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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Sudden change

replies: 18

My wife and I are pensioners. Our son, who is nearly 40, lives with us. Up until a few months ago, he lived a relatively normal life. Then he became mentally ill. He spends nearly all his waking hours talking to us about something that happened when he was five years old. He just keeps on repeating the same story. All his friends and relatives have blocked him on social media because of his ranting. This only makes things worse because he desperately wants people to listen to him. We have told him that he needs to see a physiatrist but he doesn't think that he has a problem. We listen to him without arguing because that would cause him to become loud and verbally abusive. It's difficult for us to live a normal life. We go out as much as possible for a break. We love him and feel powerless to help him.

They won't get help: supporting your teenager through a mental health crisis

replies: 3

Like many adults, adolescents have their fair share of resistance in accepting that they may have a "mental illness ". I think it's especially difficult for adolescents because it's a time when they so desperately want to fit in and just be normal. So anything that identifies them as "abnormal" will be difficult to accommodate. That doesn't mean we don't try and get them help .. so how do we get them there? Firstly, I would suggest to try to find something that is bothering them ( as opposed to something that is bothering the parent) . For example, the child might be not attending school and the parents are beside themselves about it - but the main issue for the adolescent is that they find it hard to get to sleep at night. So suggesting a visit to the GP to work out a way to sleep better at night may be more fruitful ( even if it's not the main issue in the parents eyes). Secondly, I would use language that isn't going to stress the young person out and induce resistance. Terms like "mental illness" or even "depression" can send them running. But words like "not feeling yourself" or "feeling stressed" or "feeling down " may be less confronting, initially anyway . Thirdly, be super reassuring. Keep telling the young person that you are there for them , that you are confident that they will get through this, that things will be ok , that you are there to help them. Part of them will groan but part will be really relieved . And lastly .. LISTEN . There is a time to not speak and not do advice but just listen . To really just try and understand what the young person is going through . If they think that you have put the time and tolerance in to listening to them without judging or telling what to do but simply asking more questions, they are MORE likely to then take advice from you at a later point ( like your advice about going to the GP for example) . I also think that it is imperative to book a double appointment with the GP so the young person isn't rushed and it's ok to also give the GP a call beforehand and give them a heads up that your loved one is coming in and you have these concerns ... that gives the GP the best opportunity to engage the person. I hope these few tips might help in this tough situation. What tips do you have to share? [Mod note: see also beyondblue's Have The Conversation resource. This thread is for sharing tips on what has worked for you in supporting a teenager through a mental health crisis. In order to help us keep this thread focused on solutions, please start a new thread if you would like support from the community about how to support your teenager.]

My son has anxiety related to eating

replies: 6

Hi, I am new here and after some advice. My nine year old son has developed anxiety around eating food thinking that he will choke. He is now only having liquid food and is really stressed out. He went through something similar 3 years ago when some popcorn got stuck in his throat. It cleared and was not an emergency situation but he got a fear of eating as a res. We were able to get him into a child psychologist and it was a long and slow process to get him eating again. I took him to our GP on Monday who did a referral to see a child psychologist again. The one he saw 3 years ago no longer works there and I got told the waiting list was over 6 months. I’ve tried several others and all waiting times are over 6 months. My son needs help now. What am I supposed to do? This is extremely stressful. How can I get him the help he needs?

Friend not coping with lockdown-

replies: 2

During these lastest lockdowns, my friend who has schizophrenia and recently been in quite mentally ill these last two years and in and out of hospital now stable on a new medication has been starting to pick up for a month or two until the other day when lockdowns were announced. Its not that he's psychotic or anything atm but he has mentally processed the lockdown in a far negative way even when trying to help him talk about it and try to suggest things he can do at home with his time. His daily life doesnt change much if at all really except for going out a bit here and there, which he can still do for his essentials anyways. Yet he is choosing to sleep all day and al night and doing so as his medication makes him tired. He talks about the whole thing aggressively and is not open to understanding things like most people would. Thing is he is my one contact apart from my family i lve with and it makes me feel a bit angry that he acts like this when the messages in the media are always to reach our to your friends via online and phone etc. Last few time we had lockdowns I never heard from him as he wasnt well. I guess im just so tired of being there for him and thinking about his mental health as opposed to my own. I have GAD and high functioning social phobia/social avoidance disorder and he is the only friend i have had for some time. I hate that he chooses to act the most crippling of ways and is not a friend i can ever rely on but he can always rely on me, i get hurt by that.

Drawing boundaries with depressed friend

replies: 2

Hi, my best friend suffers from depression and anxiety. Over the past 8 months I’ve noticed she’s started to withdraw in ways that are different to what she often does. She seems to now get anxious with one on ones, and can’t seem to talk honestly about emotions. She seems quite absent really. I have been putting her needs before mine because I know she needs me. But I’m now feeling quite fatigued. I always check up on her, give her time and space, and always initiate all our plans and phone conversations, and am patient when she cancels etc. I never take it personally. in the past she’s always been able to address her issues, eg go to therapy, enact self care, but over the last 8 months or more, she’s kind of given up. her partner always enforces their needs over hers. When I say she’s given up it’s like she’s succumb to living the life the partner wants even if it’s not quite what she wants, and that’s resulted in my friend being absent, anxious, sleep deprived etc i recently drew a boundary by basically not being 100% available as I find it difficult to be there for her when she’s not there herself. I know this isn’t really a question - but any advice is welcome !

