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Unknown userMember
Living and loving someone with MI presents relationship challenges and often others cannot see why we chose to stay with our partners.
Being mindful of not intruding on others stories I thought having a thread where we can share tips and encourage one another would be of value.
In response to: Partners who chose to stay for the long haul
Unknown userMember
Hi @pMac and welcome 👋
In response to: Re: Partners who chose to stay for the long haul
Faith-and-HopeSenior Contributor
Welcome @pMac 👋
In response to: Re: Partners who chose to stay for the long haul
Shaz51Senior Contributor
hello @Determined , @pMac , @Former-Member , @Faith-and-Hope
hello @pMac , how are you today
In response to: Re: Partners who chose to stay for the long haul
Unknown userMember
@pMac
Do you have any hobbies/pets that you would like to tell us about?
In response to: Re: Partners who chose to stay for the long haul
pMacCasual Contributor
Thank you for being inclusive. I have a very adorable 8 year old dog. Sir L. He is the apple of our eye and brings a lots of laughter and smiles to me each day. I enjoy bush walking and kayaking and continue to try to get out as much as possible and encourage Hubby to do it too. I am struggling with knowing best to way to cope with each moment. This week has been like walking on eggshells. No matter how I respond or ask a question it he becomes defensive. He is focused on succeeding at returning to part time work but I feel maybe he becoming more isolated. I am taking some time out tomorrow to reset myself and seeking some professional help around setting some boundaries. He is my world so I will do whatever it takes.
In response to: Partners who chose to stay for the long haul
LisekContributor
Hi everyone. Sorry for the silence. Life is so busy...living is busy. Awaiting psychiatrist appointment for my Mr. (March) I got a referal to a psycholigist for myself but I'm delaying signing up. I worry it will become so real again. I'm forcing myself to think it seems ok this week, I got this...until I dont. My GP asked me one million questions before giving me the referral. I explained I dont know how to approach his depression, what to say and what not to say. The GP pointed out I dont seem depressed or needeing help (ouch!) I explained it is different if I tell a stranger about it...If I tried to tell my mother or a close friend what I..what we are going through I would be crying before I finish the sentance. Do you feel the same? Like you can lay all out logically to a stranger but as soon as anyone else is involved you fall apart into a mess?
In response to: Re: Partners who chose to stay for the long haul
Unknown userMember
@pMac
Have tagged you in the dog thread. Your Sir L sounds like a little champion. 😀
@Lisek I think of my counseling sessions a bit like physio, (doing the stretches to avoid injury.) It is well documented that caregivers are susceptible to burn out.
In response to: Re: Partners who chose to stay for the long haul
Unknown userMember
@Former-Member
How are things with you? Been thinking of you.
In response to: Re: Partners who chose to stay for the long haul
Unknown userMember
Loved hearing about your trip @Faith-and-Hope.
I cannot see us ever going overseas, I would be terrified Mr Darcy would do/say something inappropriate.
In response to: Re: Partners who chose to stay for the long haul
Faith-and-HopeSenior Contributor
My mr. says, and especially does, inappropriate things all the time @Former-Member, but he has anosognosia and cannot recognise that he is unwell, mildly delusional at times, and behaving inappropriately or strangely. That is where our trips reflect our everyday life - we are living extremes of experience, good and bad, cringing with embarrassment when things are unexplainably wonky, run late for performances and get locked out till the end of anset or intermission, miss flights, inconvenience others, etc ..... so the two days with the four of us further north without mr. and two other family members who were unwell or difficult to manage, were heavenly.
We were not answering to any of that, nor were we held hostage to mr. daily regimen, which includes making all his own meals in hotel rooms with food stores he carries forward in suitcases, or sources locally, going around the hotel facilities such as dining room, kiosk or room service, but ordering and keeping crockery and utensils till the end of our stay.
It is wonderful, the things we do and see, but they come at the cost of anxiety and sadness, at times some trauma ..... but we can’t get through to him, and it it would be inconceivable to him if we said we wouldn’t travel with him because he is unwell. On the contrary, he believes me to be unwell by not accepting his reality and pushing against it.
Taking the magical things as blessings, and recognising that the wonky things will, at some point, bear witness to his unwell state of mind.
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
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