Would You Like To Take Part?

[MiST]

What a wonderful idea. I would be happy to contribute in any way i can. If you need a web presence for the project i have experience in web development.

[Enduronman]

There you go bruh!! Step up friend...this is how you get it to leave you alone, "expose" it. Thanks MIST! (Wayne).....

[JLK]

Hi Ibson, I do some art, would you be interested in something like that? And if so what?

[cdfrank]

It's crazy cause I just posted something about my book that's something like this. I think this will be very helpful and maybe we could speak with each other about different ideas and maybe work together on something's!

[AmberGbenga]

Ok ill give it a go!


I'm Amber, 21 years old from Australia. I suffer with PTSD, OCD, depression and chronic anxiety. I was always a bigger girl, didnt have many friends.. I was depressed majority of my life. Graduating year 2009 we have a thing called schoolies, it's similar to spring break a believe. This is where my trauma happened. 4 years ago now, I went through medication, therapy, suicidle thoughts, self harm, I loved and I lost, I had ups and downs.. Until one day, march 2013 I hit a breaking point, I was on the outter of a bridge looking down on rocks and water, about to jump. When I had a thought cross my mind, it felt like dejavu my mum crying at my funeral. Next thing I know I'm walking back to my car on the phone to someone I was living with at the time. This was it for me, I began healing myself, I became so positive.. It was actually unhealthy, I bottled everything.. And turned it into nothing. I met my now fiancé soon after, he turned my life upside down. Made me feel again, open up to my emotions and ofcource to him. November 2013 I was visiting him, when I found out a family crisis happened, and also my father passed away.. I had panic attacks before this but, rarely and I didn't understand them. I was at the airport to go home, I had a sever attack, couldn't breath, dizzy, heart racing, couldn't move my limbs etc this went on for 2 hours! They weren't going to let me on the plane, but a medic calmed me
Down and I was able to leave and attend my fathers funeral the next day. Since then I have had ups and downs, but I am well on the road to recovery, I'm pushing myself everyday is a challenge, but it makes me stronger. We would not be handed this life if we could not handle it, everything happens for a reason and use chosen ones are meant to be strong, for the world.

I have made a video on YouTube, and plan to make more. Here is a link
http://youtu.be/kN9Z1ZPeoj4

[AmberGbenga]

Actually, this one has abit more info in it, you can take bits and pieces of you wish


My story: ( short version)

I'm Amber, 21 years old from Australia. I suffer with PTSD, OCD, depression and chronic anxiety. I was always a bigger girl, didnt have many friends.. I was depressed majority of my life. Graduating year 2009 we have a thing called schoolies, it's similar to spring break a believe. This is where my trauma happened. 4 years ago now, I went through medication, therapy, suicidle thoughts, self harm, I loved and I lost, I had ups and downs.. Until one day, march 2013 I hit a breaking point, I was on the outter of a bridge looking down on rocks and water, about to jump. When I had a thought cross my mind, it felt like dejavu my mum crying at my funeral. Next thing I know I'm walking back to my car on the phone to someone I was living with at the time. This was it for me, I began healing myself, I became so positive.. It was actually unhealthy, I bottled everything.. And turned it into nothing. I met my now fiancé soon after, he turned my life upside down. Made me feel again, open up to my emotions and ofcource to him. November 2013 I was visiting him, when I found out a family crisis happened, and also my father passed away.. I had panic attacks before this but, rarely and I didn't understand them. I was at the airport to go home, I had a sever attack, couldn't breath, dizzy, heart racing, couldn't move my limbs etc this went on for 2 hours! They weren't going to let me on the plane, but a medic calmed me
Down and I was able to leave and attend my fathers funeral the next day. Since then I have had ups and downs, but I am well on the road to recovery, I'm pushing myself everyday is a challenge, but it makes me stronger. We would not be handed this life if we could not handle it, everything happens for a reason and use chosen ones are meant to be strong, for the world.

How I feel about anxiety:

Anxiety is like a 2 year old child, it is always around, sometimes noisier and naughtier than other times. This child is a full time job, it exhausts you, always wants your attention, is always around but like every child with the right nurturing and discipline it can grow to be a well behaved young adult. Anxiety is crippling, the feeling of impending doom, and all the nasty effects it has. When an attack hits, you feel you could die at any moment. My personal anxiety is change, fear of the future, my own thoughts cripple me. Being trapped frightens me a lot (car,
Train, bus, plane) these are times when my anxiety is at it's highest. Anxiety is annoying, but I wouldn't say I hate it. It's simply just your mind saying 'hey, we need some help. We can't keep going like this' anxiety is a stress thing 99% stress, when it hits that 100% mark is when anxiety comes into play.

