Caring for myself and others

Pmdd, housing crisis and life stages

replies: 1

Hi, it’s my first time posting and it’s been a rough day (or three years). I have recently learned I have PMDD and Cptsd and am feeling absolutely hopeless. The cycle PMDD makes everything worse, and symptoms of Cptsd can warp how I see things and na... View more

Hi, it’s my first time posting and it’s been a rough day (or three years). I have recently learned I have PMDD and Cptsd and am feeling absolutely hopeless. The cycle PMDD makes everything worse, and symptoms of Cptsd can warp how I see things and navigate situations. In the last three years, I have had a terrible break up that spun me out into years of rumination and reignited self hate and the feeling of being unlovable, I have had to move away from my chosen town and community back into my parents house as a result of the housing crisis, I have been diagnosed with a heart issue, Pmdd and cptsd, I have not been mentally well so have cut a lot of people out of my life, my dog died and I feel completely stuck in my life. I am so grateful and understand my privilege to be able to live with my parents but I have been really triggered and my mental health has gone down the drain. I’ve seen a psychologist for about a year but they really didn’t make a dent. I have applied to numerous rentals and have not got any. I moved into a sharehouse earlier this year but that was a disaster (it flooded).I have tried new hobbies, gone of friendship apps, tried asking friends of friends to meet up in order to make new connections and have had absolutely no new luck. My old friends from my home town have all moved away. it feels like the last three years I have tried and tried to live my own life and have been slapped in the face at every turn. I can’t get my own place, my own space and it’s stolen my independence from me. I feel so guilty for cutting off friends. I have treated my family so badly at times. I am embarrassed to be me. I just turned 30 and have nothing to show for it. I don’t know what to do.

Too skinny

replies: 3

I don’t know what to do, my sister growing up was always over weight and over recent years she has lost a lot and was loving how she looked, but in recent times her weight has dropped so much that it’s starting to scare me. She is very unhealthy, loo... View more

I don’t know what to do, my sister growing up was always over weight and over recent years she has lost a lot and was loving how she looked, but in recent times her weight has dropped so much that it’s starting to scare me. She is very unhealthy, looks like skin and bones but in her mind she still feels fat and panicks whenever she puts on any weight. I have spoken with her and tried to be as honest and open as I can be but I don’t know how to support her, I don’t know what to do next to actually get her the help that she needs, financially neither of us have a great deal of money either. If any one could tell me what worked for them or any resources I could use it would be much appreciated.

Learning to be honest with my self

replies: 1

I like drinking but it's affecting my relationships with family. It's a selfish thing. I keep losing my phone, wallet and keys every month or so. I know I should stop but I don't really want to. I think I may be covering pain with alcohol. View more

I like drinking but it's affecting my relationships with family. It's a selfish thing. I keep losing my phone, wallet and keys every month or so. I know I should stop but I don't really want to. I think I may be covering pain with alcohol.

Asking for advice for finding more positive mindsets

replies: 2

Hey I’m trying to help myself and my family, I’m a 27 year old man, im booked in with the psychiatrist for diagnosis, and it scares me a tad, I was diagnosed ADD as a kid around 8 years old but my parents chose not to medicate. As an adult I am quick... View more

Hey I’m trying to help myself and my family, I’m a 27 year old man, im booked in with the psychiatrist for diagnosis, and it scares me a tad, I was diagnosed ADD as a kid around 8 years old but my parents chose not to medicate. As an adult I am quick to flight or fight mode and can become irritable when there is too much noise or when there is so many noises I can’t concentrate, heat also makes me irritable. I’ve always struggled with focus, not just on day to day tasks but also my hobbies I’m an amateur at everything and master of none, and I have a bad habit of starting jobs at work and home etc but not finishing them. I overthink everything and am constantly having thoughts through my head and I ruminate so hard I put myself in an irritable mood nearly every day, I developed a marijuana habit I started at 17 and found it made me feel normal for the first time ever so I kept smoking but now I’m 17 and it just doesn’t help as much as it use too, nicotene also helps, I want to get better for my family so I’m trying to get diagnosis to maybe be able to cut back the cannabis and also hopefully ease the rumination so I can be less irritable all the time, so please any advice or what to expect would be appreciated.

