13798 13799 13800   This is an interesting game. ... View more

Plastic ... View more

For Lex, your story gives me so much hope. I myself don't want to spend a life of expectations of others.   Speaking about my personal experience of isolation/loneliness.. For the past years, I've felt much more comfortable being alone. Watching a movie. Exercising. You name it. I would get by life with judgements from others minimised. I would go to school, go to all my classes, sit with friends during lunch breaks but never really engage deeply with anyone. There was no friend I could talk to with honesty because I never let anyone in. Admittedly, I still do. It's hard to get out of this self-immersing lifestyle once you've sunken into it. However, watching Into the Wild was a turning point for me. The book is great too but for now I'll allude to the film because it gave it to me visually and it was real and sad. Chris McCandless writes shortly before his death, "Happiness is only real when shared" and it comes to him (and it did to me) as a startling revelation. I hope I didn't translate it to you as some dramatic Hollywood scene. It was none of that. It was raw. It wasn't an "epiphany" but a realisation realised too late. And it made me realise I had to stop deliberately avoiding people. Though loneliness seems like bliss sometimes, true happiness cannot come through lone experiences. In recounting this, this is a sign to anyone reading who seeks full pleasure from being alone. I know the feeling. But it will certainly lead to regret later in life. :( It is healthy to be alone every once in a while but to seek it as a lifestyle isn't any good. ... View more

Gail, Thanks for the reply - any response is immensely supporting. I think I will make an appointment to talk to my GP about this problem. Those links are great. Up until this point, I've been relying on sitting cross-legged in bed, breathing in and out slowly, and letting my back fall onto the bed softly. Something easy I made up. But now I have new techniques I can try! Yes, this teeth-grinding habit is really bad in the long-term. My brother does it too. It adds so much unnecessary pressure/stress to life. Cheers :) ... View more

Hi y'all, I'm Joanne and it's spectacular to meet you :D   1. I come from a family of nine. 2. I like an assortment of colours: navy, mustard, burgandy. 3. I often feel quite tired (and I think it's because I'm low on iron so guys, if you feel tired despite sleeping 8 hours look into that!) 4. I wish more people called me Joey, like Joey Potter from Dawson's Creek. 5. I can spend long times looking up at the moon from my bed. (not the cause to my sleep deprivation)   See y'all around!!! ... View more

CatsAreCool2,   That is a really interesting theory. And it makes sense to me. Don't worry about the generalisations and stereotypes. I think that's what most people do - it makes life easier albeit is sometimes wrong and judgemental but you were trying to make people understand your point there. I do agree however, I think most people (I'll refrain from saying all though I think all would be quite accurate) suffer body image issues of varying degrees, despite their position on thee hierarchical social ladder. Personally, I would fit myself in the somewhere in between section but I believe I have the worst self-esteem issues.   In terms of how we can help those on differing ends of the spectrum, I think so many commonalities come about when people from different social backgrounds who don't usually find themselves talking to one another, engage in conversation. Whether it be in a workshop or a chance encounter. People find they undergo the same problems. That's the thing. We shouldn't assume the smartest, coolest, most popular people lead perfect lives. Everyone has their own problems and we shouldn't be too fast to make assumptions.   ... View more

Sleep is so so so so so important. When I'm angry at my maths homework (often am), I've found more recently it's much easier to give in and go to bed. Maybe revisit it in the morning with a clearer mind. The amount for a good quality sleep varies from person to person. The average amount is 8 hours though I know some people who say they need 11! I know it's a general rule of thumb to not use electronci devices (TV, computer, phone) an hour before bed to settle yourself though personally I've found that difficult. But sleep really is crucial to keeping yourself healthy, especially during exam periods. I wouldn't sleep even at 1am to cram in notes the night (really, morning) before an exam. Memory retention is better when you moderate sleep. I just wanted to point out that sleep is often undermined in the midst of study techniques (making lists, chunking tasks) and I really believe good sleeping habits are fundamental toward reducing stress and maintaining a good mentality. ... View more

Ryan08,   Yes, I get that pretty much everyday on the way to or back from school. People seem judgemental. It may just be us or they may really be staring but whichever one it is (I know this is easier said than done), we have to stop caring. We shouldnt care about others' opinions unless those people are dear to us. And in this case, they are strangers. We shouldn't care what they think, they don't even know us! If they stare, just smile back. Don't feel awkward, don't feel self-conscious because we have no reason to. It's one of things we have to exercise to get over the initial difficulty. But soon, it'll be second nature and we will become comfortable with who we are and what the world seems around us. ... View more

@youngster96   I have a similar feeling to yours. I think we both, and all have to realise not everyone (all people) is out to get you. Mindset is really difficult to change I know. I often try and shut my thoughts up (which is REAL hard) because thoughts often lead to negativity, a negativity which often does not exist. But you can imagine, one bad thought leads to another, and another AND ANOTHER and it all goes downhill from then. So when you catch yourself with a mild or great panic attack in a social situation, just breathe, try and clear your mind for a moment and remind yourself that you are worthy. Much worthier than what you cast yourself to be. ... View more

Hi y'all :)   I'm Joanne. I have 38 days until I graduate from high school!!! I am so excited. I want to do so many things. On of which is to be a pilot, another a paramedic and the last, a baker. But the uni courses I'm looking into at the moment are: Politics/Philosophy/Economics at ANU Canberra, Law and Social work at UNSW and Forensic Science at UNSW. I have immeasurable love for this website and you people. I also like saying 'y'all' a lot because it's a very inclusive word ;)  ... View more

Guys, Bon Iver will change your lives. I guarantee you. His music is ethereal and beautiful. ... View more

I have had trouble having a good night's sleep for a long time. It's not so much not being able to sleep for hours. It's more about the quality of it. I think I'm inherently stressed (even when there is nothing to stress me out at the time) because it's become such a habit that I can't control when I'm in my sub-conscious (when I'm asleep). I have the habit of grinding my back teeth together. When someone is sharing my room for the night, they'll tell me about it the next morning and say that it's quite loud and scary! I've tried wearing a mouthgard (I know it sounds weird) but it's always fallen out sometime during my sleep. Sometimes I try and meditate (just by breathing in and out slowly) before falling down to the pillow and I can tell I have not been grinding as badly the morning after because my gums don't hurt and I don't get a nasty headache. I think meditation is the way to go. I mean, it's become such a habit for me so when people tell me not to stress so much (in response to my teeth grinding) I don't know what to do about it! It is quite a big problem because my teeth are actually getting smaller! Anyway, this is my first time on ReachOut and I just wanted to bless you all for being such a welcoming community! xxx ... View more