What I do:

Everything worth fighting for in life takes alot of time and effort. Nothing will cure anxiety over night. I went back on anti depressants (Lexapro) and began therapy again. I eat healthy, and go to the gym 6 days a week. I also run around the block everyday, and have yoga, dance and pole dancing lessons throughout the week. I self heal online (tinybudda.com), I meditate and I work. I have a social life, I go out places. I light my lavender scented candle, drink a cup of green tea and think of all the positive I have done for the day and what positive could happen in the future.


I have made a video on YouTube, and plan to make more. Here is a link
http://youtu.be/kN9Z1ZPeoj4

[Ponder]

What age range of children are you thinking about?

I wonder on all the different types of issues kids have to face as they be in this world today.

Broken Home Kids (those who have no home - build on strengths - buddy up - and all the rest below ..)
One parent Kids (family values still apply, stronger bonds ... )
Poor Kids - (build on strengths - be a beacon for others - don't't back down)
Learning Difficulty Kids - (build on strengths - go with what works - work with teachers that encourage and report those teachers that bully!)
Peer group pressure Kids - (discernment on understanding others .. .. how to find space, withdraw and re-engage)
Targeted Kids - (learn what makes a target, how to take a stand for others - self esteem building exercises .. ..)

Other tips - finding space / library - sports track and field - doing solo activities from drawing to reading in full view to be seen AKA- How not to become a target whilst building self esteem ... HOW avoidance can and cannot work - learn where the big fish swim, where the hot spots are and how to create your own zone.

Many of the above are what many kids need to learn, however teachers are too busy these days - and policies and procedures are only implemented for these thing - when it's toooo Late. All of this uneducated social interaction is left for the little ones to learn themselves - however based in a world full of SUCCESS orientated kids measured on how much they have, what they ware and how they appear, will leave many little fish - very frightened, targeted, labeled, and summed up before they even get to their first test -
YES - mental illness would challenge the system as is currently stands. The whole damn education system needs to prioritise what's more important - Authoritarian historical indoctrination until the world is extinct - or teach the kids how to live with each other before unloading the worlds expectations. Guilt, shame and obligations.

If anything - the best thing any student needs to learn is to UNLEARN!
__________________________________________________ ____

Edit, you'll have to forgive me, as I never really understand the questions given - it's yet another thing about those of us that cringe under the stance of the system. I'm about identifying where things went wrong, and how we can learn from that - not sure how to rehash every moment into that others than see it for what it was and still is.

Wish you the very best at putting these people's response to work.

[jessed03]

When I saw you post this thread Ibson, I immediately thought 'Ponder'!

You can read some of his musings on the depression forum. They've become very popular.

Tells it exactly as it is.

Partly because he's become quite frustrated at some of the societal norms, partly because he's pursued understanding of himself, and partly because he's an Aussie, and they're all loud mouths

[AmberGbenga]

Am not! ... Ok maybe slightly.. Ok bloody hell Jesse James, you think you for us all figured out aye haha

[lbson]

MIST- Your offer for a web presence is very kind! Perhaps a website where people submit their ways of coping with anxiety to others would be great as an extension of my project. We would need content first, naturally. That's where I'm hoping the users of this forum could help me!

JLK- I would love to see your art! At this stage I'm looking for written submissions - things that can then be accompanied by illustrations and artwork. However, if any of you can contribute drawings with the advice you want to submit, that would be awesome.

CDFRANK- Great minds think alike! I will privately message you to discuss your project

AMBER - Thankyou very much for your contribution. I'm so glad to hear that you've found a path to overcoming your illness. Everything you wrote in your 'What I Do' section was extremely helpful, I also found the way you personified anxiety (as a 2 year old child) really enlightening. As someone who doesn't particularly have much anxiety experience, it certainly helped me to understand how it can be.

PONDER - I'm looking to aim my project at teens / young adults. According to my research, Anxiety is one of the most common mental illnesses amongst teens (correct me if i'm wrong). The issue of anxiety tends to go unnoticed by parents and teachers, and in my own experience, very little is spoken about in schools and collages about this subject. Young people aren't getting the help they need and quite often they don't even realise they have a problem. Too many of my friends have crippling anxiety and have had to struggle with it all of their educational lives. Most still are. My project is to find a solution to this problem. Thankyou ever so much for your thoughtful contribution, I will most certainly begin to draw upon the points you made


For Anyone A Little Confused About What I'm Asking For

Here are some examples of advice that have been submitted so far:

- I have a mantra that I say to myself "calm, confident, capable"

- Go to therapy man, talk about things

- I'm an open book, or else anxiety would defeat me

- And pretty much everything Amber and Ponder have said!

THANKS AGAIN GUYS,
LOVE!