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Hey @redhead … I know things are really difficult for you right now and it's easy to be pessimistic. From the other thread you posted in, however, it sounds like you have a strong plan ahead of you so that you're ready for what's to come in the next day or two. Remember that you have plenty of people you can reach out to who support you and care about you, plus if things get tough and you can't reach your caseworker, there are the helplines you can call. ... View more

Hi @mack1 … I know what that can be like. You've got a sort of sense of going nowhere or feel like you're not making any progress on some level. The reasoning behind it can be different for everyone — I get it when there isn't enough positive change going on in my life. Personally, when I travel more, I find that I don't feel it but if I stay still for too long it comes back.   Having some routines you enjoy, setting some goals and working towards them, or trying to ensure you try something new on a regular basis are great ways to deal with feeling crap like this and get that sense of being "back on track".   Does that sound about right, do you think?     ... View more

Sometimes the internal politics of a workplace can really suck the fun out of a job, can't it?   More than once I've had jobs where I really liked what I do but the people at the job made it hard to want to go into work every day. In the end, I always had to choose whether to make the best of it or change jobs. Usually I did the first one until I realised I just couldn't tolerate it anymore, and so I quietly took my time to find another job that I'd like.   What is it about childcare that drew you into that career in the first place?  ... View more

"How YOU doin'?"   First Australian animal starting with N ... View more

  F'real…e'ryday ... View more

Antipodean ... View more

Always sand. I don't understand the appeal of shingle beaches!     Wind or rain? ... View more

The side of this game box:      Lavender ... View more

Naysayer ... View more

Salubrious   ... View more

Yes but never my own. Someone else always buys it! Haha! :D   Speaking of movies, do you ever get disappointed when they're out of choc-mint choc tops? ... View more

Did you say Watt? Do you mean the Scottish chap who improved the steam engine? ... View more

I can't even remember the last time i went to the bank for my own accounts. Two years ago I think!   The person below me knows the secret to finding needles in haystacks.     ... View more

My partner made pancakes this morning but I guess she was distracted and not paying much attention because she burned them a little bit and the batter still had granules of salt in it. :D I didn't mind though because yay pancakes and maple syrup! ... View more

This is a tough one but fun…   Fashion: I wear no graphic tees, ever. I always wear colours which work well together and with my complexion. I intentionally pared down my wardrobe to maybe only 40 items — including socks and underwear! — and that's all I wear. I replace anything that gets worn out. So, mostly my "uniform" is a blue wool blazer, jeans, dark shoes, t-shirt (something that complements blue) and a patterned knit vest. People who don't care how they look call me a hipster; people that do care how they look describe my look as understated. ;)   Food: I like almost everything. I can't stand fresh tomatoes though. I have tried a lot of things not everyone has. For example, about a year ago I had whale, puffin, shark, zebra, goose, reindeer, duck and bison all in the same week. If I see brain on a menu, I almost always order it. I'm a big fan of crab and lobster (posh tastes, I know!)   Music: Eh… I used to really be into Radiohead and Sigur Rós. I still love them both but nowadays I tend to just like to have something "fun" on in the background while I concentrate on other things. I'm not a music snob. I think it's perfectly acceptable to like obscure arthouse Icelandic music and also like Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus.   Phones: iPhone all the way… but I don't have to have the absolute latest.   Shoes: There used to be this brand called Swear Alternative, years ago, that I really loved. They had platforms and stuff but that wasn't what I loved. What I loved was their sneakers which were really out there. Picture below.   Nowadays I like a really interesting, unique looking shoe that has the right mix of ultra-modern and traditional. Hard to describe, but, as with my clothes, "understated" suits it best.     ... View more

@MemphisBelle wrote: I decided to take the plunge and audition anyway, two weeks went by and I then got an email telling me I got a part in the production!    Whoa! Congratulations! You must have a natural talent. :) Well done. When do you start readings and rehearsals and all that? ... View more

Hi @thedoctor    Coping with depression, including psychotic depression, isn't easy at first. It's understandable that you're finding it difficult, especially because it's so new. Understanding your diagnosis, appreciating how it works and knowing how to manage it can be super daunting.   On the upside, it's important to remember that this is totally treatable. Have you spoken to your prescribing doctor about the negative reaction you're having to your medication? If you think things are getting worse, you need to talk to them about it ASAP. Don't delay on that.   Remember that the voices in your head aren't real and they don't control your actions — you do. If you really do feel like you're going to do something to hurt yourself, please call the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. They really can help you.   Did your doctor/psychologist/counsellor talk to you about some relaxation strategies to help you manage your symptoms? A lot of people on these forums talk about mindfulness. Have you seen Smiling Mind? It's a great tool for helping you to reduce your stress levels and relax. It's also super important to have some regular structure and routine. Is your family able to help you with that? It can be frustrating at first but these things always are during the time you're adjusting. Do you have a safety plan in place? There are some strategies and alternatives you can do to help keep you safe from self-harm. Your family can help with your safety plan, too.   There are a tonne of exercises over in the Everyday Life section of the forum that you can participate in. See how others are focusing on the positive or demonstrating what makes them grateful. I'm sure you'll find plenty to relate to.   Finally, you're not alone. You've found us here. We care about you and we are all happy to talk with you, support you and share with you. A lot of us really understand what you're going through.   How are you managing right now? ... View more

