in any way possible and knowing that doing so is enough. Sometimes I can struggle with providing support as I feel that I do not have the 'perfect' response to actually be able to help someone with - so thanks a lot for saying that      ... View more

Hey @Liliann  Sorry for the late reply. Good on you for taking this opportunity as well, best of luck with it all!    It sounds like you have a good grip on the resume and cover letter skills, I also struggle with the interview skills but I'm sure we will both get there    No worries, I hope you're feeling better about it all  ... View more

Hey @celestialdreamer, awesome! I'm glad that you found it interesting. The course is called the Be Well Plan, its an Adelaide based program which was offered through my university to all students. You may find the freely offered Be Well Tracker on the site useful/interesting . The program is predominately based around mindfulness as studies have shown this to be the most effective approach to improve mental health across the board through these types of courses. In essence, any mindfulness based activity or technique will help a person in being less reactive to their thoughts, take a step back and help integrate self-compassion over the automatic response of self-criticism in tough situations.    Hey @sunnygirl606 I'm touched to hear that this spoke to you, super glad that you were able to take something from it. Sending you best wishes for your mental health journey, thanks for sharing your thoughts  ... View more

@Lost_Space_Explorer5 @Abderian @November13 @A_Friend Thanks so much, glad you liked it    @Abderian Super glad to hear your journey with mindfulness and self-compassion has been faring well, thanks for sharing! You make an excellent point about the habit becoming stronger each time you notice its benefits. That's what its all about! The journey and not the destination as they always say. It certainly is amazing that it leads to more efficient work, its great to know that is working out for you also!   @November13 Definitely, great points! The comparison of how we treat ourselves and other people is often the most obvious way to realise how we may be lacking in self-compassion. It is fantastic that you have been able to heal from a more troublesome past  My partner does a lot of inner child work and says the same thing, it certainly sounds like its a great tool to have in the toolbox.  ... View more

Hey @Liliann  Sorry to hear about your job struggles, it is certainly frustrating. I have (and still am) in a similar position. I lost my internship due to COVID and graduated engineering mid year so job prospects have been extremely poor. I decided to take the opportunity to study psychology (bit of a change I know) but my point is that the current times and situation can be a great opportunity to pursue other interests or further study that may appeal to you (perhaps something relevant to your current experience unlike me ). Additionally, have you looked at any resources to help you with the application processes? Resume and cover letter writing, responding to selection criteria, interview skills etc. You may find these beneficial, there are sometimes small things that employers pick up on or look for to help them sift through the applications - especially for entry and grad positions where there is a large volume. You could also try to apply for positions that are somewhat related to your field of study (if you haven't already) - I learnt to not put all my eggs in one basket like I did with my internship. Finally, don't lose hope, these things often have a way of sorting themselves out and falling into place. We tend to find ourselves in positions which we would have never expected ... View more

Hey @Liliann  Sorry to hear about your job struggles, it is certainly frustrating. I have (and still am) in a similar position. I lost my internship due to COVID and graduated engineering mid year so job prospects have been extremely poor. I decided to take the opportunity to study psychology (bit of a change I know) but my point is that the current times and situation can be a great opportunity to pursue other interests or further study that may appeal to you (perhaps something relevant to your current experience unlike me ). Additionally, have you looked at any resources to help you with the application processes? Resume and cover letter writing, responding to selection criteria, interview skills etc. You may find these beneficial, there are sometimes small things that employers pick up on or look for to help them sift through the applications - especially for entry and grad positions where there is a large volume. You could also try to apply for positions that are similarly related to your field of study (if you haven't already) - I learnt to not put all my eggs in one basket like I did with my internship. Finally, don't lose hope, these things often have a way of sorting themselves out and falling in place. We tend to find ourselves in positions which we would have never expected ... View more

Hey @Tiny_leaf, so sorry to hear about your situation. Chronic illness does suck, my partner has CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and FM (fibromyalgia). She experiences many of the issues you have described so I do truly understand the difficulty of it, my heart goes out to you  . It is unfortunate that some of our doctors today are not trained in these areas and do not how to approach these issues, my partner would often stress the same concerns. But as @November13 said, they are out there and best of luck with your new doctor! In the case of my partner, she had a lot more luck with alternative doctors, who seem to be better trained or even specialise in these areas. I know its hard but try to stay positive, we're all here for you  ... View more

Hey @Nate1994, sorry to hear about your trouble, addiction can be a hard thing to battle. Good on you for accepting and reaching out about this issue, that's always the first big step! Speaking to a GP can be a good place to start, they will have come across this issue many times before! Reach out has some great information on addiction here which you may find helpful also! Stay strong and know that you can beat it, it will be a thing of the past soon!  ... View more

@A_Friend Good stuff! Cultural psychology is certainly interesting as well and I have heard good things about occupational therapy, best of luck with the transfer! You might also like social psychology (or sociology to a greater extent) given your interest in cultural psychology and occupational therapy. I am currently reading 50 psychology classics which basically covers 50 of the most influential works in psychology over the entire discipline in a distilled manner (one book). You may enjoy that if you wish to glance over the broader subject in a short period of time. I have been learning more from that than uni  ... View more

Hey @A_Friend  Awesome, its a very interesting field! I'm only in my first year of study so I have not covered many topics through uni. I found the concepts of learning quite interesting however; classical conditioning, operant conditioning and cognitive learning. I do quite a bit of reading outside of uni and am quite interested in the works of Freud and Jung exploring the subconscious mind. I would like to practice as a clinical psychologist in the future! How about you, how are you finding your studies and where would you like to go with it? ... View more

