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Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember13 Nov 2018, 11:22 am AEDT

Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

With incoming holidays and festivities it's important to look after yourself. For this Topic Tuesday we will have a special guest from Lifeline Australia exploring this subject with us. Stay tuned for more info soon.

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Topic Tuesday runs from 7pm - 9pm AEST monthly. Each month we focus on a different topic, with the session facilitated by a Community Manager or Moderator. Sometimes Topic Tuesday will feature a special guest, who is an expert in the topic.

The first post of the thread (this one) will give you an idea of what the topic is and what will be covered.

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Throughout the session, the facilitator will put questions out for you to answer, usually asking for your own experience on the topic. To contribute to the session, just hit the 'reply' button and share your thoughts. No answers are right or wrong and everyone is welcome to get involved.

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

Dave1977Senior Contributor11 Dec 2018, 7:19 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

I actually struggle with this Robert. I’m pretty resilient normally and don’t really appreciate that I have triggers to be careful of, so when I am triggered it’s usually a surprise to me and I’m usually deeply affected by the event.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

BlueBaySenior Contributor11 Dec 2018, 7:19 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

How can you be “happy” when you’re screaming and crying inside. This family togetherness is not real for me snymire. @Former-Member@Robert_Lifeline

In response to: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

Robert_LifelineSenior Contributor11 Dec 2018, 7:20 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

@Dave1977

Hi Dave, What is it about the 'togetherness' that makes you feel even more alone and isolated? I am just curious..

In response to: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

utopiaSenior Contributor11 Dec 2018, 7:20 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

I'm used to isolating myself to a degree @ & when I choose to come out of that hibernation, I normally socialise one on one.

On Christmas day there will be about 20 people at the lunch we are attending.

Crowds make me anxious. Even if I know the people.

I worry that I won't be able to be "happy" on the day, so will bring everyone down.

Then there's everyone who will ask how I'm going. How I'M REALLY GOING (eg: my mental health) . It will be a focus again, and I don't like that focus.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember11 Dec 2018, 7:22 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

Some of your experience speaks to me too @utopia Thank you for sharing.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

Dave1977Senior Contributor11 Dec 2018, 7:23 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

It’s the ongoing feeling I have of being all alone in the world. I can usually manage that feeling day by day, but at this time of year all you can see around you is messages of cheer and good will, togetherness and love, happiness and celebrations of the people you love.

That’s all well and good, but for those of us who are largely alone and isolated those constant messages just serve to highlight the things I feel I’m missing out on.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

Robert_LifelineSenior Contributor11 Dec 2018, 7:23 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

@utopia

Hi, this is a good point about being the focus and not wanting to be.. There seems to be a theme emerging of having to 'go through the motions' and pretending for the sake of the family.. I wonder, if this family enaggement is inescapable to a degree, how can we engage in a way that is safe for us? (i.e., play the game to a certain extent yet be true to ourselves..)

In response to: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

JumpingcactusSenior Contributor11 Dec 2018, 7:24 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

@Former-Member I phoned lifeline around 3 weeks ago, much needed someone to talk too, they spent over an hour on the phone with me, he was patient and listened to me, he was such a great help to me I was filled with so much gratitude I started crying in appreciation. I won lotto when this man answered my call. He was amazing.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

Shaz51Senior Contributor11 Dec 2018, 7:24 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

@Former-Member, @Former-Member we need to do one on the carers side too --- "How do you support yourself and your Love one through the festive season"

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

Robert_LifelineSenior Contributor11 Dec 2018, 7:25 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // How do you support yourself through the festive season // Tues 11 Dec, 7pm AEDT

@Dave1977

Dave, yes there is a lot of not just family pressure but also societal and cultural pressure, isn't there?

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