Hi everyone!

[spb]

Hi all, I'm spb - I'm new here and am so happy to have found this. I'm an adopted person who is finally starting to grapple with some of the issues being adopted has brought up for me. It's been a long time coming. I've been dealing with depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties (that I now understand to be related to abandonment trauma) for around two decades now and finally want to look my issues in the mouth. I'm finding it pretty isolating sort of work to do so am looking to connect with people who might be able to relate to my experience and I to theirs. I don't really know how to use this forum - happy to take any leads and see what I find! Please and thankyou! 

[SunshineWalker]

@Paulettethank you for reaching out and your support and empathy is honestly helping me make better desicions when conversing with the monkey on my back.

[ShiningStar]

Hi @JKK 

It’s so lovely to hear from you 💜

Thank you so much for sharing this part of your story with us 💜

I’m so deeply sorry to hear about what’s been happening to you and the detrimental impact that this is having on your mental health and wellbeing.

Living with the constant threat of eviction sounds like an incredibly scary and stressful place to be and as such, it’s absolutely no wonder that you feel as though ‘you’re living on the edge!’

Just from what you’ve described, it sounds as though your landlords behaviour breaches your rights as a tenant. I wasn’t too sure what state you’re living in, but here in Queensland, we have a Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service which supports people to resolve issues in relation to their tenancy. As such, I just wondered if you may be able to reach out to a similar service for some additional guidance and support?

I’m so sorry to hear that you’re wife also lives with mental health conditions and just from what you’ve described your situation sounds incredibly complicated 💜 I felt concerned when you shared that there are times when your wife is ‘abusive’ towards you and as such, I just ever so gently wondered if you have (or if you felt that you needed) some support in relation to this?

As I sat here thinking about some of the things that you’ve shared with me, I also wondered if the Friends, Family and Carers section of the forums may be helpful for you 😊

Basically, this part of the forums has been created especially for people who are caring for a loved one who is living with complex mental health conditions 💜 As such, you’ll find a variety of different resources and plenty of opportunities to chat with other people who may share similar experiences to your own.

I’ve included the link to this particular section of the forums, just in case you would like to take a look 😊

https://saneforums.org/t5/Friends-Family-Carers-Forum/ct-p/carers-forum

Some members of our community spend time in both the lived experience section of the forums (where we are now 😊) and in the Friends, Family and Carers section of the forums and so you’re always more than welcome to move between the two different spaces 😊

Wow JKK! Finding a way to fight the urge to drink is an incredible achievement and as I listened to your words: ‘typically id come home with a bottle of vodka and wipe myself out at night to cope. It’s not coping, its hiding and sweeping things under a rug’ I couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps you’ve been questioning the role that alcohol plays in your life?

I can really hear how deeply you’ve been impacted by everything that’s been happening to you and as such, I just wanted to share some of the other services that SANE provides just in case you felt that you needed some additional support.

The first service that I thought maybe helpful for you is SANE’s ‘drop in services.’

Basically, ‘SANE drop-in services are staffed by qualified team of counsellors and people with lived experience of mental health issues who will provide you with free digital and telehealth support, information and referrals.’

I’ve reached out to this service numerous times and I’ve always had a really positive experience where I felt listened to and really well supported 💜

I’ve included the link to this particular service below, just in case you would like to explore this further 😊

https://www.sane.org/get-support/drop-in-service

The second service that I thought maybe helpful for you is SANE’s ‘guided service.’

Essentially, ‘SANE’s free guided service combines our range of digital and telehealth supports, tailored to the needs of people affected by complex mental health issues.’

I’ve included the link to this particular service below, just in case this is something that’s of interest to you 😊

https://www.sane.org/referral

I hope that this helps you a little bit 😊

Please know that you’re always welcome to reach out here whenever you need to 💜

Take kind and gentle care of yourself,

ShiningStar 💜

[Paulette]

Hi @SunshineWalker 

You are most welcome. Please let me know if you need any further support or just a chat. Have a beautiful day. It's so lovely and warm out. I'm on my way to work but the sun's bright. The air sweet and I love seeing sweet little grey fantail birds chirping as they do they aerobatic display. I feel my moods have improved just speaking to others hear. I used to struggle to see the positive but now my first thoughts are of the positive and it feels so natural and good for the soul. 

[Oldm8]

Thanks for the encouragement @Paulette. It's been really hard to end up back in a mental health ward which I did as a teenager. Never had this before so it really spun me out. It's good to have some sort of outlet for these feelings that's anonymous.

[Paulette]

Hi @Oldm8 ,

Your always welcome. It's traumatic going to Hospital. You are brave to share. I understand it's hard to share at times. You do need somewhere to discuss your feelings and experiences in a private space with others who can understand you. Take care. 

[Former-Member]

Hello.  I'm in my 50s and have lived with mental health struggles since I was about 20 years old.  I had a diagnosis of schizophrenia for many years but they changed that and now the diagnosis is depression.  At times the depression was so severe I had psychosis which is why I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.  I have worked in stressful jobs the whole way through and hide my mental struggles as best I can.  I had a lot of stigma, especially with the schizophrenia diagnosis.  I lost most friends and even family, and I was bullied in a couple of workplaces.  I learned that I needed to hide the diagnosis.  It makes it difficult to connect with people or to get the support I need at times when I am trying to hide the fact I have mental health issues.  I have a great psychiatrist, a great GP, have seen some great psychologists and social workers over the years.  I have burned out a number of close friendships, especially when I am depressed as I am draining.  Right now I had to stop working as the depression is pretty bad.  I am trying to get on top of it with medication, therapy, medication and exercise.  I am glad I found this forum and am hoping it helps me.

[just_getting_by]

Hey everyone. I’m el. I was diagnosed with anxiety then adhd around ages 7-9. My school experience has always been pretty horrible so I’ve often suffered from waves of depression too, even from much lower grades. Im here to make others feel heard and cared about, and to maybe find some answers for myself too. 🙂

[Paperdaisy]

Hi @just_getting_by Welcome. I have just sent you an email. Would you be able to take a look and get back to me, thanks 😊

[Judi9877]

Hi there @Oldm8 . I just thought I’d pop by and say welcome to the Sane forums and to let you know that you are not alone in your feelings about being in a mental health ward in hospital. I’m a Community Guide here on the forums and I’ve also got 3 mental illnesses including having spent time in hospital over the past 12 months because of my illnesses. My most recent admission was in July this year to help me get a change in meds but in September last year, I had an admission due to psychosis which was my first admission to a Victorian mental health ward and I really struggled initially for most of the 9 days I was there. I found that I was really scared at first because I didn’t know what to expect from me as a patient and from the nursing and medical staff either. My psychologist was able to advocate for me when I had an issue on the ward and get me more help - an admission to PARCS after hospital to help me with my issues which did work- but I was basically on my own other than that. Maybe you can find some other patients on the ward to try and talk to as a way of helping you feel less lonely or isolated? Even just sit out in the communal areas might be a good way of helping yourself? I know I spent some time doing art therapy by drawing and colouring in and that really helped me with filling in time on the ward as well. I was also able to have my knitting brought in for me so I started making a blanket with the wool my housemate was able to leave for me despite my admission being in a time when Melbourne was in lockdown last year. 
One thing I have learnt is being admitted to hospital isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it means you need extra help and you will get that on the ward. It also allows you time to get mentally better so you are a stronger person in the end. Being in hospital can be scary but it can also be a good thing in the end. You are a strong and brave person so please don’t let your hospital admission get you down. You will get through this! 

Take care!

Judi9877☺️🌻