Hey @dragon3  Sorry to hear about your frustration and mental health, sounds like you have a lot going on at the moment. I agree with @Hannah-RO, would be great to take some time for yourself to distress. What activities besides drawing do you enjoy that help you relax? I do a bit of drawing myself and found that I was always my own worse critique. A lot of time goes into making a piece of art and unfortunately we pick up on every small detail which we don't like. Try to take a step back and appreciate what you have achieved, I have no doubt that you have drawn some fantastic pieces! Do you have anybody that you would like to show? I'm sure they would agree! From one artist to another, they rarely turn out as expected unfortunately, but that's ok as its part of the process  .  ... View more

Hi @Octavia99  Sorry to hear about your troubles. Insomnia and anxiety sucks, I've been there before as well. The meditation and relaxation techniques certainly do not work for everyone all the time. I know what helped me with being able to sleep was staying away from screens close to bed time or at the very least using a blue light filter on your phone. I found exercise helped me as well! Like @Hannah-RO said, speaking to someone about the anxiety and sadness can be a great first step which you have already taken here so good on you! I want to second that we are all here for you as well  I really do hope you feel better soon! ... View more

Hi everyone, hope you're all doing well  Here are my answers to the questions! What's your favourite type of bird? Chickens, they make good friends and are always interesting to watch. But most birds are great except cockatoos before 7am! Do you ever wish you could fly? Why/why not? Sure! Would be a good way to reduce emissions  Are you an early bird or a night owl? Definitely a night owl, I like the quiet and piece of mind. Night walks are one of my favourite things to do! Why do you think the chicken crossed the road? The grass is (sometimes) greener on the other side? Which came first - the chicken or the egg?   How long is a piece of string?    Still need to figure out how to do gifs  ... View more

Hi @celestialdreamer  Lovely range of hobbies you have got going! How long have you been playing violin for? I like my psychology and self help books, so my favourite would be 12 rules for life by Jordan Peterson. I've yet to start reading fiction (as I have only just recently started reading lol) but the Lord of the Rings books are high on my list to read. What would your favourite book be? ... View more

Hey @Tiny_leaf  Sorry to hear that you're having a not so great day. Like @Tay100 mentioned, these days do unfortunately happen and I have certainly been there too. Its perfectly fine for everyone to need some sympathy from time to time and you have mine too. Luckily days like this do pass so take care of yourself as best you can for the time being. I know for me It helps to practice self care and look after myself as best I can. Whether it be reading a book or cosying up and watching a movie, anything which can help distract me from the discomfort is always great. Do you have any usual self care activities which you might be able to use? I hope you day turns out better ... View more

Hi guys, great idea @wanderingwasp!    My top hobbies at the moment would have to be: 1. Guitar 2. Reading 3. Meditation 4. Listening to music 5. Nature walks   @wanderingwasp I believe watercolour paints are relatively easy and inexpensive to start with (can buy in sets). My partner started with this and picked it up quite quickly  .   Great lists @WheresMySquishy @scared01 ... View more

Happy birthday @Agenderandproudofit, hope you have a great day! Sorry to hear you're feeling lonely, like @Hannah-RO said it can often be an odd day. My sister will often have these feelings on her birthday as well so you're not alone.  Use the day to pamper and treat yourself however you can, formal partying and celebrations are not needed to make it a great day. Just do something that makes you genuinely happy, self care can go a long way. I think the suggestions made by @Hannah-RO are a great place to start. Personally I would be ordering in my favourite food and watching a movie! Hope your day goes well!! ... View more

Awesome idea @jamijam, certainly very relevant! For me I like to try and take positive things from otherwise negative situations. In the case of Covid it provides spare time that can be used to learn new skills and engage in activities that would be otherwise limited. For example I started learning guitar earlier on during covid and it has come to be something of a passion for me (hence the username  ). I know from myself and many others that it has also allowed people to appreciate aspects of life we previously took for granted! Like @Hannah-RO it also allowed me to establish a routine that I can hopefully carry into a covid free life! Let us know your thoughts as @Hannah-RO said!! Cheers ... View more

Hi all, hope everyone is doing well! I have just joined the gang so popping in to introduce myself   How did you first hear about ReachOut and when did you decide to get involved on the forums as a user? I had first head about ReachOut in passing some time ago, but I wasn’t until recently when I was looking for volunteering roles related to my studies that I decided to get involved on the forums.   What's your favourite post thread? I have only just joined, so at this point in time I would have to say this is my favourite post thread .   Why did you decide to become a Builder? I wanted to undertake a volunteering commitment related to my studies given it is both my passion and interest. This is to allow me to use and build skills and interact with like minded people. Lastly, I take great joy in helping people so this seems like a perfect fit.   What do you do during the day (Study? Work? Hunt ghosts? Fight Crime? Taste cupcakes?)? I have a pretty set routine which consists of meditating, reading, studying, exercising, and thrashing my guitars. I am studying psychology which is where most of my interests are based. So, my readings are typically related to this or spirituality which also interests me. Self-help books also!! I work part time as a cabinet maker so I enjoy using my hands and practical activities too.     Do you have any weird hobbies (Train a rubber duck army? Teach lizards Spanish? Learn how to the master the recorder?)? Nothing too weird outside of my spiritual interests. Sorry to be boring . Besides that, its guitar, reading, music and more guitar.   What's you're all time favourite TV show? Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, the writing is impeccable! I am also a big fan of the documentaries produced by Louis Theroux. I love to learn about peculiar and misperceived things!   Cheers guys  ... View more

Hi all   Today I practised self care by doing some reading and meditating. Have recently started using an app for guided meditation which has improved my technique substantially after doing it myself for two years. Turns out I wasn't nearly as good as I thought..  Im reading 12 rules for life by Dr. Jordan Peterson, heavy ready but has some fantastic insights.    Cheers  ... View more