1. The weather is crisp and lovely 2. I am seeing friends today 3. I have time to jump back in bed for a while ... View more

Fantastic thread!!! I really like your tips.   One thing that helps me is to not engage in negative body talk. People talk about dieting etc. often and that's okay!... but I don't wish to prolong these conversations or whinge myself. I find that doing so only leads to internal preoccupation and negativity. ... View more

Empathetic ... View more

@hellofriend Fantastic news! ... View more

Great thread @Wolfie_ !   I also read Lost Connections and found it very enlightening. Another standout for me is Grit by Angela Duckworth.   I'm currently reading The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. It can be a little heavy though at times as it deals with trauma and gives related case studies. ... View more

@hellofriend Well done on booking a dentist appointment!! That can be such a difficult thing to do.   I went to a yoga class this morning and had a poke bowl for lunch afterwards! ... View more

I love how so many of these are animal-related!   Today, I laughed at a video of an adorable dog splashing in a paddling pool. There was an accompanying video of the same dog getting cosy in a bucket of water too. ... View more

@acnhxanadu Yes, I think you are right that it would take a lot of discussion and effort between both of you. It seems like you have the empathy and the loyalty to make your end of this bargain work, but I worry that you would potentially use all this emotional energy and time only to get hurt by her likely failure to meet in the middle.   Sometimes, we can do all we possibly can to 'fix' a relationship only to find that the issue was never something we could transform all on our own. When I went through something similar, someone told me about the story of the scorpion and the frog... it was difficult to hear but helpful. Maybe you might find some of it helpful too...    A scorpion, which cannot swim, asks a frog to carry it across a river on the frog's back. The frog hesitates, afraid of being stung by the scorpion, but the scorpion argues that if it did that, they would both drown. The frog considers this argument sensible and agrees to transport the scorpion. Midway across the river, the scorpion stings the frog anyway, dooming them both. The dying frog asks the scorpion why it stung the frog despite knowing the consequence, to which the scorpion replies: "I couldn't help it. It's in my nature." ... View more

Hey @acnhxanadu! Welcome to ReachOut.   I think a good point for reflection is how you write that although you've had some really fun times together and previously felt happier when hanging out with her, those times are getting less and less. I commend you for coming to this realisation - it's really difficult to have as much clarity as you show here.    Do you think the toxicity in your relationship with her is something that you can repair? It sounds like you place a lot of blame on yourself... but from an outsider's perspective, it seems like there might be long term aspects of her personality (that she, & not anyone else, holds responsibility for) that have meant that although you are doing your best to be a good friend to her, she is unable or unwilling to always do the same for you. What do you think? ... View more

Hey @c0penhagen, that's a tricky situation. Sorry to hear you're having difficulty getting an accurate diagnosis and treatment. It's hard enough to live with mental health challenges even with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, so it must feel pretty tough to be needing to tackle these extra things too! It sounds like you've learned a lot about yourself by reflecting on what's happened. Hopefully by sharing your observations (of your previous mood patterns and what happened around the times you became endangered etc.) with your care team, they can understand and help you more than in the past.   Although it is only natural to feel shame and embarrassment, you aren't alone. Nor are you alone in facing difficulty with diagnoses! Mental health conditions can take a long time for professionals to diagnose, even when they are mostly on the right tracks.   Do you have an appointment set to see a psychiatrist for a second opinion? What can you do in the time leading up to the appointment to stay afloat? ... View more

@Saltwaterdreamtime Your runs are super impressive! And it is really lovely to hear about your family. Your kiddo is lucky to have you! ... View more

@klasna13 I love the outrageous and silly things the dodos say!   I'm so happy to have found this thread!!!!! It was an unfulfilled childhood wish of mine to play Animal Crossing New Leaf on Gamecube so I've been holding out for New Horizons for what feels like a lifetime! I pre-ordered the game for myself and my partner (as a gift to say thanks for tolerating me through recent stressful times) and it really got me through a couple of difficult months! Admittedly, I probably spent tooooo much time on it in April...... perhaps around 150 hours or more...... YIKES! But now I find I haven't picked it up in weeks....... It was pretty great to have something to get me out of bed with major excitement each day.   I completely missed the wedding event but it looks so cute! @lokifish I have no concept of what the photo stuff was like but it makes me smile to imagine you begrudgingly yet happily doing an identical ceremony/reception photo thing many times. ... View more

Hey @Eden1717! I've just been having a little read of your thread... Sorry to hear you're having such a hard time lately. Being forced to receive depot injections must be so terrifying. Have they given you a chance to take the medication in tablet form instead, or without force and restraint?   I've never really liked helplines either. It was useful to think about why this was though. I realised that big factors were that phone calls can give me anxiety and that the kind of support I needed could only be given by someone who I could speak to regularly. Are there any health professionals you are seeing regularly at the moment? If so, what could they do or change to help you cope? ... View more

@hellofriend  Well done for being patient. Sounds very frustrating! Especially when they can't even get the important information right!!! Have you spoken to people from the disability support unit at uni about what's been going on? In my experience, they can be very helpful for speeding up and smoothing out admin issues like this! ... View more

@Izzy2001 Welcome to ReachOut! It's so cool that you're learning to sew! I am thinking of learning too. I really want to make scrub caps to give my nurse friends! What do you like to sew? ... View more

@Ani_Faeth Hey, sorry to hear you've been getting dizzy spells suddenly! Have you been drinking enough water and eating enough lately? You should pop into your GP sometime soon to get checked out. Might not be anything serious at all but if it's enough to worry you, it's a valid reason to get medical advice! ... View more

