Great thread idea @ecla34 and thanks for tagging me @WheresMySquishy    As a recent high school graduate, the stress of studying is still fresh in my mind. I think the first tip to deal with stress is to do some acts of self-care and take breaks from your work. I remember during the HSC, I would allow myself to eat some tasty treats and played tennis every week.   Another tip is to find the right studying habit for you. I think this is a bit trickier, since I've seen a lot of posts where people explain how they study for exams. However, study habits are not a 'one-size-fits-all' scenario, so you should find one that suits you. I, for example, find it helpful to listen to music when I'm writing down notes, but not when doing more intensive revision since it can be a bit distracting. Some people are able to write concise and short notes, but I prefer writing more detailed notes since I'm a very visual learner.   Finally, talk to family, friends and other trusted people if you have any concerns or questions about exams (the school councillor, year advisors or teacher, for example). Connecting with others is itself a form of self-care, especially during this stressful period!   I know that the upcoming exam period can be daunting, particularly under the current circumstances. I wish everyone the best of luck for their tests, you're more than welcome to reach out (hehe) to us on this site if you need to  ... View more

Tomato!   ... View more

Water lol ... View more

Another day passed, another day conquered. ... View more

Hi @Abderian, great thread idea! And for me personally, walking outside, exercising and talking to other people helps me with my mental health  ... View more

Hi @Hozzles, it rly sucks that your mum isn't treating you very well, and that you're not getting the support you need. People shouldn't be treating you like you're a burden. I hope writing this post was cathartic for you  ... View more

Hi @Hozzles the post seems fine to me, everything makes sense Anyway, I'm so sorry you're going through that! Health issues are confronting, especially when you don't know what exactly is going on. Thanks for entrusting us with this information, we're here for you if you need support.   I noticed that the doctor is waiting on conducting further tests, have you spoken to them about your concerns with the last scan? Or perhaps you could discuss this with someone you trust, like close friends? I think the doctor should be providing clarification on why they haven't conducted another MRI scan that is more suitable for your current condition, as a patient you have the right to know exactly what is going on.   I also saw that you're worried about uni, have you been able to talk with a tutor or academic staff about it, or someone you trust? I hope your uni will be able to accommodate for your needs and help you out.   I'm glad to see you're doing well mentally, especially considering your circumstances. Your new volunteering role sounds so cool and valuable - it's so important that we raise awareness about mental health in the community. And I'm jealous of your lazy day out on the hammock, sounds super relaxing!    ... View more

Hey @Agenderandproudofit I'm sorry you're feeling this way, we're here for you if you need to talk to anyone. I think the others have already made lots of great suggestions on how to make your birthday a memorable occasion, and last but certainly not least - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!  ... View more

Crash ... View more

5 ways to illuminate something: Torch Lamp  Using the light from your phone  Matches  Fireworks   5 ways to draw a circle ~ ... View more

If you're struggling w self-acceptance, here are a few things you could do: Reach out for help - talk to a trusted friend, family member, doctor or counsellor/therapist Self-care! Take a nice long bath, eat some treats, go outside under the sun; these are just a few things you can do to help your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing Keep a journal of your strengths - write down hardships you've overcome, goals you've accomplished and attributes about yourself that you like Surround yourself with people who will support you for who you are, and will help you out It's been lovely participating in my first GR tonight, I had so much fun listening to everyone's discussions! Hopefully people will find these tips helpful, and hope you all have a great night  ... View more

@WheresMySquishy I'm sorry you had to go through that! I think for self-acceptance to be promoted, society as a whole needs to advocate for a variety of looks rather than fixating on one 'ideal' image, which is so prevalent on social media and media outlets. ... View more

What kinds of things can make us feel good about ourselves? For me, I feel good after practicing some self-care tricks. Exercising, taking hot showers, all these kind of things help me remember that I am a person worthy of care. Looking at people who are similar to me and embracing their identities also makes me feel proud of my own identity. For example, whenever I go on Instagram and I see a picture of a Muslim person smiling or doing something fun, I feel like I can embrace my Muslim identity!   What can make us feel bad about ourselves? There are a lot of things, but first thing that comes to my mind is social media!!! Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook allow people to promote the best version of their life and omit any negative experiences, so people can easily feel as though their life is inferior. The Internet can also be used to promote harmful messages and invalidate people's identities. Apart from social media, who we surround ourselves with also has a significant impact on how we view ourselves.   How can we feel better after experiencing situations that bring us down? If we encounter a negative situation, we can take a break or step away from the situation and practice some self-care! Talk to people you trust, indulge in some yummy treats, do whatever you please! ... View more

Yeah I agree @Lost_Space_Explorer5! I also liked what you mentioned about accepting and moving past our mistakes, an important part of self-acceptance is realising our worth despite our flaws. We're all human and nobody is perfect, however we can learn, grow and improve and I think that's so cool! ... View more

To me, self-acceptance is having positive experiences when thinking about your identity, and feeling comfortable expressing yourself. Maybe one aspect of myself that I have learnt to accept and embrace is the fact that I am an extremely quiet and introverted person :') I've realised that my preference for more alone time and smaller interactions is just a part of me, and nothing to be ashamed of  ... View more

