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Flying_Hams
Community Guide

Hello and welcome to my story

hey all

my journey of mental health has been rather up and down over the last 4 or so years.

Rather than sprawl out all my experiences I'll keep it brief.

I'm currently 23 and in my 5th year of uni. I study an Arts degree and I've had to take a number of semesters out which is why I am still at uni.

I do a little bit of work on the side as a tutor. But due to my anxieties and depression I haven't quite got to that level yet.

I often find myself struggling to accept my mental health (because it sometimes feels like I'm better than that - a thought I'm sure we have all had in the past).

As a 23 year old male, there is a lot of pressure on me at the moment and I find myself cracking underneath it a lot. Anyways.

That's my story in brief.

Looking forward to hearing from some other people too!

34 REPLIES 34
Former-Member
Not applicable

Re: Hello and welcome to my story

Hi @Flying_Hams

i like your name!

i have depression and anxiety also. Amongst other things

i also find it hard. I have managed to get through a degree and masters and then it's hit me like a tonne of bricks. Hard to accept. Do I fight it or do I accept it, sit back and watch everything fall down?

do you have supportive friends and family? It's good that you have been able to defer uni rather than give it up. How long til you are due to finish? Do you work also?

Nooks

Re: Hello and welcome to my story

Hi @hamsolo1
Welcome to the forums
I hope you find the help and support you deserve.
Im also 20 and suffer from depression and anxiety as well as other things.
I find these extremely difficult to deal with but having friends in here has helped me through this journey and i hope the same for you 💓

Do you have any support systems in place like your gp and psychologist as well as friends and family?

Re: Hello and welcome to my story

hey there

thanks

well done on masters and your first degree too

I can relate to the sentiment of fighting or accepting, sitting back and watching it fall down..its one of the worst feelings i reckon. Recently this has happened to me and im finding life rather challenging.

my family are supportive yes, but they dont fully comprehend the extent to which it effects me i dont think.. but over time they are improving. Some friends are more supportive than others. I guess that's the reality really.

I am due to finish my degree at year's end. I would've finished by now however i have had to defer some units, redo others and drop other ones too.

I often find myself wondering that had i simply got on top of my life earlier then i would be a happier guy at the moment... the best i can do now is simply make changes where needed and also get help. But in reality, it's probably not as bad as i think. Yet it feels different. I imagine you know what that feels like?

I have "worked" as a tutor. Not enough money to get me anywhere substantial. But I am planning (slowly) on changing this. The experience is what counts i guess though hey? I enjoy it too.

My anxiety has largely prevented me from working and socialising in high doses (added to that is the fact im more of an introvert) but idk, maybe this is changing slightly as my mental health improves.

What did you study?

Re: Hello and welcome to my story

hey there outlander (star wars reference ?)

I have found similar that having friends through forums helps. I have been on the beyondblue forums and they are very helpful.

Thank you for your kindness.

How do you spend your time?

Re: Hello and welcome to my story

hi @Flying_Hams 

haha no not star wars

i originally had the name because i felt like an outsider in every aspect of my life, my faveourite book and tv series is called outlander and a few other members call me that because i remind them of the girl thats on the tv series

 

hmm im usually very busy.  im a full time carer for my pop, if im not there then im watching my sisters, studying or caring for our pet horses.

 

how have you been today?

 

Re: Hello and welcome to my story

ah very well
today has been pretty average.
Dont feel like talking much about it atm.
But its depression i suppose, mixed in with boredom and loneliness.

Re: Hello and welcome to my story

Yeah sounds like depression @hamosolo01
Lets hope tomorrow's a better day hey
Do u have any plans for tomorrow?

Re: Hello and welcome to my story

hey

Today has been okay.

had the house to myself which was nice.

Have been chilling out doing whatever. Went to a cafe near my house and got a coffee and something to eat as well. Just took it easy.

I've also planned out what I need to do in the week ahead and it all starts tomorrow. I feel better when things are sticking to a basic plan.

I feel a bit better today. I guess my new meds will take a while to kick in.

How has your day been ?

Re: Hello and welcome to my story

Nursing sounds cool.

I've actually thought about doing that later down the track if all else fails.

I think nurses play a vital role in people's care. Plus you hear a lot of nice stories about people falling in love with nurses hahaha (is this why you chose that career haha?)

But good on you anyway.

I guess the feeling of being left behind and missing out on something is like a grief/loss response. My psych was telling me this the other day actually.

Basically when we realise or feel that we have missed out on something in life, or something that "could've been" then we have a grief/loss response. It affects us in the same ways.

I heard a quote from a movie once. "Every path is the right path. Everything could've been anything else and it would be fine just the same."

In other words, no matter where we have/will end up in life there are always going to be alternatives that we will wonder about.... there's no such thing as a perfect state of existence we can get to where we feel like we HAVEN'T missed out on anything. Secondly, we are currently is just as good/fine as where we could've ended up anyway.... there will always be problems and bumps on that road.

I've been trying to remember this a lot lately. What DOES help is remembering times and things that have worked out for you.

Hope this helps

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