Struggles with mental health

@Lowrida29 if only our parents were educated on mental health properly when they were younger!! now that they're older, it takes so much more convincing/teaching to help them understand.

that's so good! it's nice having someone who gets family/cultural expectations, etc. so you don't have to explain it to them.

ooo bouldering sounds cool! i've always wanted to try it, do you do it indoors? hikes are nice too. especially when you can catch the sunrise/sunset view.

how do you feel about talking to a professional (counsellor/psych/clinician/GP, etc) about those feelings? is it something you'd be open to trying soon?

i hear you @Lowrida29 even though your parents don't understand, i'm glad you a friend who does. she sounds amazing.

nice! i didn't realise good bouldering shoes were so expensive, just saw one for $200+! even using the rental shoes, i reckon it's taught you a lot of skills.

absolutely hear how private health cover can be limiting. typically, seeing a psych/counsellor involves a GP visit and asking for a referral. if you have access to medicare, you can ask for a mental health plan so that you can receive rebates. if not, you'll have to pay the full amount which can be pricey.

here's some that i'd like to share with you, in case you want to give them a go:

• Embrace Multicultural Mental Health - Need Help? - the numbers on this link such as BeyondBlue, MensLine, etc., are all places you can call/chat to for free. you can call them as many times as you need, most are 24/7, but just be aware that you won't get the same person on the phone/chat room each time
• Clinical Consultation Service - Transcultural Mental Health Centre i'm not 100% sure if you're eligible for the free clinical consultation but you can give them a ring/email to see.
• if you're still studying, sometimes the uni/school you go to offers some free or discounted counselling/psych sessions too. sometimes student psychologists/counsellors charge at a cheaper rate, so they might be more accessible and my not care too much about your visa status.

i'm just leaving these links here if you ever need them, totally okay if you don't 😊

Thanks for the links, @rav3n. I'm not a student anymore so I will have to bank on the helplines and student psychs. I live near a uni [edited by moderator] so I can fancy my chances there.

Training for tougher bouldering problems requires all round focus on different joints. However, I need to boulder more and stay patient in the face of failure.

@Lowrida29 oh yep no worries, and i hope you're able to find cheap ones nearby!! sometimes they even give alumni discounts... not sure if all unis do it though.

that's really intense, you must have a lot of strength! i'm still building mine up at gym, very beginner level. staying patient is a good goal to have. i like to think that as long as you learn something, it's not failure but a lesson and opportunity for growth.

how long have you been in Australia for? has it been long since you've visited your parents?

also just wanted to let you know that i've edited you last post to remove the name of the specific uni you live near. this is just to help keep your anonymity and privacy safe. sharing your what state/major city (i.e. NSW/Sydney, VIC/Melbourne, etc) you live in is fine, but any other specifics could be risky. hope that makes sense! (you can read more here: Guidelines and technical support - SANE Forums)

@Lowrida29 no worries at all!

oh wow, sharing that transformation with friends definitely is a big step!! seems like the confidence is building up slowly 😊

6 years is quite long! and i imagine dealing with covid and all that was a lot, yet you made it through! do you reckon you'd want to live here long-term or back overseas?

Hey @Lowrida29 , nice to meet you!

Thank you for sharing a little about yourself and what you do to keep well. Bouldering sounds tough!

Perhaps through staying fit and exercising, you can improve your mental health?

I look forward to connecting with again soon.