Lived Experience Forum

[Liss23]

It has everything to do with my mental and physical health. Social anxiety in particular

[Pinky]

@suzanne Actually, it was found through many moons of counselling. I learned that through needing others to make me feel seen I was not seeing myself. I was trying to please others to make them value me, and forgetting I had values and should value myself. Now I try to physically write down my values and what I enjoy doing and how things make me feel. Then I try to live in accordance with these values. That way 'I am hearing me' and valueing how my life makes me feel. 

It's something I still struggle with today if I'm being honest. Knowing the lesson objective, unfortunately does not mean it's learned!

[TAB]

Probably part and parcel re depression loneliness and anxiety

[BlueBay]

It’s huge impact @suzanne

I don’t have friends who want to know about me or my illness. It’s like they want to shut it out. I remember a few years sho telling a close friend about my illness snd she told me she couldn’t listen to me or want to know about it. I felt so alone rejected and abandoned. 

To me abandonment is huge and it’s very lonely being rejected esp by family 

[MoonGal]

@suzanne - What impact has living with a mental health concern had on the level of loneliness in your life? 

A lot. My main interactions with other people were incidental via my work, so that feeling of connection is gone since I became Totally and Permanetly Disabled (officially) and my mental health took a huge dive about 5 years ago - and since then I have been pretty out about my diagnoses, but people shut down and don;t know what to say. Someone else here said no one asks... but if I had an operation or a phsyical issue I'd get pots of soup and a hand woith housework.It is like I am invisible.

[utopia]

When my depression  is at it's  worst,  I isolate myself.  Don't want visitors or phone calls.  Then when I'm  feeling better,  the friends have all gone (except one)  - because I was sick too long. 

[Sharman]

Devices & devises are causing fractures & disabling connection skills in human relationships

[greenpea]

@suzanne My mi has made a huge impact upon my life. It has changed me from what I was before. Changed me from the inside (my mind) and the outside (my body) and how people would perceive me. I hate it but am stuck with it. I feel like a brumby being tamed it is horrendous. 

So as for friends it is nigh impossible when I cannot accept myself.

[MoonGal]

Oh @BlueBay that's so hard, sorry you went through that.

[Jonty8]

@suzanne 

My depression and anxiety make me isolate myself. Catching up with friends and family is hard because I have to deal with the dreaded "so how's life/your job going?". I've grown tired of having to lie or pretend that everything is going well. I feel like a downer all the time if I'm constantly talking about my mental health everytime I catch up with a friend or family member. It's easier for me just to be alone.