TW: Out of the mental hospital, what now?

Hey @Lillipilli ,

Thank you for sharing a little about what's been happening.

It sure sounds like a lonely and difficult road.

Do you have people around you to support you? Family? Friends?

I totally hear what you mean in terms of inpatient stays. I've been down that path may times.

Please know there is hope.

We are sitting with you.

Hi @Lillipilli. That sounds so frightening and confusing... no wonder you feel so lost. I have no experience with this myself so it's hard to offer much advice other than to try to get as much support around you as you can, but as someone who grew up pretty much alone I understand this isnt always easy. But I do hope you have some family and/or friends around you to support you.

All I can say is that at 18 you're still very young. At that age, most of us are a bit lost and wondering about what we're going to do for the rest of our lives. I know it is obviously far more difficult for you right now but the people at lifeline are correct in that it takes little steps. I know it's frustrating and painful to feel like nothing is improving... or even going backwards. But you have to start with little steps. After a while you will look back a few months and that's when you will hopefully see improvement. I think of it like going to a gym. You don't leave the first visit and expect to be all fitter and stronger... it takes time. The trick is to not give up or get to discouraged in the mean time.

I know it's not exactly what you want to hear. It's completely understandable to want to be out of that position as quickly as possible, but it will take time. The good news it it wont take a lot of time before you start seeing some progress and that hope starts to return. It can be hard to see at times, especially with what you're going through, but the hope is there and things can improve. We're all here to help you through however you want us to. Take good care of yourself @Lillipilli. You're not alone.

Thank you for your support.
im sorry to hear you understand the experience and have gone through it many times, that is awful.

i have my mum and one friend. I lost the rest of people in my life. My mum is very supportive though, I am grateful to at least have the connections I do have. I have a complex family situation, they’re a lot older than me and we don’t speak the same language, I tried learning it in TAFE to reconnect with them and I do all the things to make an effort but they’ve got families.

Hello @Lillipilli,

It's no wonder you are feeling distressed and confused, it sounds like you went through quite the ordeal during your impatient stay and you are still dealing with the aftermath of everything and trying to find stable ground. Recovery from these types of things is a slow and small steps process, you are going to have to try practice kindness, love and patience for yourself 🙏 It isn't easy but nothing that is worth it is easy. Sometimes you might take 5 steps forward and then 10 steps back but as long as you keep moving forwards again you will get there, give yourself time.

You are so young, I didn't finish high school either and now I'm in my mid 30's back at tafe studying mental health. The future is a big place 💜