Anxiety, stress and searching for support

replies: 1

I'm trying to find the right support person I'm currently at point in my life were Iv had a realisation that my life has not gone the way I had dreamed they would, I'm being the woman I want to be. And I have not accomplished much, I'm not settled I ... View more

I'm trying to find the right support person I'm currently at point in my life were Iv had a realisation that my life has not gone the way I had dreamed they would, I'm being the woman I want to be. And I have not accomplished much, I'm not settled I dont have my own housing so I'm very unstable. I need therapy and help in trying to find the best solution I want too get this right before it's too late.

Stress & anxiety

replies: 3

Hi, this is the first time I ever reached out for help. Feel very vulnerable and alone in this at the moment. I have my first chat with beyond blue in the morning, still unsure if this will help me. I'm basically over thinking and stressing out about... View more

Hi, this is the first time I ever reached out for help. Feel very vulnerable and alone in this at the moment. I have my first chat with beyond blue in the morning, still unsure if this will help me. I'm basically over thinking and stressing out about my business and employees added to the weight of building a new home. Things seem to have gotten on top of me recently

Getting over a breakup as a neurodivergent person

replies: 0

I’ve been seeing my current psychologist for a few years now. About a year ago she raised a query she had about me having Autism Spectrum Disorder. It sent me into a spin at the time (not to say I consider those with Autism as any less able or ‘diffe... View more

I’ve been seeing my current psychologist for a few years now. About a year ago she raised a query she had about me having Autism Spectrum Disorder. It sent me into a spin at the time (not to say I consider those with Autism as any less able or ‘different’ in a bad way at all), but since I have been very slowly coming around to it and noticing more things I do or have or am that align with symptoms/signs of autism (although some don’t). Last year, I was in a ‘situationship’ with a guy who I worked with. He lives in a different city and it was basically based all on messages, after initially meeting him in person at a work thing then only seeing him a few times throughout the year. This was my first thing remotely close to a relationship (which I am hesitant to call it) as I have some pretty big issues with trust + others. That ‘relationship’ fizzled out at the end of last year, which is all very blurred to me now. But essentially he felt we were much more like friends than anything more. I’ve found the whole ‘breakup’ process so incredibly confusing and just like I’m doing it wrong, not abiding by all the unspoken protocols that exist re: following, unfollowing, blocking, messaging etc w an ex on social media and knowing how much or how to engage with them, We spoke a few times while we were talking about really wanting to stay friends after, if we did end things (because we talked a bit about the unrealistic nature of anything being possible given the distance). I’m just feeling really, really guilty because clearly I’m still very much caught up in this and I really wish I could have gotten over it much quicker and been able to be friends, because he really tried to persevere his communication with me, on a friends basis, but I just rejected it for a while and didn’t try much because a) I was angry/sad and b) I wanted to respect where he was at and didn’t want to come across/make it obvious that I was still into him. But now I hate how I’ve gone about it all and know I’m the reason we’re not friends, despite talking so much about it before. Basically, I’m just wondering if anyone is has experience with getting over a breakup as a neurodivergent person, or if anyone knows if neurodivergence is even relevant/affects the process? I just feel really so stupid and broken by the fact that it’s been almost a year and I’m not over it. (I do know that some people take longer than others etc, regardless of neurodivergence, but I just feel like ive tried everything and I’m not making progress) I also have spoken to my psych about this a lot and she is very patient but I’m also noticing she is getting a bit frustrated each time I bring it up, which is very very fair, and talking about it just doesn’t seem to be helping.

