I have often been told to just be myself but then I am encouraged to be softer, think less, eat less, worry less, relax more , exercise more, be more confident, less timid, less cautious, more adventurous,less selfish, stop being a people pleaser, be happier, be kinder , ask less questions and the list goes on. I find this confusing if I am to be myself why must I change? The other problem is who am I, which self should I be: the introvert, the extrovert, the cautious, the risk-taker, the overthinker, the fast talker, the quiet one, the indecisive one, the spontaneous one, the carefree one, the worried one, the selfish one, the altruistic one, and much more. Thse two words be yourself seem so easy for many people but not for me as it fills me with many questions. I will limit myself to two questions . Can you be yourself without changing? Is it possible to change/improve a part of yourself and still be yourself? Quirky!!

In the last decade there has bee a big emphasis on being positive all the time. I have had a problem with this and now I am reading articles that agree with me that in some instances being over positive can not be appropriate or even helpful. How can positivity be extreme you may ask? Positivity has a time and place, and if ill timed or relied on in an inappropriate situation, positivity has the potential to be dangerous. However it can be harmful to relationships, particularly when a person is struggling and their partner pushes them to “look on the bright side” without listening to what they are feeling. What do you think? So are ok when someone tells you to look at what you have and not to complain? Or do you find when you are telling people how you are feeling that they don’t listen and tell you to be grateful, that you get annoyed. Let me know what you think. Is there a time and place for positivity?

Some days it is really hard to find anything to be thankful for when we feel overcome by the darkness and fog of depression. If I look hard enough, I can find something to be thankful for. I would like to encourage others to write down three things they are thankful for, and to realise there is a sense of hope available to us all. Sometimes it is just a little hard to find! So my three things for today are: 1: The lovely singing of birds in the morning as they welcome in the new day 2: The ability to read and write 3: A lovely hot shower. feel free to share your thoughts!

Hello, it is really challenging to think positive. Especially when we are struggling with things or when circumstances in our lives seem difficult. So I thought this may help. Just think of a positive word. Like one person says something starting with A the next person say something that is starting with B. And so on. All words must be positive, so no doom and gloom. Feel free to write the meaning of the positive word you choose if you want. Maybe that would help us all. feel free to share your thoughts!

Hello Everybody I have had anxiety and depression. There is always someone that says 'You have to Love Yourself' before recovery. When people are suffering from anxiety/depression this may be the last 'advice' they really need. This is only my experience when I am 'advised to love myself' to rebuild my life. I have heard the following from people that can’t 'love themselves' which is fair enough as I am a person that can’t either. Your thoughts will help me and others learn from your point of view. I can only be 'gentle' to myself to heal...not love.

Safety planning involves creating a structured plan – ideally with support from your health professional or someone you trust – that you work through when you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, feelings, distress or crisis. Your safety plan starts with things you can do by yourself, such as thinking about your reasons to live and distracting yourself with enjoyable activities. It then moves on to coping strategies and people you can contact for support – your friends, family and health professionals.

I have experienced chronic depression (as well as complex PTSD and self-harm ideation) for MANY years...most of my life. For reference, my family and most of my friends do not understand these struggles (and never have). I have been on the receiving end of many hurtful comments and have also had to hide the fact that I've accessed treatment (medication, therapy, etc.), due to their judgement and stigma. Essentially my family has said they don't want me to be crazy or to tear apart the family. I don't want those things either. But I'm sad. Very very sad, in fact. As well as all of the other things that depression entails. And I would just like some support. People in my life certainly won't understand. Maybe someone here will. I'm glad you're all here and thank you for listening.

I’m at breaking point, I truly have nothing to wake up to every morning.

it is difficult for me to put into words I guess it’s just a lost type of feeling of what my place is and who I am and I thought at 25 I might have an idea of this

A couple days ago I was worrying about my side again, which I pretty much come to conclusion that it was air bubbles causing it probably from swallowing too much do to stress and anxiety. Because I've been noticing that more often I've been swallowing more often. I noticed that was a clicking sound in my throat, which is new only started happening since yesterday. It does seem like stress and does cause problems in there area. But I'm not sure if it's causing the clicking sound, does this happen to anyone else?