Topic Tuesday // Covid-19 and reflecting on the dynamic times of 2020 // Tues 15th December, 7-8:30PM AEDT

@Daisydreamer so good you had good support this year 🌻 Also harking back to a previous comment I need to check out these Grey's dance parties.

@Former-Member We've spoken a bit about isolation, and that help is available when we need it. How did you find support or connection when you needed it this year? (Feel free to share any resources you have!)

That's a good way to go @Judi9877!! For me, I find looking too far ahead can make me more anxious, but small steps feel a lot more achievable! & then, you can celebrate the small wins when you have them!

Finding support this year involved me reaching out to others, even when this felt scary. When I let people know I was feeling anxious because of a COVID restriction, I was able to receive support or just connect with others who were also processing the same thing. This was such a relief.

I also found it helpful to text people or send them cards to let them know I was thinking of them. People seemed to appreciate the gesture and that made me feel connected.

For me, it was almost impossible for me to actually reach out when I needed it most, as is often the case when you’re in a place of deep struggle- you’re just trying to put one foot in front of the other, right? Once my friends and family knew I was struggling though, they rallied around me and checked in to make sure I was doing ok and to offer support. It was my Mum who pushed me to access formal support like counselling and another friend sent me a little gift hamper at one stage to remind me that even though I felt really alone (which was triggering a lot of old traumas), I really wasn’t and things were different now.

One really important thing I did to stay connected was to keep in touch and find new ways of connecting with friends and family through phone and videocalls to make sure I didn’t go too long without touching base with someone and to give us something to look forward to.

@Judi9877 you are so welcome- we truly mean it 💙 Your lived expeirence is a huge strength and gives you so much more knowledge that you can only know from having been there before which you have! The mental health sector is starting to catch up and understand the vital role that lived experience plays in all levels of mental health care- your lived expeirence is a strength!

Honestly? I would have to say that Facebook and here on the forums have been my ways of social connection, especially here on the forums. Just popping in for the Good Morning chats to check in on everyone has given me routine and also, when forumites discussed Covid-19 stuff, like lockdown and things they were going through was a great way for me to connect.

@Former-Member it sounds like even with home isolation, you were able to find new ways to connect with the people around you. I can imagine those little gestures like the cards and texts would have made such a big difference to people's day and reminded them they aren't alone

So glad to hear the forums have given you a sense of purpose @Judi9877!!