Art is a big part of James’ recovery ‘The result came back: I needed to seek and still to this day I use art regularly just to stay well. THE BEYONDBLUE professional help straight away. Finding art was a big part of my recovery.’ RESOURCES, TOOLS ‘That was really hard for me to absorb, I sat with it James implemented a daily routine that he still AND SERVICES ARE for a few days because I didn’t really want to go to the uses, made up of four habits that he says ensure he EASILY ACCESSIBLE doctor and I didn’t think I needed to,’ James says. stays well. THROUGH HIA But, despite nearly leaving the waiting room ‘I take time out to do meditation or mindfulness, a number of times because he felt out of place again, that took me a while to get my head around among others who were visibly and physically as a bloke but it’s very worthwhile; I maintain a unwell, he did eventually pluck up the courage to good diet; I exercise every day; and get enough seek medical advice. sleep, and if I get the first three throughout the day, He couldn’t have predicted what a turn his life I’ll sleep really well at night.’ was going to take from there, As for those who might be unsure if what they’re ‘The doctor was very reassuring, he told me I struggling with is related to mental health or not? wasn’t the first person to come through the door ‘Talk to somebody. That’s as simple as it is. with mental health concerns, and then went through There’s no shame so don’t suffer in silence,’ all of the treatment options. He was so supportive James says. and that really started my journey to recovery.’ ‘Generally people know themselves well enough In addition to taking time off work to recover, to know that when they’re not right they can tell James had to shift his ordinary routine to prevent they’re not right,’ he says. ‘Early intervention is the the situation repeating. key to a better and quicker outcome.’ ‘Seeing a psychologist regularly was something The beyondblue resources, tools and services that I built into my life. That was also hard because are easily accessible through HIA. there’s a lot of stigma about talking to a psychologist and my understanding was very limited.’ Visit www.hia.com.au/about/ Perhaps one of the best outcomes from his initiatives/beyondblue experience was James finding a new hobby: ‘it was so bizarre, I just woke up one day when I was off work and had the urge to draw a picture. When I did I found my mind was that focused on that, all of the negative self-talk and low feelings disappeared – I was absorbed in art. ‘It was a way of releasing my emotions and getting that out of my head. I found that very therapeutic MAY 2018 HOUSING 113