Lonely and alone in new country

Hello @Nana25 

A warm welcome to the forums!

Thank you for sharing what you’re going through.

I am sorry for the loss of your husband after 28 years together. Grief can feel overwhelming, especially after also moving countries and adjusting to a new life in Australia.

It sounds like you are carrying a lot on your own and your mental health is being negatively impacted to the point of currently experiencing panic attacks. You deserve support and you do not have to manage this by yourself.

I am concerned to hear that you sometimes feel life is hopeless and currently staying home, crying, and waiting ‘to die’. Sometimes when we struggle, we can self-isolate. You have shown incredible strength to be part of the forums.

You may have already done so, a helpful starting point could be speaking with your GP about what has been happening and asking for a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral to counselling or psychologist.

RecoveryClub offers 1:1 Telehealth support with Peer Psychosocial Recovery Facilitators and

Psychosocial Recovery Facilitators that work towards individual recovery goals, including loss and grief and here is the link https://www.sane.org/recovery-club.

If your situation changes and you feel unsafe, please call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department. You can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 for immediate emotional support.

You deserve support, connection, and care while you’re grieving, I encourage you keep engaging with peers on the forums.

Warm regards

AltZing-Connect.

You have experienced a great loss, its important to acknowledge that and give yourself time to grieve and heal. Your journey is not over, its just in a painful transition point at the moment, in this darkness look for hope and hold onto that hope until you are through to the other side.

Hello @Nana25 and welcome.

You might be surprised how many older women are in similar situations and looking for connection. Councils, Neighbourhood Houses, community centres, libraries and churches often run groups. And there's U3A and Probus groups for retired people - at 55 you'd qualify I think.

You'll meet people here on the forums too eg @Appleblossom @Shaz51 .

I'm glad someone also suggested you chat with your gp, it might be a good idea to have a general checkup, not just mental health.

I'd also suggest walking - good for physical and mental health and getting to know the neighbourhood.

Thank you,

im working with my GP to do a mental health plan I’ve had counselling and found it very hard to form a connection with the person. I had counselling in New Zealand before my husband passed it was really good. I go for a walk most days as I’m not far from the Brisbane river.

Im so used to to being a caregiver to everyone else and advocate on there behalf but I can’t seem to do it for myself.

Thank you

@Nana25 Nice to meet you. Welcome to the land of Aus, and the forum.

It takes courage to migrate at any time, but especially as a senior. As Dimity suggested there are a few options for retired folks. Take your time reaching out. Feel free to join the more social chats.

Glad to hear you're working with the gp and have a nice area to walk @Nana25 .

With counselling not everyone forms a connection - better to move on if it's not working, and find someone else.

Advocating for ourselves isn't easy. We do need support and encouragement. Does your daughter know how you feel? Forums people can be very supportive too... Hi @Appleblossom .

Do you have any furbabies?