I'm in a similar process at the moment. I finished my degree FOUR years ago and, due to some restructuring at my uni at the time, I was unable to apply to take Honours. I emailed them a couple of weeks ago and NOW — FINALLY — I can take my Honours year.   My reasoning for doing it is that academia really appeals to me. It's not just wearing jackets with leather elbow patches, I really enjoy the subject matter ("internet sociology") and I want to smooth the process to going for my PhD. The benefit of a PhD, for me, is improving my lifestyle options (there are opportunities to be scholarly around the world which gives me a lot of flexibility).   I've considered a Masters program, too, but nothing really jumps out at me except for a Masters in Cognitive Semiotics in Denmark, but it's super hard to get in and it's cheaper and easier to go to uni in Australia. :D   ... View more

@bessie94 My partner is vegetarian and she dreams of bacon too. The look in her eyes whenever I have it… you'd think she was a starving animal. ... View more

Hi @Luchia    After my last relationship, I swore I wouldn't get into another. I thought there wasn't room in my life for someone else and having another person in my life was just holding me back. Not quite the same as you but I, too, wanted to be free of the pressure from others. While I was in my last relationship all I kept getting asked was when we would get married and make babies.   Anyway, I followed my dreams and lived the single life with aplomb. I still received the following questions and commentary: "When are you going to settle down with someone? When are you going to pick a wife? What was wrong with that girl? She was great! You're too fussy…"    But I loved being single. It was great! I was certain I would never marry and I was totally fine with that, even if others weren't. What I couldn't have foreseen then, however, was that I was going to marry a fringe acquaintance of mine 18 months later…!   My point here is that it's not something you can force or expect to happen. For me it just happened when I least expected it. People will put pressure on you for things to happen a certain way or by a certain time. I know the pressure is much greater and more insufferable for women than it is for men, which is pretty unfair of society, but you can't force these things or make them go any differently. If you do, it'll only lead to unhappiness.   I think if you love yourself and your whole life just the way it is — and you feel like there's nothing or no one you could possibly need to make it any better — then undoubtedly that someone will turn up sooner than you think and completely ruin things for you in the greatest way possible. ;) ... View more

Hey @Bee    The process isn't an easy one and although it might seem natural to feel unsure of yourself as a result, I don't think you need to be so hard on yourself. The façades we put up have a habit of being really hard to pull down sometimes, especially when we use them so often. Just because you had trouble with it this time doesn't mean you always will. It takes determination, courage and patience… things you have a lot more of than you think!   It's been about a day since you posted. How are you feeling now? ... View more

@stonepixie wrote: I often take my GP's advice in just laying and doing nothing because that helps a bit. Not as good as sleep, but still ... Years ago I used to work these really late night shifts and, for OH&S reasons, they provided our whole team with a lecture on sleep. It was really interesting and this one fact is something that really stood out to me. If you lie there and do as little as possible for as long as possible, you get a lot of the benefits of sleep. It's not 100% but I'm pretty sure it's above 50% (my memory is hazy). I work nights again now and this really works for me.   Another tip is to only let yourself use your bed as a sanctuary of sleep. Only use the bed for extended periods if you're going to sleep. If you're reading or watching TV or writing or using the computer, do it elsewhere. If that's not possible then, at the very least, don't lie down on your bed. What you're doing is you're training your brain and body to associate your bed only with sleep. It will take a month or two but your body will eventually get the idea and you'll find yourself falling asleep a lot faster than before.   EDIT: FYI I am not a doctor and this does not count as medical advice! :P But, it works for me and I read about it because it works for lots of other people.   ... View more

@redhead : Are you doing okay?   Lex: It's finally getting colder where I am. Time to pull out the long woollen underwear! :D  ... View more

Are you American? ... View more

@stonepixie wrote: Saw some flowers at the shops that made my heart sing, they are now sitting in the lounge room. :) Such a great pick me up. I was just thinking today about how I haven't bought flowers in a while (my partner made a small mention of this too… ;) ). I must do that again real soon. What a great idea! :) ... View more

@redhead wrote: Had to spend the other night in emergency department because I got so triggered. Tbh I don't know how I managed to stay safe. But the words if my therapist stuck in my mind which was 'id rather see you in DEM before you self harm then in there afterwards' It's been a hard last few days. But I'm staying safe. And I've had followup from the mental health team over the weekend. I'm super impressed by this,  @redhead . It takes a lot of courage, determination and fortitude to follow through like this and you've done really well. You should be really proud of yourself. :) ... View more