Christian Chat

@Realness

Repentance can be at the very end of life. How comforting is that!! 💯 It gives me hope of loved ones who've passed, including my sister!

I love how Jesus asked His father to forgive them while they nailed Him to the cross (or around that time). That inspires me to forgive people more! I'm learning to put up healthy boundaries afterwards, though.

I also like when Jesus shouted, Father, I entrust my spirit into Your hands. I find it somewhat comforting. I don't know why. It just is.

Our church service message was simple today. We need to repent and accept Jesus as our Saviour. The church was packed with holiday makers and families. The message was more for them, I think. He mentioned vaping and smoking as something people look for temporary happiness in. I laughed because that's me. I vape. 😄

@Appleblossom @DownMoreThanUp @ENKELI

Thank you so much for answering my questions @Realness It makes sense. I have always got questions! 😄

Leaving reality behind is not a good way to live life even when the new reality is very comforting. I can relate to this. I used to dissociate and found it a very comforting space. I've even noticed in one of the poems that I wrote to my perpetrator, therapist and the world that I started speaking in the third person. I think I was possibly dissociating at the time. I can't live like that nor do I want to. I need to feel, although I don't always like the feelings.

the Amygdala reacted (edited by mod) leading to other changes in the brain. Was this a particular drug that you tried to mention?

I understand the neural pathways because I've had to build a couple of new 'roads'. I was in there with a machete, cutting a new path and keep using it instead of the highway!

Emergencies happen in life and the brain has to have a way of getting people through. The brain is so complicated for man to understand. I've heard that a single cell holds a library of information. The brain is amazing, but I think it can be broken, to one degree or another! I'm personally glad I have medication to keep me stable.

Have you ever heard of Francis Farmer? It was a book, and I think there is a movie about her, as well. Not sure, though.

@heartathome that concert looks like it would have been awesome! Thanks for sharing. Thanks to my mum I got to listen to and appreciate Fleetwood Mac growing up and I still play their songs.

@Realness @DownMoreThanUp @AlwaysMyself @Appleblossom

I haven't been online much, it's been a real struggle the past couple of weeks with a lot of my dad's family and friends cutting me off. I know that my sister has something to do with it but as I said to my mum there is nothing I can do about it. Ultimately it was dad's doing, he knew the decisions he made regarding his will would cause drama and did it anyway. I am sad and have been very emotional but slowly moving on.

I had a nice quiet day for my birthday yesterday. It was 37 degrees (and again today) so I didn't feel like doing much. As there are so many birthdays in my family the first week of January (mine, mums', 2 cousins - April was a busy month!!) we are having a girls' lunch next weekend to celebrate everyone.
My best friend is also taking me out to dinner as well so I am feeling very special 🙂

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the beginning of the new year. I don't make resolutions but I am trying to spend more time with God so that's a start.

Much love and prayers my darling Sane Fam xoxo

Hi @heartathome ,

Thanks for your reply.

I wonder if I dissociate? I haven't been checking my posts for times I go to the third person.

The amygdala is a part of the brain. Like the frontal lobes (which look after higher thinking) or the cerebellum (which look after movement). Cognitive neuropsychology was my favourite subject when I got my degree.

Good on you for being able to build new neural pathways. What a good description you used: "instead of using the highway."

I agree. The brain can be broken. Described as chemical imbalances or unhealthy highways (your term) it makes no difference what language is used. Yes, it's good that there is medication ... except for the side effects!

I'm about to google Francis Farmer.

Go mum!!😊 It's great how she introduced you to Fleetwood Mac. I grew up on them (in my teens).

I'm sorry that you've had all that going on with your family. It must be really hard dealing with being cut off from them and their friends, especially so soon after your dad's passing!

I can relate, somewhat, to being cut off from family but not from a will. My sister and friends wouldn't have anything to do with me when I was in the cult. When I left the cult after a couple of years, none of them would have anything to do with me. I cried many tears. I know it's nothing like your situation but when you mentioned being cut off, this memory came up.