Binge drinking

replies: 0

My partner is a binge drinker. Starts with a few drinks one night, a bottle wine the next then 2 and then days of drinking, passing out waking up and continuing to drink. I have been at the receiving end of the blame for so many things. She blames me... View more

My partner is a binge drinker. Starts with a few drinks one night, a bottle wine the next then 2 and then days of drinking, passing out waking up and continuing to drink. I have been at the receiving end of the blame for so many things. She blames me for her selling her house. She cannot stand the fact that I have been married before. She cannot say why she drinks. She has admitted on numerous occasions that it is an issue and she needs help but never gets any. We have planned a future together and in one of her up phases, bought a house. Again the drink has raised its head. I'm not sure what to do as the drinking is affecting how I feel about our relationship and our/my future. Having just bought a house I feel hemmed in and have no idea what to do.

Saddness

replies: 1

I Have Been Sad For The Last 6 Years

Self Harming Teen

replies: 3

Gosh, where do I start with this, I am distraught and need to hear form others that have been through this. I have a 13 year old teen girl who is going through some hard times. It started when she was in year 7 and was bullied by the entire school be... View more

Gosh, where do I start with this, I am distraught and need to hear form others that have been through this. I have a 13 year old teen girl who is going through some hard times. It started when she was in year 7 and was bullied by the entire school because she loved the whole furry world (where people design and create fur suits). She loves creating and designing them. Long story short she began to self harm as a way of dealing with her emotions, we worked very closely with the school and a psychologist and the bullying stopped and she got through it. Fast forward a year later and the self harming has started again, I've noticed she has befriended a 13 yr old online that has told my daughter that she identifies as a boy and is transgender. This child if from Canada, since then I've noticed that my daughter started dressing in boys clothes and wanted to cut her hair short, so I let her. The self harming also started again to the point that the police turned up at my front doorstep because she told someone online she was going to harm herself again and this child was clever enough to contact the authorities and report it. My daughter then told me that she feels like she is transgender, this was a shock to me, however I did tell her that I love her no matter what, but she is still very young to make these decisions as her mind is still developing and she might not feel this way in the future. I have her back into a counselling program and have her seeing a psychologist. I have confiscated all the sharps in the house and had to extend this to sharpeners as well, I discovered that she was removing the blades! On Friday I noticed a scrape on her arm and when I asked her what happened she told me she fell and scraped it on the concrete during sport. I accepted this, however, my mum told me this morning that she caught her scratching at the arm and that is what the scrape is. She was self harming using her nails now!! I was very upset and did not handle it the best way, I started crying and said that how am I supposed to trust her if she doesn't come and speak with me when she feels this way. I don't know what else to do! She is actively lying to me about the self harm and I don't know how else I can control my emotions, I feel she doesn't tell me because I get sad, this is something she told the counselor. Do they get better? Is there anything more I can do to handle this situation better, I feel like I myself am sliding into depths of sadness.

Partners drinking himself to death

replies: 4

Hi. I’m new here. But how do you cope with some one that is drinking themself to an early grave.. the subject is strictly taboo with him so we don’t talk about it. I feel disconnected to him There is so much more but I don’t know how to talk about it... View more

Hi. I’m new here. But how do you cope with some one that is drinking themself to an early grave.. the subject is strictly taboo with him so we don’t talk about it. I feel disconnected to him There is so much more but I don’t know how to talk about it as I’ve not spoken to any one about it. I feel angry that he dose not care enough for us for him self to stop. Has been going on for years and years. I know I can not stop him as it is up to him . But I’m at the point that I am starting to dislike him.

Family Member who won't seek help

replies: 8

I have a family member who can be very irrational. We have tried talking to them but they get verbally abusive towards the rest of my family. Every time they get upset/set off they blow the situation very out of proportion and they bring up issues th... View more

I have a family member who can be very irrational. We have tried talking to them but they get verbally abusive towards the rest of my family. Every time they get upset/set off they blow the situation very out of proportion and they bring up issues that happened from years ago and even trivial disagreements like what sports team they go for gets blown out of proportion. They are under a lot of stress and we've encouraged for them to seek therapy and medication but they refuse or it then becomes a bigger argument as they claim they are fine and don't need help. The most frustrating part of it all, is that they make jokes all the time but whenever someone else does it becomes offensive to them. We have tried creating better boundaries but they go one step further by blocking us on everything. Really trying to seek some help on what we should as we are at loss with our family member. They are very emotional about everything we say or do even if it's trying to help in our eyes. Every move we make is the wrong one and we are feeling very defeated about the whole thing. It brings everyone else in our family lots of anxiety and sadness. We want to help them but they are refusing help. Does anyone have advice or guidance for going through something similar.