Great topic for discussion, @missep !   I definitely fall into the comparison trap at times, particularly in regard to body image. It helps me a lot to look at websites that show how Instagrammers' photos have been edited via photoshop, manipulated via angles, etc. If you google 'instagram reality', you can find sites like this.  ... View more

@hellofriend I hope they get back to you soon! It's so difficult waiting for important emails!  ... View more

Hey @Symphony7 ,   That sounds like a difficult decision to go through!   It sounds to me like you did well. You had a great goal in mind when you first enrolled (to give something a go), and you definitely reached that goal! I think you were very wise to reflect on your experiences and realise that this course doesn't fit with what you want to do in the future. Many people fall for the 'sunken cost fallacy' and continue courses to get qualifications for the sake of it, which doesn't help them personally on their path to a fulfilling career.   I hope you don't get caught up in feeling like you have wasted time. Six months or a year on a different path only equates to a tiny tiny fraction of a lifetime. And if this time has helped clarify your ambitions for the future through the process of elimination, that's invaluable time that is certainly not a waste!   What aspects of self wellness are you interested in?  ... View more

1. The GAMSAT EXAM IS DONE AND OVER at last. It's been a bloody long road to this moment.  2. No more 12+ hour study days  3. I'll get to sleep a solid amount tonight... maybe even no alarm for tomorrow. What luxury.   ... View more

@musicfan_xo You can definitely see your gp if your mental health is bad, or you experience worrying side effects. It sounds like you may have found a great gp to support you!   GPs can be very varied in how they look after patients' mental health. Some may have more experience in the area or have more qualifications that allow them to more capably give counselling. Others may play more of a role in prescribing regular medication and writing mental health care plans so you can access services like psychologist appointments without paying as much. Others meet with patients regularly to monitor their physical health since some medications used for mental health can have pretty serious long-term side effects for some people. It's a diverse mix.   I just want to mention that you are perfectly allowed to ask the GP directly about what they can do to help with mental health! Unlike in the past, the doctor's role has become one of partnering with their patients. So many would welcome questions like these because they demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with them to improve your wellbeing. You don't need to have it all worked out before you meet them; it's good to reflect beforehand so you are prepared for an open discussion, but you can't be expected to rock up with it all sorted out. ... View more

@hellofriend Hello! This sounds so stressful and like a perfect storm of bureaucratic BS and human incompetency and unkindness. I really feel for you. Have you considered asking the disability service at uni to help advocate for you? Perhaps it could be helpful to forward them any ongoing email chains about negotiating prac and see if they can assist you.   I'm sorry to hear you were treated so badly on your third year teaching prac. I can only imagine how awful that must have been. Even without being bullied, prac is a hard experience that demands so much grit. It was by far the most challenging time of my time as a nursing student at uni. Well done on getting through such tough times and making the difficult decision to try to return to your studies.    If I were in your situation, I think I would prioritise uni given not only your considerable investment in it already, but also given that a teaching degree would ultimately open many more doors for you. It sounds like you are an assertive and intelligent individual with a great drive to grow in areas you care about... Intuition suggests that even if the autism program falls through this time, you will find more opportunities elsewhere or at another time in the future.  ... View more

@Janine-RO I watched After Life season 2 after seeing your post (I live in a hole of exam study at the moment and don't have any awareness of things being released haha...) and it was brilliant! It is indeed confronting at times but overall so insightful and entertaining.   1. I bought some cheap slippers from K-mart and my toes are so warm! 2. I finished 2 exams yesterday and have just 1 left to study for! 3. Did you know they make the cutest little 300 mL bottles of soft drink now? I am about to have a little Coke No Sugar. So smoll, so cute. ... View more

@Tiny_leaf That's so cool. I love how purple it is... like a magical grape juice. Mesmerising! I'm just going to sit here for a minute and stare at it  ... View more

@hellofriend That's awesome! I think smelling nice things and paying attention to sounds and calming sights is totally validated by psychological science as a cool technique called 'grounding' where you bring yourself into the moment by using the senses. Your intuition is so clever! I feel calmed just reading your descriptions.   @Bee My favourite fidget thingamabobs are those tangle toys too!! I've never tried breaking mine up before. I gotta try that one out. The feelings of tension and release from breaking it and reconstructing it would probably be pretty handy. ... View more

@Saltwaterdreamtime I commend you for your consideration of others and for your logic and reason. It is certainly dangerous to attend mass events like protests during a time when infectious illness is a big issue. When the main humanitarian concern is for protecting human welfare, it just does not add up. Your comment on the increased risk for Indigenous people gives pause for thought. How upsetting that they were wrongly trying to silence you whilst continuing to act out of self interest and virtue signalling.    Work sounds like a good release. I hope you will have the time to also distract yourself with something fun or relaxing. ... View more

Thank you @Janine-RO ! It feels like mod training down in Pyrmont was just a month or two ago. Scary how time just slips away.   1. It's raining today!  2. As much as it is a stressful time leading up to some big exams, and as futile as my efforts seem sometimes, today brings me one day closer to my goals. 3. I dug up my old ugg boots ... View more

Hey @Bananatime04    It's been a couple days since we've heard from you. How are you doing? I believe school is back on from today... How was your day? ... View more

@Jess1-RO  Thank you!   I've heard the paintball episodes are great! I'm yet to see one. Not sure what to expect but I am excited. ... View more

Recent events have definitely made me more appreciative of the sun and green spaces. Happy to hear you have safe access to a national park. @Janine-RO    1. Logged onto ReachOut for the first time in several years! Super glad to see that the same good spirit is alive and well. 2. Had a delicious takeaway meal with my partner. 3. Our dog is recovering well after ear surgery... honey on tablets is working well. Fingers crossed she doesn't work out how to spit out the tablets! ... View more