Mental Illness Awareness and Support Thread

[bluecat*dancing]

Let;s see how we go.

[punch*drunk]

PH have you ever tried a compassionate friends group?

http://www.compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au/

My inlaws found great comfort and lifelong friends through compassionate friends, I dont think either of them thought it would help but it did help them tremendously. They are still not "over it" I dont really think thats possible, but they have been able to get on with their lives and be happy for the most part. Its been 27 years since they lost their son, he was 18.

[freakiness]

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@purple_haize wrote:

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@punch*drunk wrote:

PH have you ever tried a compassionate friends group?

http://www.compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au/

My inlaws found great comfort and lifelong friends through compassionate friends, I dont think either of them thought it would help but it did help them tremendously. They are still not "over it" I dont really think thats possible, but they have been able to get on with their lives and be happy for the most part. Its been 27 years since they lost their son, he was 18.

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Hi Punch, yes were with them when he first died, they are very good.

Then I was surfing the net one day and came accross Parents of Suicide, I joined them, it is US based, and they are also here in Aust. it is a forum very well run by a woman who lost her daughter. So I stayed there, made heaps of friends as we all had lost a child, so we knew how we all felt, I am still a member, I talk mostly to the friends I made on facebook.

But Compassionate friends is very good and helpful, went to the suicide group a few times.

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I can't speak from experience but I imagine suicide adds a whole new level to the grief. The question of self blame, is there anything the parent could have done to prevent the action taken.   Apologies if I'm wrong about that.

[freakiness]

Thanks for sharing

[*pepe]

good morning.

i hope everyone can find something to make them smile just a little bit today.

Especially those who don't get to do it often.

[2106greencat]

This is not in reply to anyone in particular, but I feel like a fraud being in here.

I have suffered and still suffer chronic depression (medications help, but has not fixed) for many years and yet while I have had the odd 'bad' expereince in life, I have not lost nor had to deal with a third of what some of you have.

I can't even give a reason or remember when it first started - no idea really.

Some of you have had to deal with so much, kudo's to you for managing and being as strong as you obviously have been, not to mention thank you for sharing and caring enough for others to lay it bare.

Edited to fix horrific spelling

[*pepe]

greencat you are no fraud, you still suffer, you still hurt, you still need support.

Its not a competition as to who has been through the most.

Everyone  is just as valid as anyone else. 

I hope that came out right 😕

[2106greencat]

It came out right pepe - thanks.

[bluecat*dancing]

Greencat you are definitely not a fraud. Pepe is right, its not a competition on who has been through the worst or suffered the most. What others have gone through has no bearing on what you, or anyone else, has experienced. I would hate to go through what others have but that does not "cure" me or diminish my own experiences. Everyone's experience is unique ,even if there are similarities, and equally valid.

I hope that makes sense, if not, I blame my depleted caffeine levels.lol.

[bluecat*dancing]

Also, I hope that no-one is made to feel uwelcome here. It is not a pre-requisite that everyone has to "spill their guts", In fact, I advise against it due to the nature of the internet. Say as much or as little as you feel comfortable with but do keep in mind that this is a public forum. I am an open book in regards to metal illness because I feel comfortable with discussing it but even so I need to be mindful  of my safety as well as that of others.

Some days are pearls, some days are lumps of coals.

[the_great_she_elephant]

Greencat ,never ever let other people's struggles make you feel guilty about your own. - there is no sliding scale,for grief or depression  you can only measure it against your own experiences. For me, losing a child was the worst thing that ever happened to me, for others it might be losing a spouse, a sibling, or even a beloved pet - you can't quantify it.