Lived Experience Forum

[tyme]

That's important to be present in the moment - else you would miss out on the present moment @Lila3 

Yes, 10 years is a long time. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a purpose and things will fall in place in its time.

Please continue connecting with us.

How do you keep busy during in the day?

[PeppyPatti]

And you are very welcome here. 

@Artemis8 I like your honesty and brave expressions. 

Your story - perhaps in a year your self will be a little stronger ? 

It difficult sometimes to work out what isn't working and what you don't deserve. 

I was listening to something about homelessness here in Perth. A very successful stockbroker in London, but from Perth had suffered a Head injury and put $100000 in his back pocket and blew everything he had within a year and today lives in a halfway house on a pension. 

I felt - and my story - a head injured sufferee - I'm there, 

I get it. 

It's that easy for things to blow up. 

You, it feels, already have a good quality - that you know what you don't deserve ? 

Don't know if I'm right or wrong. I hardly ever make sense - 

In a good way .....it's new for me, 

It's my first time doing life ( @Glisten )

[saturnzoon]

I am so tired of feeling lonely and it doesn't help when you have people around you saying that your being selfish cause my son has just had a baby boy Tuesday so should be over the moon which of course I am and still ha e my youngest son still with me but he stay in his room. Playing games online and awake all night sleeps all day  it's just when I'm home it comes on.

I miss my daughter very much who moved to Newcastle 10yrs ago now and has a partner and a little girl which I never see and my family live in Sydney and when covid hit I haven't seen them since then.

I'm not good at making friends and it's very hard for me to leave the house especially now that my agraphobia and panic attacks are back

I was hoping my psychiatrist would have helped me and maybe re look at my meds but he said no it's not the meds and that I have to work out what it is that  I'm missing.

I understand what your going through @Lila3 @Artemis8 it's not easy

@tyme @cloudcore @PeppyPatti 

[tyme]

Hugs @saturnzoon ,

I'm hearing all these big feelings going through your mind right now.

We are sitting with you.

tyme

[tyme]

Hey @Artemis8 ,

What are some things that help you with managing the loneliness?

We'd love to hear from you here on the forums.

[Lila3]

@tyme

I'm on the pension. I do work the allowed hours in dog grooming which is fun & busy.

Apart from that I read, do yoga (I'm a registered teacher) & walk my dachshund ( he's my friend- I talk to him all the time).

I get distressed thinking of the many qualifications I have, which I'm currently unable to use (Master's degree, etc). I love learning & used to enjoy working. My mental health has deteriorated a due to social factors.

I do get deeply sad & and lonely, but the feelings come & go like waves.

Sometimes I'm able to appreciate the extra time I have on my hands to do things I enjoy. Of course the downside is being broke.

Regardless, l dig for the gems in each day! And often they appear right there in the palm of my hand like magic 🎩

[Lila3]

#peppypatti thanks for sharing about the homelessness story. Sometimes it helps to remember these issues we face ( mental illness, homelessness, family disconnection, physical ailments etc) are widespread.

I did not realise you'd suffered a head injury. Sorry if that's something you'd mentioned previously & I missed it.

Sometimes my PTSD symptoms cause me to rush reading things. I get anxious about making sure to reply & don't concentrate. My psychiatrist says these are classic PTSD traits.

[tyme]

Awwww, that's so special @Lila3 . I love how you framed it in that you dig for gems each day!

I hear how lonely it can be at times, but it sounds like you are also able to find ways to keep yourself busy.

We are so pleased that you connected with us. Hopefully it will make your journey less lonely.

Dog grooming sounds fun!

As for the grief and loss associated with not being able to use your qualifications, maybe it's about allowing yourself to slow down and look after yourself? Do you think so?

[Lila3]

@tyme slowing down & caring for self! I've never considered it that way. We ALL need to be kinder to ourselves. Thank you

[tyme]

When things seem out of hand, I always take a step back to look at the bigger picture. I often see that whatever has happened is a good learning for me. So I accept it as that, and that's one way I've learnt to manage the hard knocks in life 🙂 @Lila3 

It's truly the school of hard knocks!