Friendship is vital during your mental illness. Your friends should be able to talk to you and treat you like the way that you are meant to. Respect is one of the most important parts to your recovery.

Adam is one of my best friends. We met at school and we always speak to each other. We speak nearly every day at some point and we talk about whatever we both feel is right. For me it is the biggest help that is possible for me. He knows what I can cope with and how to deal with me...

Family support is just as important as friends support. The most important people that need to know are your parents or the people that you live with. They need to be the people that make the changes to help support you. Saying to your parents however is harder than you would think but you don’t have to face it alone. I for one didn’t. Say to one of your closest friends first that you know will trust you than ask for their advice and get them to help you say. In my case, my friend that I chose...

There are many techniques that are available to use for you and finding the right one for you is vital. You can have more than one if you need it but it’s vital it is you that picks it as otherwise you will not get better.

I have a lot of suggestions that I think will help you but there are others out there:

• Plan a party – this can be very useful for those who have a lot of friends who help and want to take your mind off the mental illness. Be careful what you pick...

Telling work or school is a brave move in my view to make. It can come with a lot of consequences for you and may have issues. Before you tell your work or school think about the job itself. Some jobs you could be asked to leave for safety reasons if you say but the positives can mean you get time off if your employer is nice. By law they will have to make changes to suit you and ensure that you can work in a safe environment. Remember who you say is up to you.

If you want to you...

Music can really help. Listening to your favourite music is one of the biggest pieces of advice that I can give. Everyone should be able to have some on a phone or iPod etc…

Live music in my view is one of the best because the crowd can cheer you on and you can sing along ( not in public ) and as out of tune as you like. No one cares as long as you are ok and you are having fun.

You can always have music on quietly when out and it is safe to do so as that can sometimes...

Suicide is extremely dangerous. I have decided to do this piece because of my experiences. This is scary, I know. However, there are some things you can do to help.

Firstly, speak to friends. They will understand that you are going through a tough time and some may be willing to give you advice.

Secondly, see a counselor; you can find out more about treatment options here on the blog.

Thirdly, make a memory box or a box with things that help you or you...

I can't sleep. I'm too scared to sleep. It's hard to even describe what I'm afraid of. It's just this ominous feeling of bad things if I sleep. And it comes and goes and I thought I'd beaten it but it's back and I can't sleep and I'm so scared and this is gonna really fuck up the year for me if it continues.

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I don't feel stable. I need to drink. Or cut. Or something. Both. Ugh. I feel so empty.

Source: Notice | Facilitated Chat Room Discussions.


There are two scheduled discussions on the topic of building positive relationships in the Chat Room for users to seek advice and share thoughts and ideas! The first discussion will be held at 8pm UK time (BST) and the second ...

I'm so glad I have internet again because now I can work on learning languages and doing my other online courses. Then when term starts I can study that. I don't know why but all I want to do at the moment is study. I guess it's a distraction, and it's productive so that's good.