Well I'd describe myself as a Muslim girl! My identification as a Muslim is probably one of the most important aspects of my identity, I think it might be because Muslims are a minority in Australia so I feel like it's a unique aspect of my identity. ... View more

Hey @Remi I'm so glad you found a safe space to explore your identity in! Being able to express ourselves is so important, and nobody should ever feel invalidated for their sense of self. ... View more

Ooh this is an interesting question. Because your hobbies and interests can form an integral part of your identity, I think one good way could be to find other people with similar interests or hobbies to you! For example, universities have clubs and societies that specialise in specific cultural backgrounds and have LGBTQIA+ groups. I think by connecting with others who have similar interests or experiences, you'll be able to learn more about yourself and find your sense of identity! ... View more

I think identity is basically everything important we associate ourselves with or have a connection to. Our sense of identity is influenced by an array of factors, such as our environment, our cultural heritage, sexuality and gender. Identity is not fixed, and past and present circumstances and events can also change our sense of self. This is just one way of interpreting identity, and whatever our identity, is valid! ... View more

Hey @Smokydog,   I know this is a few months after you originally posted, but I just wanted to check up on how you're going. I'm also someone who can acknowledge the privileged aspects of my life, so I understand what you're feeling. But, nobody is unworthy of help, no matter what their life has been like! There are so many reasons as to why we develop mental health conditions, ranging from biology to environmental factors, so the lack of trauma does not invalidate your experiences.   I hope you've been doing okay, and thank you for entrusting us with this information - the ReachOut community is here for you! ... View more

Thanks @Jess1-RO , I'll pass on the compliment to Zoe  And Oscar is so cute, he looks like the loveliest boi hehe ... View more

Hi @Remi,   I'm so glad you've found a space where you feel safe and secure, especially after everything you've had to endure. And I'm so happy you've found a place where you're comfortable expressing yourself authentically, and have found people who support you for being you. Thank you for entrusting us with this story, we're here for you if you need to talk  ... View more

Everyone's pets are so cute! >.<  Here's Zoe, adopted from the RSPCA nearly four years ago. She's outside in my backyard right now, soon she will (hopefully) be sleeping on my bed! ... View more

Wow, this is such a great idea for a thread! I don't know if I would call myself lazy when it comes to cooking, but quick recipes means I get my food faster lol Anyway, I've got an easy chickpea salad recipe people might be interested in. It's also v flexible, you can add or remove ingredients as you wish!   Ingredients:  1/2 can chickpeas (depending on how you're feeling, you can add more or less!!) 1/2-1 avocado 1 tomato 1/4 red onion (you can also add more or less onion, its v flexible!) salad dressing pepper 1-2 carrots (optional) halloumi or feta cheese (optional) 1 cucumber (optional) 1 red or green capsicum (optional)   Method: 1. Chop tomato, avocado and red onions (and any other vegetables or extras you're adding) into small pieces. 2. Toss with chickpeas in a bowl. 3. Add salad dressing. 4. Season with pepper. 5. Enjoy!!!   ... View more

Hello! What you're experiencing is totally fine - there are a multitude of genders people identify as (some of which have already been mentioned in the previous posts). The pronouns people go with also varies, all of which are also valid, and from my personal experiences I've heard people go with any pronouns or they/them, just to name a few. Thank you for trusting us with this information, and good luck! ... View more

Hi everyone! Thought I would introduce myself a little bit: How did you first hear about ReachOut and when did you decide to get involved on the forums as a user? I was searching online for somewhere to volunteer, and I found this site! What's your favourite post thread? I recently posted in a 'rose, thorn, bud' thread and it basically involves reflecting on what's happened in your day so far. It's v fun and insightful!! Why did you decide to become a Builder? I'm v passionate about mental health and I thought it'd be a great way for me to help out other people, so that's why I decided to become a builder! I'm also studying psychology at uni, so this will help me build on the skills I'll need in the future. What do you do during the day (Study? Work? Hunt ghosts? Fight Crime? Taste cupcakes?) Each day varies a little, but generally I'm doing uni work, tending to my pet cat, listening to music and doing some exercise! Do you have any weird hobbies (Train a rubber duck army? Teach lizards Spanish? Learn how to the master the recorder?)? Umm I don't rly have any weird hobbies but I have trained my cat some tricks like lie down and roll over, which I guess is more uncommon than weird. Even then, I don't think its unheard of for cat owners to teach their kitties some tricks hehe What's you're all time favourite TV show? Ohhh I love watching tv shows, and tbh avatar: the last airbender has such a special place in my heart!! watched it a bit in my childhood, then rewatched it as a young teen and have been a huge fan since  the storytelling, characters, animation, music, voice-acting...everything is *chefs kiss* ... View more

Wow, this game sounds so cool! And thanks for the tag @Jess1-RO, excited to start contributing to the ReachOut community and getting to know everyone!   Rose: woke up to the joyful meowing of my cat, who then ran to me and showed me lots of affection  Thorn: slept through a uni lecture hehe Bud: made an avocado and chickpea salad for dinner, can't wait to eat it!     ... View more

Today, I practised self-care by listening to music, and I also walked outside to bask in the sun ... View more