Urgent Help
Is this an emergency?
Are you or others in danger? Do you need an ambulance or the police?
000
Lifeline
24 hour phone line for crisis support and suicide prevention.
13 11 14
Kids Help Line
24 hour phone line. A free counselling service for young people across Australia aged between 5-25 years.
1800 55 1800
Beyond Blue
24 hour phone line for support, information and advice.
1300 224 636
Self help options
Self help options

Looking after yourself when you’re using

Share
Print + Download

Whether or not you want to change your drug use, you can still be healthy. Good physical health protects us against a stack of things.

Good physical health can protect our mental health and keep us feeling strong in tough times. Being in good health also improves our happiness. To stay physically well, some things you can do are:

  • Get up and get dressed every day! Even if you are just staying home, if you can get out of bed and get dressed, you’ll feel a bit better
  • Think about your diet – eating food from the fridge (fruit and veg) instead of food from the cupboard (processed foods) is an easy guide to healthy eating.
  • Get outside! Even a walk to the corner and back can give you a burst of Vitamin D and fresh air
  • Exercise – you may not feel like doing a lot, but doing anything will make you feel good. Take the stairs, walk to the next tram stop, take a stroll around the block
  • Limit your time on social media – sometimes doom scrolling through social media doesn’t help your mind.
  • Sleep – sleep can’t cure everything, but it can cure a lot of things! If you’re having trouble sleeping, try to reduce caffeine, sleep in clean sheets, have a shower before bed, and to turn off Facebook etc an hour before bed to help you unwind.
  • Communicate – sometimes just telling someone what you’re thinking or feeling can give you energy

Maintaining your physical health gives you once less thing to worry about, as well as helping you to be strong enough to manage the worries you already do have. 

Good physical health protects us against a stack of things.

Get help now

YoDAA is a free and confidential online and phone service that offers supports to young people, families and professionals. You can contact 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

Further Reading

HSP225-Sleep-Fact-Sheet-DP3.pdf (headspace.org.au)

How does exercise improve mental health? | headspace

Get in to life to keep your headspace healthy

6 ways to practise mindfulness | headspace

Related Articles

I want to cut down or stop
 Tips for helping a friend who has had too much

Signs to look out for that indicate your friend might have overdosed, and how to support them through it so they come out the other side.

What Happens After 25?

Read on to find out how to access residential and community based support options across Victoria once you turn 25 and need to access Adult Support Services. It’s not too…

Not sure what I want to do
Single Session Family Consultation [SSFC]

YoDAA can provide a neutral, confidential space led by professionals who understand the challenges families face. Their role is to support healthier communication—not to judge or take sides. Sometimes one good conversation is…