"How can I help you?"

Hi @NotRockClimbing

It's getting late in the evening, but I still wanted to make a quick welcome post to you. I'm sure tomorrow will bring some supportive replies. You'll find the forums a place where many like-minded people are willing to pitch in and offer any sort of support they can.

And good on you for reaching out for support. It takes a lot of guts, and shows a determination to better yourself.

Hey @NotRockClimbing

Welcome to the forums. Good on you for looking for resources to help those closest to you understand what you need. Here is a page from Beyond Blue on supporting someone with anxiety or depression: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/support-someone

I think as far as how they can help, it's really up to you and how you are feeling. Maybe you need someone to go have coffee with and have a chat. Or maybe you need someone to go for a walk with you. Something like that.

Hope you find lots of support here 😊

@NotRockClimbingUntil about a year ago, I never spoke to anyone about anything going on in my head. I kept everything to myself and dealt with stuff as best I could. The past year has been hard and I have tried to reach out and find the same as you, I really don't know what to say when asked if i'm okay. I too have no idea what will help me and talking about my thoughts still feels so difficult and... unnatural I guess.

What I've found has helped, especially with my partner, is to just tell her exactly that. She worries she's annoying me by constantly asking if I'm okay, but I've told her it's fine, I just don't know what to say. So by explaining how difficult I find it, and how i'm not really sure what is going on myself, she does her best to support me and understands better what is going on and there's less frustration for the both of us. I see a psychologist and she gives me tips so there's slow improvement. It seems slow to me, but I think i'm so much better at talking about my feelings than I was a year ago.

Hi @NotRockClimbing

Nice to virtually meet you, happy to hear that you have a great partner and friends. They are probably the most important people in your support network and they are concerned because they care about you. Its awkward and uncomfortable telling people how you really feel, but the relief you feel from actually sharing is immense, I know that in my case when I finally told my best friend what was going on, it all came out like a flood and it was a start of my healing process. So give your closest and dearest a chance......Asgard