Topic Tuesday // Exploring Loneliness // Tues 18 Sep, 7pm AEDT

@Former-Member Actually, it was found through many moons of counselling. I learned that through needing others to make me feel seen I was not seeing myself. I was trying to please others to make them value me, and forgetting I had values and should value myself. Now I try to physically write down my values and what I enjoy doing and how things make me feel. Then I try to live in accordance with these values. That way 'I am hearing me' and valueing how my life makes me feel.

It's something I still struggle with today if I'm being honest. Knowing the lesson objective, unfortunately does not mean it's learned!

It’s huge impact @Former-Member

I don’t have friends who want to know about me or my illness. It’s like they want to shut it out. I remember a few years sho telling a close friend about my illness snd she told me she couldn’t listen to me or want to know about it. I felt so alone rejected and abandoned.

To me abandonment is huge and it’s very lonely being rejected esp by family

@Former-Member - What impact has living with a mental health concern had on the level of loneliness in your life?

A lot. My main interactions with other people were incidental via my work, so that feeling of connection is gone since I became Totally and Permanetly Disabled (officially) and my mental health took a huge dive about 5 years ago - and since then I have been pretty out about my diagnoses, but people shut down and don;t know what to say. Someone else here said no one asks... but if I had an operation or a phsyical issue I'd get pots of soup and a hand woith housework.It is like I am invisible.

When my depression is at it's worst, I isolate myself. Don't want visitors or phone calls. Then when I'm feeling better, the friends have all gone (except one) - because I was sick too long.

@Former-Member My mi has made a huge impact upon my life. It has changed me from what I was before. Changed me from the inside (my mind) and the outside (my body) and how people would perceive me. I hate it but am stuck with it. I feel like a brumby being tamed it is horrendous.

So as for friends it is nigh impossible when I cannot accept myself.

@Former-Member

My depression and anxiety make me isolate myself. Catching up with friends and family is hard because I have to deal with the dreaded "so how's life/your job going?". I've grown tired of having to lie or pretend that everything is going well. I feel like a downer all the time if I'm constantly talking about my mental health everytime I catch up with a friend or family member. It's easier for me just to be alone.