Topic Tuesday // BPD Awareness Week 2021 – Discover Creative Wellbeing // Tues 5th October, 7pm-8:30pm AEDT

Hi @Shaz51 , glad you could join us!

Really appreciate you raising this point @Millieme, it's such an important one There can be times in our recovery when we need more support than what we can do for ourselves, and might need additional supports too. Recovery doesn't often have one answer, and self help can be one part of the puzzle, but often the puzzle is made up of lots of different supports and approaches to wellbeing. It sounds like you may have had some experiences where the responsibility has been placed back on you by services, has this been an experience you have had with accessing help and support?

Question 3.

Self-care for carers is of utmost importance. Often, carers for people with BPD end up burnt out and at a loss. It is important that carers, family members and friends of people with BPD set protective boundaries whereby they can see to their own mental health first.

A mental care health plan enables carers to reach out and receive subsidised psychology sessions.

Networking and connection is fundamental for carers. There are many out there in like situations and circumstances. Connecting with others helps carers know they are not alone. During BPD Awareness Week, various states hold picnics for carers and loved ones of those with BPD. I encourage you to connect to services such as SANE Australia, including:

The BPD Foundation Australia

https://www.bpdfoundation.org.au/

Have a look at the resources available. You can also sign up to their newsletter (BPD Advocate) which is sent directly to your email, and contains services and care groups in the various states across Australia. This newsletter also looks into aspects of accessing the NDIS.

Spectrum

https://www.spectrumbpd.com.au/about-us

Spectrum run a series of family and carer workshops throughout the year. You can have a browse through for more information.

Project Air

https://www.uow.edu.au/project-air/

Project Air is based in NSW and focuses on Personality Disorders. They run a series of events including workshops for consumers, family and carers.

ReachOut

https://au.reachout.com/

This service supports people under 25 years. There is a section for parents and carers.

Head Space

https://headspace.org.au/about-us/who-we-are/

This is another youth service to support those under 25 years. Also looks at supports for parents and caregivers.

BPD Awareness Week 2021 events

https://www.bpdawareness.com.au/events-activities/

Above are activities you can engage in during BPD Awareness Week 2021.

Question 3.

Just like we are told in the safety information just before the plane is taking off, we must put on our own oxygen masks before helping anyone else-the same applies in this way. In DBT and in Family Connections we look at factors that can increase and reduce our vulnerabilities to being in emotion mind, or a more emotional state. Some of these are your basic self-care skills like attending to physical illness, getting enough sleep, looking at your intake of food (not too much or too little, types of food) mood-altering substances (we aren’t anti-drugs or alcohol but noticing that being in certain states can increase our vulnerabilities as too when substances wear off), and accumulating positive emotions. So attending to what you might consider as ‘not that important’, can have an incredible impact on our wellbeing, I know that I am much more vulnerable to emotion mind when I am unwell and tired. With accumulating positive emotions, making sure that you have within your day, events, times and moments when you are mindful of positive emotions, you may already have many of these, but a lot of the time we aren’t mindful of them. If you like coffee, taking a moment to really enjoy the taste, how it makes you feel, instead of quickly drinking it while watching the news or rushing around in the morning. If you have a pet, being really mindful of them, when you pat them, how it makes you feel, what they are giving back to you in attention. There are moments every day that we can be more mindful of positive experiences, and if you don’t have many, seek more out. It’s so important.

Also, accumulating positive emotions with the person in your life with BPD, so making sure there are times you have fun together, laugh, relax and being mindful of those times, it will benefit you both/all so much.

Hello @Daisydreamer

@Determined

Good evening @cloudcore @BPDSurvivor @Daisydreamer @KirstyNEABPD and everyone joining here tonight. Sorry I'm late! I'll try and catch up as we go along!

Judi9877😎

i have found with BPD is tryiing to stay calm and help my partner settle down and focus on something soothing. being supportive and non judgmental is essential

In southern Tasmania there's next to no help available. I was told the only BPD group therapy is at private hospitals, and there's apparently only a couple of psychologists that have experience and they are booked out well in advance (and the gap fee between their fee and the medicare rebate is substantial) and 10 sessions is not going to allow for much time.

Hi @Judi9877 !

Great to have you with us!

I have found that too @Jacques

If I am calm , all is good

And also knowing what your partner likes

@KirstyNEABPD , @BPDSurvivor