Supporting family and friends

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Parents and caregivers: How are you feeling about the social media restrictions for under 16s?

replies: 3

Hey everyone, It’s hard to miss the talk around the new social media restrictions for under 16s, set to roll out across Australia in early December. We’ve heard from some of the younger members of our community, and now we’d love to hear from parents and caregivers. For some, this change might feel like a welcome relief - a clearer way to manage social media use and protect young people. For others, there may be concerns about how it will affect access to online support, questions around how age verification will actually work, or frustration and powerlessness over a decision beyond our control. All of these feelings are valid. If you’re a parent or caregiver, or you have some young people in your life that will be affected by these restrictions, how are you feeling about this change? We’ve created this space for anyone caring for young people to share their thoughts, ask questions, and support each other through the uncertainty of the months ahead.Kind regardsSophie M

Are you supporting a depressed partner? My tips from 18 years of experience

replies: 41

This list has been compiled from experiences supporting my husband with depression. There is no one size fits all, so please take what you are comfortable with based on your circumstances and resources. 1. Reach out to family and/or friends to feel supported - this also covers support groups - online or face to face. Don't let stigma stop you from reaching out. 2. Relationship boundaries - identify what is acceptable and not. My general platform is that physical abuse is unacceptable as well as regular demeaning/berating comments. Communicate this openly so everyone understands. 3. Coping tools - this could be exercise, meditation, reading a book, meeting friends, etc. They are important for your mental health. 4. Knowledge is power - research to understand about depression. The more you know, the better care you can provide. 5. Remember your partner in the good times - this is their true selves, not the darkness. 6. Listen and show receptivity - without judgement or anger. If communicate becomes strained, the timeout can provide clarity. Encourage communication gently and try not to push. 7. Seek counselling - sharing your feelings can provide an opportunity to off load the heavy stuff and identify resilience and coping strategies. 8. Work as a team - don't let mental illness be in the driver's seat. Offer to go to the Dr's and support them. Understand medication and side effects. Be understanding that some days are harder than others. 9. Words are powerful - remember what you say cannot be taken back. 10. Carer Self-esteem and self-worth - if you compromise these for the sake of supporting your partner, you are likely to live with resentment towards your partner and the circumstances you find yourself in. 11. Don't forget the children - challenging circumstances at home can affect them mentally and emotionally. Speak about mental illness (COPMI.com.au - has some great resources) and be a strong foundation toward maintaining normality in their daily activities. 12. Intimacy - there are many variables here, so from my experience - keep communication open and make couple time to connect. When my husband was depressed, daily hugs or holding hands wherever possible worked for us. Some carers I have spoken with said their partner would demand intimacy. My personal position is that intimacy is about love without demands or attachments relating to expectation. Demands only deplete the goodness in the connection and sharing a a loving experience. [Moderator's note: this thread is for sharing tips on what has worked for you in supported a loved one with a mental health condition. In order to help us keep this thread focused on solutions, please start a new thread if you are seeking support from the community around how to best support your loved one.]

by Carmela •

Blue Voices Member•

Posted in Supporting family and friends

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15-07-2016

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How do I help depressed 17 year-old daughter?

replies: 3

Hello,My 17-year-old daughter has just finished year 12. Right now she should be off celebrating but she doesn't want to leave her room. She and 4 of her friends (2 of whom she is particularly close to & are very supportive) booked accommodation for four nights away at the coast. They were just going to have a low key, fun time (with no alcohol) but my daughter now doesn't want to participate. She says she has social anxiety (including not wanting to eat in front of people - which her friends are aware of), generalised anxiety and depression. Going through 260 days of lockdown in Victoria in 2021/ 2020 really had a bad affect on her mental state. She refuses to see a psychologist or a GP.In the past, I've given her library books on how to cope with anxiety and depression (which went unread) and web articles on self-help, as well as messaging her with links to mindfulness apps. I empathise with everything she is going through as I had almost the same struggles as her as a teenager (although didn't have the fear of eating in front of other people). I used to push myself out of my comfort zone though (which she is often not prepared to do). I tell her all the time that I love her (and write cards to that effect, as well) and pick roses for her which I place in a vase on her desk. Quite often my daughter doesn't let me hug her. Sometimes she won't even make eye contact. This time last year she was self harming (making cuts on her thigh) and I'm worried she's going to start that up again. My daughter's depression and anxiety seems to be triggering my own latent depression and anxiety. I'm crying while I type this.I know there's no magic wand one can wave (I wish there was) but does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to help her?Thanks.

