New member

[Sweetpea62]

Hello,

This is my first post. I'm not sure I am in the right place, but I need help.

My youngest son has a serious medical condition - severe epilepsy syndrome that includes uncontrolled epilepsy, intellectual disability, behavioural problems and other  things associated with the syndrome.  

I've been drinking a lot of wine for a long time, and I am thinking that I need some help with stress relief and decreasing my alcohol intake

[Sophie_M]

Dear Sweetpea62
 
Welcome to the Beyond Blue online forums and thank you for showing such courage in posting and sharing your experience this evening.  We are a helpful and supportive community here, and you are very welcome.
 
We are sorry to hear of the challenges you face and how you are managing the stress that this creates by drinking alcohol, we assume, at levels which are now becoming problematic.  You truly sound like an amazing parent who is trying their very best to manage in difficult circumstances which demonstrates huge resilience so please make sure you give yourself credit for this.  We have included some resources and information below that might be helpful for you to explore:
 
Managing Anxiety and Stress
Click Here
 
Alcohol and Other Drugs Information Service (ADIS)
Click Here or call 1800 250 015
 
While you wait to hear from one of our lovely community members, it might help for you to speak with one of our counsellors too, even if to just explore some options for support or self-care?  You can all anytime, it’s completely confidential and available 24/7:
 
To call us, contact 1300 22 4636
To use webchat, Click Here 
 
Please note, it’s worth remembering that immediate support is not available via the forums. Some days are slower than others, and some topics hit home with people more than others. The number of replies received will always vary from day to day.
 
Thank you again for joining us here and for starting this conversation. We hope that you find some comfort here in the words of wisdom and kindness that our community can offer, and please feel free to keep us updated on how you're going, whenever you feel up to it.
 
Regards
 
Sophie M

[smallwolf]

hello and welcome to the forums.

You are certainly at the right place. Or perhaps there is not wrong space? When I started here a few years ago, my thread/story moved between different sections of the forum based on the content.

I don't know things you go through each day. Or what support you have? And how you view the effectiveness of that support? 

From what you have said though it must be quite stressful for you, and wine has been your friend to deal with the challenges. And now you want to stop or reduce the amount you drink and look for help. To admit this to yourself is one thing, but to post on a forum like this (even though we don't know who you are) takes great courage and strength. 

On the health.gov.au website it suggests to chat with your GP - they will be able to help you with a plan. You could also check out https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/drugs-alcohol-and-mental-health for more information.

Regardless.... listening to you...

[geoff]

Hello Sweetpea, a warm welcome to the forums and it doesn't matter what type of MI you are struggling with you have come to the right forum.

I can associate with both of these as I am an epileptic (grand mal) and used alcohol as a self medication when suffering from depression and anxiety.

My epilepsy has been controlled by medication and wonder whether your son is taking any.

I am really interested to hear about your alcohol intake and please know that there is no criticism here on the forums, because all of us have had our own problems and if anyone blamed you, then there would be no forums, so we understand.

You are in a difficult situation and feel very sorry for your son as well as yourself, and really want to help you as best we can, so we can be trusted.

Hope to hear back from you.

Geoff.

Life Member.

[Mark Z.]

Hi  Sweetpea62,

Welcome to the forum. I can tell that it must be very hard for you.

Obviously you've been experiencing long-term burnout as a carer. So it is important to get effective community support resources for your son, as well as getting alcohol treatment for yourself. It'll also be helpful to join a peer support group of people with similar lived experience. 

You can feel free to ring Beyondblue hotline for some professional advice and resources referral.

Hope everything will be better.

Mark

[Healing heart]

Have you though of going to a group for carers. There are also carers groups for others in your situation. I have heard of them via tv. 

[jaz28]

Hi sweetpea62,

A warm welcome to you, thank you for being here. It sounds like you have had a lot on your plate recently, that must be hard for you. I am sorry to hear you have been experiencing these difficulties and stress with your son. Do you have appropriate support services and specialists in place for treating your son's conditions? A well-rounded and supportive team of professionals is crucial. A psychologist can be important for yourself too. Carer's fatigue is very real: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9225-caregiver-burnout. It is hard to focus on your own needs when your son needs you, but it is important. I would suggest making an appointment with your doctor to see a mental health professional, they might point you in the right direction.

I hope things improve,

Jaz xx

[Elephant86]

Good morning

How are you feeling

I totally understand how you are feeling it is totally stressful looking after a child with a disability and I totally understand me personally understand epilepsy because I have had it since I was 11 and I know because it was also very scary for my parents as well  my parents day and night by my bed side.

I want you to remain positive and look at what can I do to support myself and my child. These are some of the things that could help there is like holistic health things like meditation that help control the thoughts and feelings and even yoga which is like a form of exercise. The main thing is that you must focus on looking after yourself first so you can look after your son. Everyday if you can make time for exercise for going to the park for a walk. I do my cycling on a stationary bike to keep fit as an example.

It is important to find the exercise that works for you and what bring you peace and calm for me it is cycling and meditation. You have to find what is your healing pathway where you find activities that help you heal and bring your life in a positive more powerful light.

You can let your situation define you or you can define your situation by taking steps to heal your mind and your body it all starts with a positive mindset and positive thinking.

What do I need to do today make a list of positive changers you want to make?

Proritise your list 

You can choose to have a positive impact

I believe in you!!!