Long -term difference?

replies: 3

Hello everyone, Not sure if this is the right forum to be posting this on. Just wanting to hear from people who have struggled with mental health or know people that have struggled with mental health long-term. I would like to know if once they seek ... View more

Hello everyone, Not sure if this is the right forum to be posting this on. Just wanting to hear from people who have struggled with mental health or know people that have struggled with mental health long-term. I would like to know if once they seek help was there a positive change in them and their relationships with people. Just looking for a little bit of hope that when my loved one does finally decide to seek help that eventually they will be happy and the environment will be calmer. I understand that there will always be moments that aren't positive but I'm currently feeling very hopeless and the idea that our relationship will mend is seeming very impossible. Just looking for guidance and peoples experience that will give me hope that there is chance our relationships will better or if I just need to accept that this may be the new norm.

Holistic Art Therapy for Emotional and Mental Health and Wellbeing

replies: 1

Hi everyone, After reading some of the posts here, I felt that I wanted to join because from what I have understood about mental health is that its an life long awareness journey, and those of us more sensitive to the experiences we have on this jour... View more

Hi everyone, After reading some of the posts here, I felt that I wanted to join because from what I have understood about mental health is that its an life long awareness journey, and those of us more sensitive to the experiences we have on this journey, sense and feel more deeply in order to process the levels of it which we do. From what I have understood so far is that once you get to a certain point in your mental health and wellbeing of either extreme in positive or negative states, it forever becomes a balancing act as it forces you to take control of the responsibility of your being and you need to navigate enduring waters when learning to sink or swim. Those who know me, are already aware of my life experiences and how they affected my health and wellbeing. For a long time it did not make sense to me why I was having all these experiences thrust upon me, challenging my emotions and mental health, and as a flow on, my physical health. For a while I was a counsellor and for a lifetime been a full time carer of 5 people - all at once and for decades without support or respite - so when it came to a critical point where I was having PTSD paralysis, sleep disorders, cortisol overloads and various other issues, enough was enough and I had to break away from it all. I took my saving grace, which was a life time of self medicated Art Therapy, and turned it into a career choice when I encountered so many people drifting in and out of their mental health care support and who needed someone to show them a step forward instead of simply shutting down. Regional and rural areas are so deprived of resources and assistance that people would rather end their lives than suffer the drifting that occurs when you fall between the cracks of lack of services, and unable to finding a connector to alternative options such as Art Therapy. Children and Youth in particular being vulnerable, and this was hammered home to me as a mother of a teenage son who lost 3 mates to suicide in just over one year when he was aged 15, because they could not find the resources to help them manage and deal with their issues at home in their personal lives. One thing Art Therapy does, is utilise an inner self empowering ability to be creative and engage in that process intuitively and safely. I recommend it for anyone. You do not need to be an artist, creativity is inbuilt in all of us and merely needs acknowledging. It can be as simple as colouring in. Give it a try, let me know what it was like.

Panic Attacks

replies: 2

I suffer with panic attacks, I hate mornings. I’m always thinking what if. How can I stop this

Pmdd, housing crisis and life stages replies: 1

Too skinny replies: 3

Learning to be honest with my self replies: 1

Asking for advice for finding more positive mindsets replies: 2

Anxiety, stress and searching for support replies: 1

Stress & anxiety replies: 3

Getting over a breakup as a neurodivergent person replies: 0

Binge drinking replies: 0

Saddness replies: 1

Self Harming Teen replies: 3

Partners drinking himself to death replies: 4

Family Member who won't seek help replies: 8

Long -term difference? replies: 3

Holistic Art Therapy for Emotional and Mental Health and Wellbeing replies: 1

Panic Attacks replies: 2