I'm glad you had a nice birthday in spite of the heat. I don't mind the heat @ENKELI but 37 is just too hot! Next weekend sounds like a good time, with your mum, (cool mum!) and cousins. I love the idea of a girl's lunch date! 😊 And how wonderful going out for dinner with your best friend, who has stood by your side for... how long? I remember praying for her while she was in hospital.

I appreciate both your love and prayers! 💛

@ENKELI Congratulations with your birthday sis. i hope you have so many more to come you loose count!😁

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laPhvAZ_2m4

Hmm... dissociation @Realness My partner speaks in the third person all the time. He's on the spectrum and I always thought it was a part of that. He is eccentric so that might also explain it

Cognitive neuropsychology sounds really interesting! I like CBT and learning about the neural pathways through my psych. I've learnt more from him than anywhere.

I understand the term chemical imbalance. good that there is medication ... except for the side effects! Isn't that the truth! I put on 20 k*** with a medication my psych put me on once!

I just looked up Francis Farmer myself. I saw the movie Francis when it came out in the 80's. I always thought she probably wouldn't be hospitalized in the 80's but thinking about it, I was. I remember there being bars on the windows. They used to wake me up at 6am to give me a sedative to calm me down. I never understood that but yelling at them didn't help! 😉

Have you heard of the investigative journalist Nellie Bly, who in 1887 pretended to have a mental illness so she could be admitted to the Women's Lunatic Asylum. After 10 days, her newspaper arranged her release, and she published Ten Days in a Mad-House. It led to reforms in mental health care.

Hi @heartathome ,

Your psych sounds excellent. Was he the one who taught you to lay down new neural pathways?

I can hear you yelling at staff who wake you at 6am! Thanks for sharing that story. I also have been hospitalised - the start of my medication impacted life. But that chapter of the story can wait another day.

I started watching a documentary on Frances Farmer. What a beautiful movie star she was! Will finish it this week some time. Not up to her rise to fame nor her fall yet.

Nellie Bly is a new name too - she sounds like a sneaky effective journalist. There have also been psychology experiments on who gets admitted to psychiatric wards. Mistakes are made.

Dear @ENKELI

I am glad you had a decent birthday and have a friend who cares about you.

Yes it is tough getting through those special days when family is fragmenting and our feelings of woundedness really rise. How to survive with self respect seems key, but probably looks different for each of us. Not really been able to make sense of the suffering. I try and heal. Embrace. Distract. The mindful gardener talk of allowing. The feelings are what they are. Glad we do have some sense of forum fam.

Hugs.

Cooee

@Realness @heartathome @DownMoreThanUp @AlwaysMyself

@heartathome my goodness, having your sisters turn against you is awful! Family is tricky, I have a wonderful maternal family, it's just dad's side. Mum's sister is my favourite aunt, we have shared a lot over the years and she's always good to talk to when I can't talk to mum.

As the lawyer hasn't received dad's death certificate he can't give me any information regarding inheritance etc. I guess I'll find out in due course. Dad told me that it was divided 4 ways (my brother, 2 sisters and myself) but then he told my brother something different. I would be terrific if I did receive a quarter of his estate as it's valued around $400 000 (in total - to be split 4 ways)and one of the executors made a comment that I am included so I am praying for it as it would be a massive help in repairing my house and getting my teeth fixed. And hopefully a holiday with my bestie.

Do you have contact with your sisters now? My youngest sister hasn't spoken to me in over 10 years, all of a sudden she cut me out of her life without explanation. I'm sorry that this evoked a sad memory for you, I pray you have healed from the pain, or are healing.

I think this year I am going to try not to care so much what other people think of me, regardless of whether they are related or not. I only have one real life friend but we are stuck with each other, it's been 51 years so I think we'll last the distance lol!

Look after yourself my beautiful Christ sister, may 100 000 blessings be bestowed upon you xoxo