Long-term support over the journey

Holistic Art Therapy for Emotional and Mental Health and Wellbeing

replies: 6

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

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.

Anyone had to spend days alone without anyone to talk to?

replies: 3070

Hi all, apart from here and a brief visit to church last night (to make it feel Christmassy and to just be with people) I've had day after day for weeks now with nobody at all to talk to. This time of year especially it's really depressing. Old frien... View more

Hi all, apart from here and a brief visit to church last night (to make it feel Christmassy and to just be with people) I've had day after day for weeks now with nobody at all to talk to. This time of year especially it's really depressing. Old friends that live far away are gradually losing contact with me - I ring them but they don't ring me. I understand they're busy with their live elsewhere but still it's hard when you're lonely. I'm going to a Christmas Eve service at the local church tomorrow night to at least be with people for a little while... but otherwise all day I'm alone, just me and the dog. Sometimes I strike up a conversation on BB but then the other person disappears and that's the end of that... How are people meant to cope with prolonged periods of social isolation? I read, I watch DVDs, normally I'd go for long walks with the dog but thick smoke from bushfires and intense hot weather have stopped that. I go to a café alone sometimes. Any ideas/help?

Should I just suck this up?

replies: 2271

OK, this isn't easy for me to write bcas I respect police also but this is my situation. I aparantly unlawfully entered a friends property, that's right a friends property. He wasn't home and I wasn't believed. Anyhow I was put in a mental institutio... View more

OK, this isn't easy for me to write bcas I respect police also but this is my situation. I aparantly unlawfully entered a friends property, that's right a friends property. He wasn't home and I wasn't believed. Anyhow I was put in a mental institution. I preferred the hospital choice over the police station choice thinking I'll be in there for a couple weeks. 3 months later I came out overmedicated feeling like shite...misdiagnosed with a mental illness as a " safety net" seriously!!!! 3 months of my life where I couldn't work, and live my normal life. Inclosed in a small space, going crazy. Should I just " suck this up". ?

Everything just feels like too much work

replies: 5

Good evening, I have little drive to accomplish anything. I have 2 beautiful kids. But some days I end up just zoning out watching crap on my phone instead of spending time with them. I feel like I'm failing, hubby works afternoons so 5 days a week i... View more

Good evening, I have little drive to accomplish anything. I have 2 beautiful kids. But some days I end up just zoning out watching crap on my phone instead of spending time with them. I feel like I'm failing, hubby works afternoons so 5 days a week it is all on me. To keep the house tidy, feed kids, bath kids, homework, additional homework from speech therapy for 1 kid. Walk the dog's (definitely not happening as much as it should). I only work casual, so it's not like I am struggling with time, just the will to get things done. I'm sick of things not happening, but not enough to commit to doing things about it. No idea what to do to get me out of this massive slump

Now do you cope with someone who thinks they are always right.?

replies: 5

I live with someone who is always right.i have tried say nothing , I have tried calmly stating my view but the person can’t hand,e me having my own opinion. Then it mends up in me being called names. people tell me let it go and cwhy should it matter... View more

I live with someone who is always right.i have tried say nothing , I have tried calmly stating my view but the person can’t hand,e me having my own opinion. Then it mends up in me being called names. people tell me let it go and cwhy should it matter.

Mental health conditions supported by NDIS

replies: 1

Hi there, I have BPD, anxiety, sevre despressive diosrder, anorexia - restrictive eating (in remission, I slip up on keeping it under control from time-to-time), potentional PMDD (has been recommended by a Psychiatrist I saw for an ADHD disgnosis I g... View more

Hi there, I have BPD, anxiety, sevre despressive diosrder, anorexia - restrictive eating (in remission, I slip up on keeping it under control from time-to-time), potentional PMDD (has been recommended by a Psychiatrist I saw for an ADHD disgnosis I get tested for it), potential ADHD (one appointment with the Psychiatrist wasn't enough but she felt I showed symptoms, also very hard to dignosis as ADHD and BPD have many similarities that cross over) and am medicated for my sevre depression (but I'm getting swapped onto something else because its not working though). I'm looking for help or information around being eligible for Centrelinks Disability Pension and/or NDIS. Any help would be much appriciated, feeling very at a loss and finding work isn't something I have the capacity for and haven't for some time.Thank you!

Trusting the Journey

replies: 1

I've used BB in the past and want to share my experience and what has made me the version of me that strives to be the best version each day.I've battled addictions, anxiety, depression, and PTSD - all of which still impact me to this day, but I have... View more

I've used BB in the past and want to share my experience and what has made me the version of me that strives to be the best version each day.I've battled addictions, anxiety, depression, and PTSD - all of which still impact me to this day, but I have developed the tools to overcome them with a positive attitude. I'm an emotional support facilitator and a NDE survivor amongst many other things. I'm also a father of six that's lost a child.Please feel free to ask questions or reach out to me. I am a man that's always someone described as approachable and I love to help.We can do this, as a community we are stronger.I believe in you as I believe in myself.Trust the Journey.

Imprisoned Families

replies: 1

I’m from the USA originally and started a life in AU over a decade ago. While I have been here, my sister’s son started to experience paranoid schizophrenia and sadly killed someone. He should be in prison, he was guilty, he needs medical treatment a... View more

I’m from the USA originally and started a life in AU over a decade ago. While I have been here, my sister’s son started to experience paranoid schizophrenia and sadly killed someone. He should be in prison, he was guilty, he needs medical treatment and should be under the care of a psychiatrist his entire life. He went into prison at 20, will be in prison for 45 years, we’ll all be dead by the time he gets out, so that means the remainder of my sister’s life is essentially over (for any mother who has a son in prison knows this). She’s not the strong type to move on (the guilt, the sense of failure, the anxiety of going out - it was in the news, the removal of any social media, the hiding, the complete identity change). Aside from that, how do families “move on?” Prison doesn’t just take the offender, it takes the entire family. Those who don’t want to be taken, leave the family, as in you never hear from them again (it’s like they died). The ones who comfort the mother, they walk the line of staying in prison with her. She never moves on. She would be happier if everyone in the family wrote to him or kept in touch somehow but because everyone has walked away, she feels compelled to remain for the daily phone call and can never move on. I don’t think my family can cope with 45 years, the remainder of our lives like this. My sister has tried to kill herself once, she’s turned to religion, as you do when you can’t find answers or others like you. I never cared about prisoners, prisons, any of that…until it came my way. I’ve never thought about what prison is there for and how it is supposed to “rehabilitate.” I presume just like his victim’s family will suffer generations, we shall as well and that’s the point of prison. It’s just insane, I can’t even explain the challenge of your soul to try to survive it.

Long-term support over the journey

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Welcome, read this if it's your first time here !

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