Attempt One

replies: 2

Hi everyone, I don't know where to start but I am here seeking support. Two days ago, after an argument with my partner, I came home to find he had attempted to take his own life. I have never experienced anything like this, thankfully I got to him in time to bring him back. I keep having flashes of that night and I really don't know where to go from here. We have reached out to close friends and family who have been amazing support for us both and our children and whom directed us to this support group to find tools to deal with what has happened. I am reaching out because although we are lucky to have a support network, they also don't have any experience with something like this. I guess I just need advice from someone supporting their loved one through these hard times. I have so many emotions running through me still. Shock, sadness, anger, guilt, lonely and just disbelief that this has happened. Thank you for reading x

Supporting a suicidal wife

replies: 15

My wife didn’t come home one night recently and I was certain she had killed herself. Fortunately she was found after spending a day in the bush and has recovered physically. She says it was an accident but I think I’d be stupid to believe that. I’ve known she’s been suicidal for about 2 years now and I’m not sure exactly how long she has been that way. She has been in hospital multiple times, been though many medication changes, other treatments and regularly sees a psych and her doctor. PTSD and depression are some of her labels. I’m committed to helping her as much as I can. I do most of the housework, parenting our 3 girls and have a full time job. My girls love their mum and I do to. I asked my wife if she still wants to be with me and she says she does. As much as I want to know about her suicidal thoughts I also don’t want to know. It’s horrible to think that she will succeed one day but it’s a reality. I feel like my family and I are in a holding pattern just hoping one day she will come good. Sometimes I wonder if that is good enough a life for me and my girls. I guess I’m posting for the first time because I would appreciate your thoughts on how to survive this.

Worried about my husbands mood swings

replies: 2

Been with my husband for over 30 years and over the past few years, and more so months noticed a change in his behaviour and mood swings. I have flagged this with him and have asked him to go see someone eg doctor get some help. Our daughter and some friends have noticed a change in his behaviour and I am struggling to get him to seek help. He doesn’t want to socialise and I have noticed he is sleeping a lot more than usual We are best friends and I am so lost on how to help himany advice?

Anyone have any advice on telling someone they most likely have BDP and encouraging them to get treatment

replies: 16

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences of revealing to someone that they have had BPD and how it went. Any advice about wanting to tell someone that they really could benefit by getting some treatment for BPD such as DBT would be most welcome. This person actually made me aware of the personality disorder and they stated to me that they could have it. They are trying to give advice to a friend of theirs who has a daughter who has BPD (I cant remember if they were diagnosed officially sorry) They have some Narcissistic personality disorder traits which apparently is common. So I think there might be a good start maybe. Not counting on anything though as they go up and down.

Problem with a girl

replies: 1

So I’ve been seeing a girl, and she has a lot of trauma, and I mean a lot.Childhood abuseChildhood sexual abuseDomestic violence by multiple menOngoing domestic violence from previous relationshipRapeAnd a really messed up family, where it’s constant issues with her family.And also self harm involved. I visit, she’s drinking heavily all the time, which ends with her falling over and saying many things about hating living, and the conversations end on talking about trauma, ongoing issues and quite a lot of that. I really like her, for all the beauty I see in her, our common interests, humour and everything. It’s at the point it mentally is taking a toll on me. I feel scared to go home incase something happens. I feel guilty that there’s not much I can do. I stay supportive, I don’t try to just tell her what to do as I know as somebody who suffers mental health myself that sometimes you just want somebody to listen, but it’s really filling me up with just worry, anxiety etc. obviously I don’t want to say that or it would sound mean and I don’t want to hurt her. Multiple times she’s been abused and she’s just not been helped by police or anything. I honestly don’t know what to do, any advice would be great.

Unsure about what to do...

replies: 1

My partner of 4 years has been struggling with depression and anxiety his whole life. He has been coping using alcohol which has caused so many issues. About a month ago, be stopped drinking for good. Since stopping, he has become a very diffeent person. He is angry, cold and has told me he doesn't care about anyone, or anything. He has told me he doesn't care about me and has said some extremely hurtful things. He says he regrets proposing to me and buying a house together. Recently, he did some online assessments through Blackdog institute and it says he potentially has bipolar. I have always thought this could be the case and he has been treated incorrectly which can have terrible consequences. He says he is open to seeing someone to get help, but that it won't change things with us. He hasn't broken up with me, but has completely shut me out and keeps saying horrible things to me. He says he just doesn't care. I don't believe that he feels this way. I think its his mental health talking. I am stuck though... I don't know if I should stay and continue to endure this while he figures this all out, or if I should walk away from our lives together. He has said that he doesn't care or feel anything right now, but worries in a few months time he would realise he has made the biggest mistake of his life letting me go. Has anyone experienced this and can offer some advice? I'm so heartbroken and lost.

