It’s been a tough year

Hi @Mash

Welcome to the forums! I'm one of the peer workers here at Sane. It's brave of you to reach out for support and I really hope you find it here.

Gosh, what a tough year you've had, no wonder you're feeling the way you are. Have you considered talking to your GP about how you're feeling. They are usually your first point of call for seeking help as they can provide you with referrals for other health professionals and services.

I'm going to tag a few of our amazing community guides who are wonderful and welcomes for new members.

There is also a Sane guided service you can reach out to if you would like a more 1:1 type of support. You can contact here https://www.sane.org/referral

Take care and keep reaching out

Hanami

@Faith-and-Hope @Judi9877 @ShiningStar @maddison @Eve7 @outlander @Shaz51 @NatureLover

Hey @Mash.
unfortunately, at times like this, there is nothing that is going to take away the impact of the trauma as you are experiencing.

As a fellow survivor, I can advise you to make sure that you allow yourself to experience what you are going through and not to shut it out. But it’s kind of a balancing act because you need to make sure that you do not let it control you. So make time to experience everything. But at the same time, make sure you are staying present and in the moment. Make sure you are also able to fully appreciate the moment in here and there now. Don’t let the trauma of what you have experienced intrude into the present moment. You have to realise that difference if you want to get through this in the healthiest and safest way.

The second piece of advice I can give you is to make sure you give yourself some time every day. 30-1 hour. If you can’t do that 10 minutes, still better than nothing. But you have to make that time. Do something that you truly do enjoy and immerse yourself in the activity or experience. This can be reading drawing, watching a TV series, listening to music. Absolutely anything where you feel happiest and most relaxed.

These are the big things that I’m going to get you through this.

Thank you for you support, I have reached out to my gp and we’re working through a few things still didn’t feel like the support I needed!

I definitely will reach out, thank you again

Thank you so much for your kind words, yes I will try focus on taking some time for myself I never really allow for myself to feel I just try to stay as busy as possible so I don’t completely break down

Hi Mash,

I'm FloatingFeather, one of the peer workers at SANE. It's really good to have you here - a big warm welcome to you.

From what you have said you have had a really tough year. I went through a really bad year a few years ago and when things finally settled down it really hit me emotionally. It's like I was going through so much back to back I didn't have time to do anything but just get through it. Reflection, feelings, processing etc all came later when I had time to catch my breath.

My heart goes out to you in all you have been through - any one of those things would have been very challenging but all of them, and in one year. It's no wonder you are feeling the way you are.

I would encourage you to be kind and gentle to yourself, and give yourself time and space to process and heal. It's sort of like if a person that has had a major operation - it takes time and going really slow to build up your strength and recover. Would you be open to talking to a trauma counsellor? I think someone that specialises in trauma may be a good fit around what you have gone through.

Please keep posting and reaching out - that's what we are here for 🙂.

Warm wishes,

FloatingFeather

PS. On an aside, if you want to directly chat with someone on the Forums use the @ symbol and then start typing their name directly after it. A dropdown box should appear, and you then select their name. This ensures that they are notified of any posts you mention them in.

@FloatingFeather thank you so much for your kind words, yes a trauma counsellor would help me a lot could you please let me know how I could get in touch with them? Thank you again

Hi @Mash

You could speak to your GP - they may be able to help you find a trauma counsellor in your area. They also may be able to give you a referral to a counsellor which may mean you can get up to 10 sessions for free.

Another option is to go to this website. The Australian Counselling Association can help you find an accredited counsellor in your local area ACA.

Sitting with you,

FloatingFeather

Hi @Mash lovely to have you here, I’m glad that you have found us 🙂

Im really sorry that you have had such a horrible year, that’s a lot of really challenging and difficult things to work through. I had a really rough year a couple of years ago (my divorce finalised, was sexually assaulted, moved house and lost some friends and some other complicated things). I was really thankful for this place. There are so many people around here that have walked very similar paths who could support me and just sit with me at times.

I’d suggest reaching out to 1800respect. They should hopefully be able to put you in contact with some supports around your sexual assault. A lot of major hospitals and community health centres have sexual assault counselling services also, that would be worth a try too. What state do you live in?

wishing you all the best @Mash

Hey there @Mash

My name is Amber22 and I am a Peer Support Worker here at SANE. It is lovely to e-meet you 🙂

Thank you so much for sharing what you have gone through the past year, it does sound like a very challenging time for you and I am so glad that you feel able to share your experiences and how tough it has been for you with us on the forums. I hope that you have gotten the support that you need from our members. I really appreciate you being so open on here.

I just wanted to reach out and say that I am sitting with you with all that you had been through recently and what you may be going through now. I am virtually here to hold your hand ❤️

When things happen very close together (time-wise) it can be really challenging to emotionally go through all of it and be able to really feel what has been happening. It is so important to do this though as it allows us to really connect with how we are feeling and may even bring us a lot of closure over time. Are you seeing anyone professional that may be able to help you get through some of this so that you don't feel as if you have to take it all on board by yourself (which you never have to do btw!)? I am wondering what supports you have around you that may be able to help you work through some of these difficult times.

Sending virtual hugs,

Amber22

@Mash Great make sure that you do set that time aside. At first it may feel uneasy to take time for yourself but as you practice it will become a great pleasure and a saving grace.

One thing I’m working towards now is making myself a little happiness / grounding box. It’s like an easy go to place for when I’m having an emotional or mental crisis. it will have all the things that make me feel happy and relaxed and joyful. Also things in it that help keep me grounded. things like a few books, some herbal teas, hard, lollies, or mince to suck on, fragrances, bath bombs, Kindle.

I put lots of different things in there, so I have lost of different options. I can just pick out whatever I feel I need.

did you set some time aside today?