Topic Tuesday // "You don't have to be isolated as a carer" // Tues 26th October, 7pm-8:30pm AEDT

@Daisydreamer

First thing you need to do is ask questions about what supports are available for you. I went through so many services and not one of them mentioned carer support. Not one. I had no idea there was help for me. So ask. And keep asking. If you are someone who has trouble advocating for yourself, please find someone to help you with this.

I am now a member of MIFWA (Mental Illness Fellowship WA) carer’s program, which runs some coffee mornings, carer workshops, occasional lunches and provides an annual respite opportunity.

I am also engaged with Carers WA, and there are workshops through them as well, and catch ups.

I work full time and also volunteer, so I don’t often get to do the face to face meet ups, but the newsletters, online chats and occasional workshops really make a difference to me.
AND both of these organisations give you a call every now and then just to check in. It’s lovely.

And lets not forget the SANE forums, which are so useful, not only at the time they are running, but the archives where you may find some useful information.

And the last thing I’ll say here, is find a way to have some respite – an hour, a day, a weekend – whatever you can fit in. We get so busy and say we can’t fit in self-care or respite, but I’m not saying add it as another thing ‘to do’. I’m saying drop something else of the list and take that time for you to recharge. That might mean getting your groceries delivered or picked up, asking friends and family to do a couple chores for you.

I guess there needs to be a good 'fit' @SA64 .

What I found helpful about Telehealth was that pdocs that I had to travel to see in the past, because they knew my medical history, I can see them more often because I no longer have to travel to see them. Most work during business hours which meant I had to take a day off to see them... now, I just have my appointments during lunch breaks...

But I totally understand how you'd need to have a good rapport with a particular dr, pdoc first before transferring to telehealth... otherwise, you'd be stuck with the 'crap' ones? lol

Thank you @Shaz51 Gratefully received xx

@SA64 , @BPDSurvivor

I have telehealth appointments with my kidney specialists

My husband has stopped all his mental health team, @Daisydreamer , @Former-Member

@SA64 Accessing telehealth when you're used to face-to-face can be quite tricky, it can feel like you lose some of the humaness and relationship that you've developed with your therapist. Has anyone else had that experience?

@Shaz51 , this is for you:

"And the last thing I’ll say here, is find a way to have some respite – an hour, a day, a weekend – whatever you can fit in." - @SA64

I think it will help you a lot @Shaz51 - and your mum. I relaly hope you'll be able to find some sort of respite... even for an hour.

Hi @BPDSurvivor Truly have no answer to this but it's what I would like to believe. Totally clueless really. I write and txt and send gifts and have been doing so for the past 18 months but never a reply. I know though her Carers that she is receiving these parcels and I will continue to keep the lines of communication open.

Definitely @Former-Member ! I found it difficult to have my camera on at first during telehealth sessions... and now, after having used Telehealth for so long, I feel like I've forgotten how to see my therapist in person.. now there's anxiety around that! Perhaps I've forgotten how to be human beyond the screen!

That's amazing @Krishna . Perhaps I can comfort you in saying that I loved my parents too much... that's why I cut contact from them for many years. I didn't want them to see the pain i was in. Yet in my time, I re-connected.

I pray this will also be the same for you. Hold on there @Krishna !

---

@SA64 wrote:

First thing you need to do is ask questions about what supports are available for you. I went through so many services and not one of them mentioned carer support. Not one. I had no idea there was help for me. So ask. And keep asking. If you are someone who has trouble advocating for yourself, please find someone to help you with this.

^^^This is great advice, @SA64:ok_hand: