Battles

@MissGremlin I get you. Being in it is different from observing from an outsider's perspective. Still wish I had something I could say that would ease this pain for you 💜

Totally agree, I have always considered it a privilege to witness so much vulnerability and authenticity, so many perspectives, get to read so many stories of people's lives... It's truly special, and I appreciate all who are part of it - yourself very much included 😊

I hope you are okay after a hard day. You deserve a break 🤞

(づ ᴗ _ᴗ)づ♡

Are you still okay with members supporting you here on the forums? @MissGremlin

@tyme yes. I wouldn't be on here otherwise.

@Jynx if only it was as easy as just simply saying something to ease the pain.

Exactly right, this space is honestly like no other in how people share their stories, connect and offer support to others.

Thankyou sweet ❤️.

I'm far from ok though, i feel like I'm just hanging by a thread, but it's fraying and there's nothing to catch me when I fall.

I'm safe for now. I'm going to see if I can do a bit of my stitch diamond art while I have Buffy and Angel playing in the background.

If there is ever a way I can help support you more than I already do/try on the forums, please do ask me @MissGremlin.

I am glad your counsellor continues to see you. I dont quite understand what you mean by "not qualified to support you", but either way I am glad they are a support for you.

Supports don't have to be formal or paid. And they dont have to be experts either.

But i know that there are types of things that are "best" done with trained expert supports. But if that isnt an option, then as long as its not a harmful thing for either person, i hope other informal supports can help fill the gaps. I guess thats where i see my role with my friends -- ideally complementary to if they need professional supports, but if for some reason that isnt possible? Then i'd hope my friends know they could always call me and ask to chat about it.

@MissGremlin aye, if there were magic words, there'd be no need for the forums - just a big empty page with those magic words printed in like, size 90 font 😅

I am glad you're safe, and keeping yourself immersed in a nice, mindful activity 😊 Yikes you must be closing in on the finale, no?

Did you ever read the Buffy comics? I think I saw one or two but I've never read them fully. I wonder if they're available online somewhere... 🤔

@AlwaysMyself you help and support me so much sweet just by talking to me and taking the time to listen and understand ❤️.

So essentially she is a family counsellor not a mental health counsellor. Hence the not being qualified to help with things but at the same time she can still provide a safe space to listen and offer whatever support she can. Although after our phone call today I'm a bit worried about her own mental health given she said that she's had thoughts herself. Which then makes me feel like maybe I'm a bit too much for her and that I don't want to burden her with my problems.

It's hard when I need that professional support but I'm not able to access it. As for having friends to actually talk to about things well that's tricky in itself. Yes I have a couple of people that I have reached out to (the ones that say I'm always here, you can tell me anything) but it hasn't always worked out and then I've been hurt further. I'm the same in that I'm always here if anyone needs to talk and I'll always do my best to support them. You're a good friend sweetheart ❤️

@Jynx haha well when you put it that way I'm actually glad that there isn't those magic words cos I value this space 😂.

I only tend to watch a couple of episodes a night so yes I'm getting closer but still have a little bit to go, then I'll probably just start again. Although I do think I might watch true blood again at some stage.

I've never read them but comics annoy me, the writing is all over the place and I don't know what to read first 😂

Ah, that makes sense as Family vs MH focus in training @MissGremlin . But i reckon there would be a lot of overlap too in the training -- because family dynamics and relationships and interactions can so much be impacted by MH & trauma of the individuals too.

Im so glad she is a good listener. 😊. When i go to the drop-in centre with my thoughts, i know they can't "do" or "solve" anything -- i know all they can do for my situation is listen and let me "get it out of my system" and "be heard" by someone other than myself. I dont intellectually understand why it helps, but experientially i have found it does - so i hold onto that as "valid" even jf i dont understand it.

I wonder if she disclosed to you that she has had thoughts too sometimes as a way of empathising and relating? Like in a peer support way here that we do with each other.

A gentle loving reminder that just because someone has/had similar thoughts (or may even currently) it doesn't necessarily mean that they find another person with those thoughts a burden or "too much".

I was thinking of you a lot during the day today, especially between my counselling appointment and your post-session post. And it made me realise that perhaps *because* I understand some of the thoughts (esp around the scenario of not being able to access supports) that you have, it doesn't distress or overwhelm me to know that you have them. I have empathy and i care so much and wish there was something that i/we could do more. But at the same time it doesnt *feel* distressing to me to know you are in this situation that i have no control over and dont know the outcome of. I don't know if that is just me - and perhaps one of those autistic traits i have - or if that is abit more "normal" for people with "lived experience".

Just putting this out there as an example from myself of this situation not being distressing or triggering or burdonsome for me, even though we are or have been in similiar situations in some ways.

@AlwaysMyself yes there is. It's just that she knows i need intensive support that she can't provide and I've been unable to get it from anywhere.

It does help to have that space to just talk and be heard even if they can't fix anything.

The phone call this morning started out with her being really down and that's when she said that she's had alot going on and her own thoughts about things. So whilst yes there's that empathetic and relating part it was a bit more than that today.

Thankyou for the gentle loving reminder and I know.

Awwww thankyou sweet ❤️. This last part I relate to so much. I think having that understanding and knowing exactly what it's like to be in that space helps to not get overwhelmed/triggered if others express those thoughts/feelings. It's definitely not just you that feels this way.