Friends, Family & Carers Forum

[PeppiPatty]

Dear @Carebear5

My name is PeppiPatty, how are you ? 

Wow, what a brave lady. I need to write to you tomorrow but I just wanted to say hi.......

Your one strong lady. Why don't you start with telling yourself tht you need to find strategies to care for you and yourself first. 

Whether it's going to a cafe and ordering a coffee and reading mindless magazines for 20 minutes to taking yourself to bed and shutting your eyes.......

Until tomorrow, PP 

[PeppiPatty]

Dear @Maple and @carebear

I am too tired to respond but reading you. My thoughts are with you both
We all must remember to self care .....

Pp

[Former-Member]

Hi Carebear5,

I support my hubby who doctors have been finding difficult to diagnose, now trialling mood stabilising drugs for possible bipolar II.

I hope things are starting to settle a bit for you.

There are free support services such as Wellways that can help you in your caring role. You can get up to 12 free counseling sessions through Carers Australia.

I feel as carers we do ourselves a disservice if we fail to learn about our loved ones disorders and their treatment. There is a lot of information out there, I try and stick with sites that are trustworthy, have moderators and quote from reliable sources. For example the RANZCP has a brochure on bipolar for patients and caregivers that can be downloaded.

Knowing the nature of a disorder can help you in knowing what to look out for in terms of maintaining the condition, if it looks like his mood is swinging up or down and what can be done to minimise mania or depressive episodes.

Understanding that drugs are only part of the equation in mental health and in order to live well in spite of a mental health diagnosis, a holistic approach is best - mind, body and soul - this applies to both the patient and carer. How often do we neglect our own health as we are too busy looking after our partner. For me sometimes even getting a hair cut has been too hard let alone finally getting around to booking a specialist appointment only to find the referral has run out.

I do hope you have been able to get the NSW info you needed. I am in Tassie so probably not much help to you.

Take care

Darcy

[Shaz51]

Hello @Former-Member, @Carebear5, @PeppiPatty, @Maple, @Agnes1

how is everyone today ??

nearly 2017 xx

[Agnes1]

Hot! Did bondi to Coogee. Coastal walk today.

[Appleblossom]

Thank you @Agnes1 for bringing back a GOOD childhood memory .. fabulous walk.

[Agnes1]

It's beautiful. Id love to do it in cooler weather