Picking up on cues that signal my partner is struggling

replies: 2

My partner & I have been together over five years. At the beginning of this year our once-solid relationship was on the rocks - he was diagnosed with severe depression & apparently he'd been hiding it for the past couple of years. I knew he was unhappy with life at times but didn't realise how much pain he was actually in.Long story short, we went through some very rough patches this year & I wasn't sure if we were going to survive them, but we seem to have turned a corner now, so yay us. I'm glad I persevered in keeping us together. I know it's going to be a forever thing.Now that our relationship is back to a stronger place & I don't have to battle to keep us together, I am able to see certain things in his behaviour that tell me when he is hurting, or in a particularly dark place. Sometimes I catch him staring off into the distance, & I can see the pain inside. His eyes are wide open, & someone may think he's deep in thought, but I know that he is stuck in a dark moment. All I do is stroke his hair, or hug him, or give him a little kiss on the cheek or head....I don't say anything unless it's "I love you" & I try to just share some of my love & warmth with him, hoping it gets through.Other times he'll come home & go straight to the spare room where his guitars are & he'll start playing. I don't interrupt, I just let him go & keep doing whatever it was that I was doing. One day I wanted to go for a drive, so I grabbed my keys & declared that we were taking my car, & we took off. Not long into the drive I could sense his feelings - he didn't have to do or say anything. He just seemed....empty. And I thought to myself, "damn, I should've let him drive so he would be busy." So now I keep that in mind.I have my moments where I get frustrated or annoyed (internally). He listens to some songs that surely only make his low mood lower....But before running my mouth I think to myself, maybe he finds comfort in listening to songs that he can relate to, & if that's the case, comfort is a really important thing for him to have. So is the feeling of not being alone - and being understood.This illness is the devil & I hate it, but it has taught me to think differently & to be more empathetic. Happy to hear about your experiences too.

Trying to maintain balance

replies: 14

My partner was born with a heart condition, which in turn deprived his body of normal levels of oxygen and damaged his lungs. He grew up being told he was not expected to live to the age of twenty. He surpassed that, but over the course of our relationship his health continued to go downhill. Eventually he quit work, some while later quit study, and finally moved in with me, having accepted he needed my help with pretty much everything. Not long after he moved in we got the call - there was a donor, and he was to have both heart and lungs transplanted. That was about four months ago. Physically, he is able to do things he hasn't been able to do for years, but he is by no means mended. Mentally... he's battled depression for years and had a pretty good handle on it. But now, the ordeal of surgery and the lengthy stay in an interstate hospital, the sheer amount of time we had to be away from home and managing that with the rigors of covid, a bunch of things going wrong at home after that making it extremely hard to get into any sense of normalcy... It's taken it's toll on both of us. He is on immune suppressants, which make him vulnerable to any bug going past, never mind the big one everyone is on about. He has a fungal infection in his lungs, from spores we all breathe in at one time or another but don't know about because our body sends them on their way. His various meds make him nauseous on and off, and give him the shakes. We don't know if his constant exhaustion is physical or mental in nature, or both. Then here's me, also a long term depression sufferer, burnt out long before becoming a carer in a job I utterly loathe (yes of course I've tried finding another, please do not ask that!). He can't work, of course, and I can't provide for us without working - whatever he gets from Centrelink goes down depending on my income, so the more I work the more I have to. I somehow have to manage a household, care for our two birds and keep two depressed people out of that black hole we go down, each of those things being full time jobs in their own right. I'm half managing that whilst on leave. Now the money is running out and I am on the verge of returning to work, I have no idea how I am going to cope with it all and somehow have room for taking care of myself. I wouldn't want to be with anyone else and of course I don't begrudge my partner for needing me as he does. On the flip side, how the heck do I maintain balance with work thrown back into the mix?

Bipolar+ sibling overseas - hypomanic

replies: 1

I was wanting to hear of people's experiences supporting someone with mental health whilst they are overseas. Our sibling does not wish to come home as they are having "their breakdown" on a gorgeous Greek isle. They planned this breakdown and chose not to take medication overseas with them (reactive medication, they don't take a daily mood stabiliser). Enjoying the hypomanic state as people so often do. Another sibling has flown over their medication to them, they have had a telehealth with their Psychiatrist, we are trying to get someone to come and stay with them for another few weeks until they 'are ready' to come home. Their flight is in 2 1/2 weeks time. They have continued to refuse to take their mood stabiliser, however the Psych has said that is OK for now as they are managing to sleep for short periods. Our biggest worry is that anything outside of my siblings control is triggering them. Their environment is mostly controlled for now, in a very peaceful sleepy coastal village. However, navigating airports/flights etc is going to be very difficult. We don't have the financial resources to send anyone else over to fly back with her when she deems herself ready. I'd really just like to hear others experiences of a loved one being overseas and mentally unwell.

Parents and caregivers: How are you feeling about the social media restrictions for under 16s? replies: 3

Are you supporting a depressed partner? My tips from 18 years of experience replies: 41

How do I help depressed 17 year-old daughter? replies: 3

Attempt One replies: 2

Supporting a suicidal wife replies: 15

Worried about my husbands mood swings replies: 2

Anyone have any advice on telling someone they most likely have BDP and encouraging them to get treatment replies: 16

Problem with a girl replies: 1

Unsure about what to do... replies: 1

Picking up on cues that signal my partner is struggling replies: 2

Trying to maintain balance replies: 14

Bipolar+ sibling overseas - hypomanic replies: 1