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

Unknown userMember

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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I'm new here - what is Topic Tuesday?

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.

How do I get involved?

Topic Tuesday takes place right here! It's text based, so no software is needed. During the session, to keep up with the latest posts hit the 'refresh' button on your browser for the latest posts (it doesn't automatically update). Keep an eye for page numbers at the top & bottom of the page, and jump to the highest page number for the most recent post.

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

eheadspaceSenior Contributor

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

Hi @Former-Member , thanks so much for sharing those thoughts and feelings, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your experience. You sound like a super supportive friend and supporting people who are suicidal is really tough and traumatic. I am so glad you contacted a helpline afterwards to debrief, as that’s super importan and forms an important part of self care!

Sounds like you have good insight about where you are at in terms of your own wellbeing and in terms of asking yourself whether it’s time to put in some boundaries in place with friends. It might be a good idea to do this whilst you regain your energy levels. I think we are going to talk more about self care later on in the chat so you might like to note some of the ideas to see if they might be manageable in your life.

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

greenspaceSenior Contributor

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

@Shaz51 wrote:

Hello @eheadspace , @Former-Member

@BlueBay, @Adge , @greenspace

i help others before helping myself x

Hi @Shaz51

I can understand the impulse to help others first, but that can be really draining, don't you find?

The airline safety message always says to put your own oxygen mask on first, which I think is a great idea.

Although in life it's not always as clear a choice as that...

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

Kylie2Casual Contributor

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

Bed making* darn auto correct

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

Unknown userMember

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

Racing start indeed! Welcome @eth 🙂 Always lovely to have you.

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

Shaz51Senior Contributor

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

I can understand the impulse to help others first, but that can be really draining, don't you find?--- yes it is very draining @Former-Member , @greenspace , @eheadspace but onward i go @

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

Unknown userMember

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

Alright crew massively energetic start! Thanks so much for the thoughts all and of course our wonderful guest Julia from @eheadspace your insight is incredibly valuable.

Discussion point 2....

What are the first signs that we might be experiencing our own “Compassion Fatigue” whilst helping a mate/loved one who are leaning on us for support?

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

FroggyhawkContributor

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

Hi I'm new here, I have no idea what I'm doing but hi. I am mum to a 22yo with temporal lobe epilepsy and a pending schizophrenia or bipolar diagnosis, also a 17yo with depression, my middle son is currenlty OK, and my hubby also has depression and is not enjoying his work. That's me so you can guess why I'm here.

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

Kylie2Casual Contributor

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

Maybe we can brainstorm simple choice making ideas for self care? What choices did you make today? Also maybe we can brain storm ways of saying no but providing alternatives...

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

eheadspaceSenior Contributor

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

Whilst everyones experience will be slightly different some common signs that we are becoming fatigued in the helping process can include feeling exhausted and low on energy which may impact our ability to attend to our own self care needs, we may be feeling unable to complete our own daily commitments like work or study. We may start feeling less compassionate towards our mate/loved one and may even wish they would just get over it, we may become resentful of our mate or loved one.

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

greenspaceSenior Contributor

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

@Shaz51 wrote:

@Former-Member I always seems to be running on empty . how can i helpmyself @greenspace

Are there people you can say No to occasionally, @Shaz51 ?

Or people who you can say "You need to support me as much as I support you" to?

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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.

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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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