Tillogram

Hearing you @Till23 .

And look, there are members who come and go as their cirucmstances change. There's no harm in that too. Life comes with its ebbs and flows 🙂

I totally realate to what you said that the forums can be more helpful sometimes than others. Hence please don't feel obliged to answer any posts if you want to switch off. Just know that we are here for when you want to swing by!

The volunteering and lived experience work you do sounds incredibly rewarding.

Thanks @tyme - I suppose I'll just see how it pans out and not feel stress to respond to tags. I don't really respond to group tags anymore because pretty much someone else responds. I do like to respond to direct tags.

I suppose in a way the forums overall aim is that members will leave, because as their MH improves they don't need the constant interaction and support of other members. Some people will stay around to help others which is great but I suppose in a way an aim would be to leave. Once you've been on for a while (I have only been here less than a year) there's definitely a familiarity and I suppose it feels like a safe space. Yes I can see that people will dive back in and then out because MH recovery is not linear.

Totally @Till23 . Just know we are here.

And yes, you are right. Recovery is not linear. Things can change.

I've been witness to members coming and going. And yes, sometimes it's because life is going well, other times, they've just moved on with other supports.

There's no one way of using services like SANE I guess 🙂

you are an inspiration @Till23 to me and many others

I've been witness to many members coming and going since 2015 @tyme , @AuntGlow , @Till23

some I do wonder where they are and how they are going after all these years

and I have made friends here for the last 10 years

and this week alone , 2 members have returned and it is sooo lovely seeing them here again

That's so wow to hear @Shaz51 !

I used to connect with a member who was so so down for so long. They were told they had 'treatment resistant depression'. It was hard for a few years, but eventually, they worked on their recovery to the point of getting a job and really thriving. I don't see them on the forums anymore, but I always wonder how they are going 🙂

It's pretty cool to see that to be honest.

So in a way, we can celebrate that they have moved on from the forums for now?

Thanks @Shaz51 - you are an inspiration though for all your work with people and getting social threads going as well as managing your own health and being a carer for your husband - you do so much for so many.

Yes I have recently noted people saying they haven't been on the forums for ages.

I suppose I will lurk around a bit and see what's going on without feeling the pressure to respond and see how that goes

Hope you are going well

Hiya @Till23 you lovely thing, you. Thank you for being honest with us about where you're at! Legit you could have just disappeared and honoured your own process, but I do appreciate your vulnerability in this hun, truly.

I can manage small talk okay, but my bread n butter is in Big Topic Discussions - so if ever you wanna chat philosophical/existential things, know that I'm always down!

Also, lurking is SO VALID - was chatting to creative_writer about this, about the fact that we can get a lot simply by reading others' stories. You may not realise that a lurker has read your experiences and gotten something from them, whether that's insight, hope, or reassurance - you may never hear about it, but don't go thinking it doesn't happen! You don't need to have the perfect words or response. For many, just knowing they're heard is enough.

I wonder, and tell me if I'm off the mark here, but do you think maybe you're putting a bit of pressure on yourself to show up in this space in a certain kinda way? Food for thought mayhap.

Whatever you decide, know that we support you no matter what, and if you need a break we will be waiting in the wings for you if you choose to return.

Hey @Jynx and thanks for your response.

I am a big topic person as well, I think people think I am too serious sometimes. I did start the thread about the Meaning of Life, which is a pretty big topic.

Yes, I do feel a bit of pressure to respond to direct tags, I am ok at skipping over the grouped tags now, sometimes I look at them but mostly not these days.

I agree that reading other people's experiences can be helpful, I have definitely found that, especially when you see you are not the only one thinking, or feeling, or doing something when you thought you were the only one.

Hey queen! @Till23

How are things feeling for you today?

I think you could absolutely do that - how rewarding! Honestly, our minds thrive when we are stimulated in a healthy and growth-based way, so I think this is a fantastic idea.

Thank you for sharing this with me. 💛 I am glad you are learning more about this... I can imagine the more you understand, the more you will be able support these parts of yourself too.

Ah, yes - TMS and psychedelics also make sense here haha

I saw in a other thread that you ended up joining the walking group, is that right?

If you cancelled inititally because of your injury, that is SO fair. I understand this frustration well, but healing is also really important. Though, it's tough when both choices have potential positive and negative outcomes. 😫

I am glad sport training went well. 🤩 Uplifted is a good sign.

And yes, I actually had this thought when I was singing yesterday. I thought, what if life really is just meant to be about simply enjoying?

Hi @AuntGlow it feels very weird seeing myself addressed as queen! I'm not 100% sure what that means because I am just an ordinary person, no one special at all.

I am feeling a bit better today and I am trying to maintain it. I am just getting a few small things done after a bit of modified training this morning and a long club meeting.

It's also been a pretty good day - sunny but with a breeze so not too hot and breeze not too cooling. Although saying that, the wind did just pick up a bit! Before that I was looking out my window onto the trees and my jacaranda that is flowering a bit, so looks nice and I could hear the birds chirping and not much human sound, so it was nice.

I am glad that singing was enjoyable for you. Do you do that in a choir or some kind of group?