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Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember29 Mar 2019, 1:42 pm AEDT

Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Whether it's travelling to a foreign country or being away from your own bed somewhere else for the night, lets explore how we manage our mental health issues in times where our routine might be different or our comforts aren't the same. @Former-Member will be facilitating this group discussion so come along and share your experiences and insights so we can work through some tips, ideas and thoughts around this topic!

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember16 Apr 2019, 7:44 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Good point @Shaz, planning well and communicating that to everyone involved helps relieve anxiety. And as Lauz said, we need to have a sense of being in control I guess.
I've got writer's cramp and run myself in circles planning and attempting to address or avoid 'worse case scenarios' Kinda wish I didn't have so much responsiblity.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Jm3Contributor16 Apr 2019, 7:45 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

@Former-Member I definitely hate the unknown. I think I like the comfort of my options. If one thing doesn’t work for me at home I have another to calm me. You can only pack so many of those options until it becomes impractical.

That plus caring for someone else who already needs extra support and packing is making me stress about a holiday that is supposed to be really great for both of us.

@greenspace I worry about my fur babies too. My last weekend away got cut short because my pup hurt himself in a minor way and my mother, Aunty and grandmother all called me completely panicked and crying.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

SnowieSenior Contributor16 Apr 2019, 7:46 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

@Former-Member

I make sure I have things out of my coping box to take on the trip. I also make sure I have recordings on my phone I can listen too.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember16 Apr 2019, 7:47 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

@Ginny1 are you able to reach out to your GP to get the letter? We will be sharing some resources towards the end of this event on international supports for those going overseas so sit tight, they may be helpful to have for you 😀 Meanwhile feel free to get involved in our questions along the way tonight

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Jm3Contributor16 Apr 2019, 7:48 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

@Snowie A coping box sounds fantastic. What sort of items do you usually fill it with?

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember16 Apr 2019, 7:49 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

The bathroom or toot cubicle is usually a redilly available place to retreat to when crowds or circumstances become overwhelming. Sit alone a while, wash face...
I miss my bed for this when I'm away

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

TalinNew Contributor16 Apr 2019, 7:49 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

I usually use my onesie and soft toys as a coping strategy

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

greenspaceSenior Contributor16 Apr 2019, 7:50 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

I think it's a combination of feeling less in control/fear of uncertainty, plus negotiating with others/explaining if I need to use self-soothing strategies while I'm staying with people, or meeting someone at a cafe.

I take my own pillowcase when I go away overnight, for familiarity and so I don't get hayfever from scented laundry detergent. And I take my plush toy dragon that I hug at night -- that's really comforting.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Jm3Contributor16 Apr 2019, 7:50 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

@Former-Member Well I like to overpack as a coping thing. Which is fine if driving or train or similar. Airplane weight limits tend to make this idea harder for overseas trips.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember16 Apr 2019, 7:52 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Managing mental health when travelling or away from home // Tues 16 Apr, 7pm AEDT

Hey @Snowie thats really great! A coping box can be a helpful tool generally and then to be able to have things in it to take away is useful. If you are comfortable would you mind sharing what a coping box is for those here that may not have heard of it before 🌈👍🏼

@Jm3 I can understand not being able to pack every supportive thing in. What about some tools that aren't objects - more practices such as mindfulness or apps to use even? Do you communicate with your partner around apprehensions and how you could both plan for each others together perhaps?

Has communication with people you are travelling with or to helped people feel a bit more safe in that fear of unknown?

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