Spouse with depression and my step daughters are not helpful. After suggestions on educating them.

replies: 1

Hi All My wife and I are coping but my spouse's Adult daughters are not helpful and are part of the problem and not the solution. They have grown up with their father who is very passive-aggressive and not compassionate and they are the same. They are saying things like, you should have stayed in hospital or my time out with you is ruined because you are not talkative. Is there anything I can send to my stepdaughters to give them insight into what depression is and how it affects a person? I will also kindly ask them to show empathy and help. I heard there maybe something like the black dog book or is there anything else I can send them? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Dave

My daughter wants to end her life

replies: 8

Hi all, I am new here. I have a daughter who will be 22 this year. She is a Year 3 Psychology student and smart one too. She has been seeing counsellor for depression and anxiety since 2018, I did not ask much about the contents of her counselling as she was unwilling to open up to me. Last week, she had nervous breakdown at the counselling centre and I only found out that all these while she has these thought of wanting to end her life but yet knowing she needs to seek for help. She was too ashamed to tell us. I was so heartbroken thinking to myself I am such a lousy parent that she wouldn't come to me when she needs help and it really hurts. I have been trying to think back what have I not done or care enough for her that had led her life into such an awful darkness. I hope it is not too late to start caring for her but yet giving her space knowing I am there for her anytime. She is everything to me and I want to walk her way towards the bright side of the tunnel. I am seeking for advice from parents in this forum here whom have had similar experience with their children. Thank you and bless you all.

Advice on supporting my anxious and depressed boyfriend

replies: 5

My partner and I have been together for around 2 years now. We are both in our early-mid 20s. When I met him he came across as fun, outgoing, adventurous and very very sweet. Im happy, free spirited, very active and live a generally healthy and positive lifestyle. As our relationship progressed we started having issues. He became jealous of other people in my life, possessive and not wanting me to see my friends or go out without him, not wanting to be intimate with me and leaving me in the dark when I try to talk about it and saying hurtful things especially when he would drink. He would make up far-fetched stories in his head and convince himself they were true then I would have to bear the weight and consequence. Eventually he would come right and apologise saying that he didn’t know why he felt that way or accused me of doing things he knows I would never do. After confronting him about his hurtful behaviour a few times he opened up to me about how he thinks he could have anxiety or depression. I pushed for him to see a Dr. which he eventually did, his diagnoses was GAD and depression, the doctor told him to go see a psychologist and get on medication. He wanted to try a psychologist because he didn’t want to medicate which I supported his choice. He saw a psychologist 2-3 times then stopped going because he said she didn’t understand him. I pushed him to try a different one but the wait list was 8 months. The new appointment is now coming up soon but it has taken a big toll on my mental health and our relationship getting there. I feel so alone in this because I’m young and none of my friends have dealt with this type of thing yet. I could never understand the things he says or does sometimes. I would do anything to help him, I’ve stuck around despite people telling me I shouldn’t. I don’t want to break up with him because when I see the ‘real’ him, its kind, caring, sweet, gentle, confident and so loving but it’s rare these days. I’m praying so hard that this new psychologist can give him the tools he needs to manage and overcome this. Does anybody have any advice on keeping a relationship going long term with a depressed/anxious partner? I want a future with the real him and I want him to live a full life of happiness and love and joy. Do you think it’s possible for somebody like him to be able to come out of that from such a young age? I’m struggling so much from the weight of it all but I’m so hopeful that life can get better for him and for us!

Sister with depression

replies: 2

Hi, My sister has depression and anxiety. She has recently moved back in with my parents at 34, and is finding this difficult. She has an addiction to food and has put on a lot of weight over the last couple of years which I am sure is compounding her depression. She is anxious at the thought of never buying a house as house prices in her area are rising quickly. She is also single and watching her friends get married also makes her more upset. My mum is trying everything she can to help her lose weight, and using her contacts to help her buy a property. I am 5 hours away, but talk to her everyday on the phone, and go to her when I can. I have tried getting her out of the house and even have used my holidays to go house hunting for her. Our whole family is walking around on egg shells as she frequently cries when we try to help and we don't want to make things worse. My parents are worried about her weight as well. What can we do to help? She is currently seeing a counsellor. She just looks so miserable all the time, even when she is laughing and we don't know what to do to help. Thank you for any advice.

Wife possible BPD is violent

replies: 6

Hey guys looking for advice here. My wife has possible bpd and is extremely sensitive to rejection. Even the slightest feeling of rejection just blows her up . I have tried to control it a lot but 10/10 times my words get turned against me and I have to hear abuse for hours and hours. There’s also been a few times where she’s physically abused me. I have been trying to get her to go see a psychologist so we have progress . Things have been very volatile over the last few years and I am worried for her. I love her and I do not want to lose my son And her. Don’t know what to do ? Very confused and stressed.

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

Sudden change replies: 18

They won't get help: supporting your teenager through a mental health crisis replies: 3

My son has anxiety related to eating replies: 6

Friend not coping with lockdown- replies: 2

Drawing boundaries with depressed friend replies: 2

Spouse with depression and my step daughters are not helpful. After suggestions on educating them. replies: 1

My daughter wants to end her life replies: 8

Advice on supporting my anxious and depressed boyfriend replies: 5

Sister with depression replies: 2

Wife possible BPD is violent replies: 6