Hi everyone, I'm back.

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone, mb20lover here. I wasn't sure where to post this.

It's been a while since I was on the forums, so I just wanted to make a post saying that I'm back. However, I'll try my best to limit my time, comments, etc on here.

I won't bother tagging anyone, and I'll try to keep this as my only open thread that I have created.

I've missed everyone I've spoken to on here, and I hope to talk to some new people. I have been using my offline supports - my Psychiatrist, GP, Parent support of course, and a Social Worker. I'm in the process of finding a Psychologist but I'm having no luck.

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in and say hello, and also I hope I haven't upset anyone on the forums or anything like that because nothing was intentional, so I deeply apologise.

An update on me, I recently turned 21, can't do much with COVID though, it's a hard year for everyone unfortunately.

I also have a milestone, an achievement, I've been seeing my Psychiatrist for a year which is the longest I've stayed with a therapist. And I also finally have a GP I feel comfortable with. I'm on different meds that seem to be working a little but I still of course have my moments, but these meds I've been on the longest for out of any of the ones I've tried.

Other than that, please don't feel pressured to comment anyone, although it would be nice to connect with some people, old or new, but like I said that's okay. I just wanted to check in.

If you've read this and made it this far, thank you. Stay safe and take care everyone, as much as possible with the unfortunate COVID circumstances.

Thinking of all the Beyond Blue Mods & Users. I've missed everyone.

- mb20lover.

[Guest_4643]

Hey Elithia, thank you.

I went to a Headspace Centre and had a very traumatic experience. The online chats are mixed for me, sometimes they're good, other times they're bad.

Thank you for your suggestion though.

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone has used 7Cups Forums? I was looking at it but it seems confusing to use in my opinion. Plus it's worldwide.

[Guest_4643]

Is anyone around? No pressure for anyone to reply, I'm just feeling lonely.

[Jstar49]

Hi Tayla,

I haven't heard of the forum, sorry.

I'm sorry you were feeling lonely- good on you for identifying it, and being brave enough to admit it. Have you read any of Brene Browns books? She does great work around vulnerability and bravery. In the book I'm reading she talks about how they have identified that tiredness sometimes has loneliness at it's roots. The story was from the armed forces where ppl are separated from their families, so you can imagine that loneliness is a big issue there.

The only thing i think i have really learnt about loneliness is that I'm better off investing in existing relationships, deepening connections that I already have, when I am feeling lonely or vulnerable. Sometimes it's with someone who I already know a little bit, and so far so good. Like, maybe the lady in your street, or someone you've just said hello to, but you get a chance to stop and say hello, maybe offer to help in the garden or, pick something up at the shops.

When Covid hit, with lockdown, and MH was being recognised as a problem for many ppl already socially isolated, what we talked about in my tafe class was all the ppl who had relied on the small, incidental social contacts in shopping centres and newsagents etc. So it made me realise how important just those little conversations are, about the weather, or a pretty flower, or the price of apples.

I hope your day today is bright and beautiful Tayla,

Cheers,

J*

[HamSolo01]

Hey Tay hope you are okay today. Seen you about.

Hey also Jstar49

[Guest_4643]

Hi J and Hams. J, I don't really read but thanks. Also I just wanted to let people know that suggestions such as TAFE, online courses, jobs, volunteering, groups, etc. can be triggering for me, but I know people are trying to help. I don't have the concentration and attention span, and money to study etc. I applied for the NDIS but I was told they don't fund the stuff I want like social stuff, job training etc so I withdrew my claim.

I have the DSP but I can't find anything about getting discounts, & even with a payment plan I can't afford it still.

I left school in year 10 due to bullying, becoming physically ill everyday, etc. so I can't do TAFE anyway because I had to complete year 10.

I know people are trying to help, but this stuff really triggers me. I have looked into stuff but I can't do anything.
Please be mindful of the fact it triggers me a lot. I'm already a failure, I know that, but I don't need to be reminded of it.

[Matchy69]

Hi Tayla I don't consider you a failure at all.You are a good caring person and that amounts for more then anything.I hope you can see that one day.

[HamSolo01]

Hey Tay. I hope you're okay this evening. We are thinking of you my friend.

I have had similar experiences in regards to future direction and yes - I have found it hard to talk about such things in the past. Usually it's best to put those to bed and distract and deal with it on another day.

You're still young my friend. Don't sweat over it. But I also see its something you are concerned about so there is that too.

Either way we are here to support you in whatever way.

Take care my friend and see you around

[Jstar49]

Hey Tayla,

Yeah I can understand you feeling a bit upset about well meaning suggestions. Everyone is just suggesting, probably from their own experience, things which they think will help.

Something like tafe, or volunteering, would probably need some stepping stones to it. Thats where it would be great to find somewhere or someone to advocate for you, which is possibly where NDIS could still be useful. But I have heard that it takes quite a bit of determination wading thru all the paperwork etc. So I don't blame you for not doing that, esp if you don't think it will give you what you need.

So- social stuff, and job training is what you'd like. What sort of social stuff would you like to do?

I'm going to offer one last suggestion, if I may. Feel free to ignore it, you may have tried it. However, here goes.

I read that you don't like talking on the phone. However, in my experience, most small community organisations which provide helpful services don't have very much info online, so talking to them on the phone is the only way to find out about things you might be interested in. I say this becos it sounds like you need a helping hand, someone who can walk beside you, thru this process of accessing social stuff and maybe job training. And as we don't know where you live, it's difficult to be able to help, and frustrating becos we care about you!

I'd love to hear that you've made contact with a helpful organisation and they're really nice, and even tho some things didn't work out they're going to keep helping you. Would you like that?

Also, on a teeny tiny side note, Brene Brown also does a TED talk and is on netflix, if you're interested. She's a lovely speaker, I found it really easy to listen to her stories.

Cheers,

J*

[Guest_4643]

Hi all. J, to answer your question.

Wellways is the only thing around here. I contacted them by phone before I could see somebody, they were nice. Then when I saw someone (who was meant to help me with social stuff, NDIS, etc), she was awful. She wouldn't turn up to appointments & would cancel them 1 hour beforehand & say she had meetings. Turns out her husband had COVID & she came to my house! Luckily we didn't get it, this was last year sometime. She bought me a Psychology book to make up for it & tried to talk to me but I didn't want to see & speak to her. I complained. They said she shouldn't have done all of that.

The other person couldn't help. They weren't running activities because of COVID.

The only other thing around here is for homelessness & food issues, which doesn't apply to me.