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Topic Tuesday // How to support yourself while supporting others // Tues 18 June, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember31 May 2019, 10:12 am AEST

Topic Tuesday // How to support yourself while supporting others // Tues 18 June, 7pm AEST

When we have lived experience of complex mental health, it's natural to want to reach out and support those who are also navigating the recovery journey. Connecting and engaging with others who understand our narrative is a powerful tool to self-healing. But sometimes it's easy to become overwhelmed and at times anxious as we try to manage our own symptoms alongside someone else's.

Join us for this Topic Tuesday as we feature special guest - Senior Clinician, Julia from @eheadspace to discuss maintaining our own mental wellbeing whilst supporting others. Please note whilst this event features some youth related topics, it is open to members of all ages.

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

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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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In response to: Topic Tuesday // How to support yourself while supporting others // Tues 18 June, 7pm AEST

greenspaceSenior Contributor18 June 2019, 7:13 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // How to support yourself while supporting others // Tues 18 June, 7pm AEST

Hi @Former-Member , Julia @eheadspace , and everyone taking part in Topic Tuesday tonight!

Really looking forward to the discussion.

I'm well over 30, and have been living with anxiety and depression for years, and currently I'm supporting a friend who also lives with anxiety and depression and is dealing with a lot of loss this year.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // How to support yourself while supporting others // Tues 18 June, 7pm AEST

eheadspaceSenior Contributor18 June 2019, 7:13 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // How to support yourself while supporting others // Tues 18 June, 7pm AEST

Through my work at eheadspace I have chatted to young people who because of their own lived experience with mental illness present with lots of compassion and care for their loved ones who are going through a difficult time with their own mental health. I have admired their willingness and dedication to supporting others whilst also maintaining their own recovery.

Young people often reach out to eheadspace for support because they are worried about a friend who isn’t doing so well. Their friend may be self harming or having thoughts of suicide, but they don’t want their friend telling anyone. So the young person is left balancing their worry for their friend as well concerns about breaching their trust, this can take a toll of their own wellbeing and recovery. We work with young people to strike that balance between the needs of their friend and their own needs.

In this type of situation I try to support the young people to attend to their own self care, to identify the signs of when our “tank” is running on empty and how we fill that up. Importantly we talk about “sharing the load” so having a think about who in your life you can talk to about your friend…..working out together what might be a way forward to get the friend the support they need to free up some space for your own self care.

Personally being in the mental health profession, I have to continually monitor my own stress levels because it’s super important for me to be healthy so I can have enough energy in my tank to support others who are going through hard times. When I start to feel exhausted and it gets hard to get up for work, then I know it might be time for me to take a break which may include taking annual leave or a mental health day and doing something nice for myself.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // How to support yourself while supporting others // Tues 18 June, 7pm AEST

AdgeSenior Contributor18 June 2019, 7:13 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // How to support yourself while supporting others // Tues 18 June, 7pm AEST

I found it...

I'm here!

Even though no reminder (notification) came through.

Adge

In response to: Topic Tuesday // How to support yourself while supporting others // Tues 18 June, 7pm AEST

BlueBaySenior Contributor18 June 2019, 7:14 pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // How to support yourself while supporting others // Tues 18 June, 7pm AEST

Hi @Former-Member @eheadspace i find it difficult to look after myself when I’m in here because I want to help others. Self care isn’t happening.