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Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember02 May 2019, 1:26 pm AEST

Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Taking on the role of caring for someone with mental health challenges is no easy feat, as mental health differs to physical health, sometimes it can take time to become aware that we are mental health carers in the first place. It can be very emotionally and physically demanding, as well as at times a rewarding experience. One of the really tricky elements of this task is understanding your identity as a carer, as well as supports that may be available to you.

Join us here on Tuesday the 21st of May as one of our Youth Peer Ambassador's (Carer) talks to the community about the challenges of defining our caring role, with a particular emphasis on young carer's. We welcome people from all walks of life to attend this event, and look forward to seeing you here 😄

Want to receive an email reminder on the night? Hit the 'Support' button below.

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Tim_YPAContributor21 May 2019, 7:50 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Already onto our second point - the time is flying!

It took me forever to find an intersection between my role as a carer and my role as my mum’s son. I will be honest that I was a really needy child, so to have our relationship completely flip where I had to take up responsibility, and my mum was in need of care; it was really challenging. Coming to terms with this took time, and also a lot of self-love. I felt I made so many mistakes in both my role as a carer and son. But I had to accept that there was no rule book to follow, and I just had to the best I could. No matter what duel identities, you have you probably will feel some conflict – especially as per our previous discussion, if you’re not 100% sure what it means to be a carer.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Tim_YPAContributor21 May 2019, 7:52 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

I'm the same @Shaz51 I tend to use the term supporter unless it's in official situations (e.g. centrelink) where I know they won't understand.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember21 May 2019, 7:52 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

A lot of layers to navigate through @Shaz51 Well done to you and your strength in the journey. At times, when it all feels a bit chaotic, I do find grounding in the present moment to be helpful. I am always impressed too by your congruent love and care for those close to you in the family, I think love above all things is the great foundation to managing any illness be it mental or physical

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember21 May 2019, 7:53 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Welcome 🙂 @Appleblossom 😄

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Faith-and-HopeSenior Contributor21 May 2019, 7:54 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

It’s actually one of the kids who ended up having a mental health team @Tim_YPA , because hubby’s mental health issue is still so well disguised for people who can’t see into our lives ..... and his shields went up with our adult child’s team, but it did serve to alter the behaviour pattern that was fir cult affecting that child. Their diagnosis helped them, and the rest of us, to understand better what is happening with my hubby (their dad), so we are caring for him in ways that he doesn’t understand he is being cared for ......

It’s so weird, yet probably not at all to other young carer’s who may have experienced something similar.

I am concerned that we are living with a secret that we shouldn’t be, because we ought to be able to be open about the mental health issue. That is part of advocacy, for everyone involved.

And anxiety and depression have affected the kids, apart from the main diagnosis over the one of them.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember21 May 2019, 7:54 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

@Tim_YPA "so to have our relationship completely flip where I had to take up responsibility, and my mum was in need of care; it was really challenging."

Powerful. I am sure this resonates with many people on the forums. Thank you.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Shaz51Senior Contributor21 May 2019, 7:56 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

That second question @Former-Member , @Tim_YPA

sometimes I find it hard or not hard but to remember balance between wife / , Daughter

Step mother ( as my step children have certain degrees of MI too )

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

outlanderSenior Contributor21 May 2019, 7:56 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

How do you manage your identity and role as a carer, with your other identities/roles (e.g. child, friend, parent)?

Unfortunatly my life has similar roles in all aspects. While i have the title 'carer' for my granddad, i also take care of my siblings alot more then what most other people would be doing at my age so really my roles and responsibilities are much thr same in all aspects of my life.
I am just 'Outlander' and thatll have to do i suppose.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

Tim_YPAContributor21 May 2019, 7:57 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

@Faith-and-Hope that sounds challenging - though I can kind of understand. My family were really secretive about my mum's mental health issues when I was young, and they didn't want to 'make a fuss.' So that was kind of 'baked into' my mind when I had to step up as a carer. I guess we just have to do our best with what we've got at that point in time.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

TictacContributor21 May 2019, 7:59 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Defining your role as a Carer // Tues 21st May, 7pm AEST

I’m finding it really hard to find that middle ground between carer and partner. It’s hard to go from being equals in a relationship to - in many but not all - a one sided support system. Some days I just want to be a whingey girlfriend 😂

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