#Deepbreaths. Everything keeps going wrong. I have been coping with thoughts of suicide, but I am safe. I am looking for support from my peers

Hi @IsAnybodyThere

My daughter is also lgbtq and one of her friends feels like a gay male inside a female body. They are somewhat lucky thse days to have so much support and services available to them, not like when we were growing up!

This is also a big admission for me. I have never faced my sexuality head on but for me its not so much identity as it is hiding my own bisexuality for fear of the social repercussions. I told.my wife about it before we were engaged but never spoke about it since.

When my daugter came out a year ago, it brought a lot of stuff to the surface. I have been drinking and smoking more and more to cover up the emotions. am ruining myself financially and physically.

My wife has ptsd and one daughter is on the autism spectrum, so I too live in a neurodivergent bubble, trying to find my own self.

Our daughters are already at a higher risk of self harm and I keep reminding myself that a parental suicide would increase that risk even more. Little comfort but its a motivation to stay around.

Take care and good night

Wes999

Hi @IsAnybodyThere

How are you going today? I have been following your recent posts & know you are expressing a great deal of despair lately.

I'm unsure how to bring this up without causing possible offence, & I want you to know, that you have been in my thoughts & it comes from place of caring. I'm wondering what your thoughts might be on hospitalisation?

I have friends with lived experience of mental health conditions & sometimes they have described hospital as a holiday. A break from usual demands may give your mind some much needed peace.

Another element could be that seeing other patients who are going through similar crisis may help you to feel less alone.

Is this something you would ever consider?

Anyway, perhaps it's not something you feel you need in this exact moment, I wanted to encourage you to reach out if you ever do.

@Wes999 I read your post and I am sitting here with you & supporting you💜

Yeah, I know what you mean @IsAnybodyThere . But, in my experience (as another male who has lived through some co-ercive jungles) the Respect team also get that the patterns can span all genders. I've heard that they don't do referrals though, I think because that sort of thing is done more state by state). https://askizzy.org.au/ might be good for locating state and local help.

@Paperdaisy Hi I am quite happy to get your suggestion about Men's Shed. It is something that has come up before through my wife's volunteer work, my phone psychologist and my GP.. I know all suggestions are well meant, so please don't feel bad.

IsAnybodyThere