Welcome to the Friends, Family and Carers Forum! Introduce yourself here 🙂

[Dep1967]

The only support is his GP and the iCare case manager

[jo90]

Hello all, I'm a newbie although I spoke to someone when I first arrived in Australia asking advice on where to go for support.  I arrived in March with my 20 year old daughter who has BPD, and it has been very challenging trying to find local support in NSW. Does anyone know are there any local groups for Sydney specifically for BPD diagnosis??  I cannot get any support for my daughter who lived half her live here and in NZ. She can't hold down a job and is not in the right headspace to commit to DBT, despite my enrolling her privately in a course.  I know it's one day at a time, but I'm feeling desperate.  We've been to public hospital mental health clinics twice with acute suicidal attempts to no avail for regular support. I don't know what else to do. Any advice most welcome - thanks

[tyme]

Hey @jo90 ,

Welcome to the forums! Thank you for sharing a little about yourself. 

There are certainly BPD services in NSW. Have a look at Project Air which is more to do with research, but they have programs for carers as well as those with BPD:

https://documents.uow.edu.au/content/groups/public/@web/@project-air/documents/doc/uow276705.pdf

https://documents.uow.edu.au/server/projectair/carers-intro/

This one is from the BPD and Complex Health Specialist in Vic:

https://www.spectrumbpd.com.au/education-training/training-for-the-community

You are also welcome to visit Raising Awareness of BPD - Flipping the Script 

[MaidinAussie]

Hi everyone,

I never thought that I would be a single parent again at nearly 60, but here I am caring for my adult daughter and her baby. I have been more like my grandson's mum than my daughter because she is not able to care for him because of mental health issues. I love them both very much but I find myself having conflicting emotions and thoughts because I am trying to support my daughter while protecting and nurturing my grandson who is only one year old.

I have changed direction in life and feel unequipped for the journey ahead because I live with a broken heart for my daughter and I do not know if she will ever get better. I am hoping to find support and friendship here. Thank you for your time.

[Ru-bee]

Hi @MaidinAussie, welcome to the forums

It sounds like you're juggling a few roles at once here, each with their own challenges. 

With this care and support that you're giving to your daughter and grandson, I'm wondering what supports you have had to lean on as you navigate this new direction for your life?

I'm so glad that you've found this space for connection and friendship, it's lovely to have you as part of our community

[Jrn299]

@tyme thank you for your response, and I'm so sorry for the delay. it was so helpful reading how it feels for you. And really appreciate the links. Can I ask how long it took before you were able to get some control and awareness or regulation? 

Thank you 

[Walkoneggshells]

Hi I’m new here, and just want to introduce myself. I am married to a man who has borderline personality disorder. I also have complex PTSD. This has caused a lot of issues and even though at times I want out I am committed to the marriage. I really do feel as though I am walking on eggshells. We also suspect my husband has Parkinson’s just to make life a little more complex. We both have meany other health issues. 

[GardensHeart]

Hi @Walkoneggshells , 

Welcome!

Sounds like there are a lot of stresses for you.... Well done on reaching out and getting some support, it can be very overwhelming to be in this situation... Let us know if there is anything we can help you with. 

[JJ16]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and also new to needing support and help being a friend of someone with psychosis. 

I have a lot of questions. i really need the help as i honestly dont know what to do. i dont even know where to start with getting help let alone helping my friend with this.

so my friend is like a sister to me. We have gone through so much together. her and her mother took me in when i really needed a place to live. 
unfortunately we lost touch for a couple of years. life just got in the way, but our relationship has always been very strong. her mother recently passed away. her and her mother were extremely close. they lived together. they shared everything together, even there dog. who her aunty took away when her mother died. i cant imagine the loss she would be feeling, the many emotions that she would be going through... 

after a couple of months of talking on messenger I finally went and saw her...

i knew it was going to be very different, especially with her mum not being there but i was not prepared for what it was and in all honesty it was hard to be around her. even harder to hold a conversation with her.

she has had psychosis in the past. but i have never seen her in this way. before you could change the subject and she would happily go with it and have a conversation. she wouldnt bring anything up for a while. but this time, there was no interest at all in subject change. i did not know how to respond to what she was saying and i think i said the wrong thing as she went really quiet... i could tell she wanted me to leave. she ended up asking me if i was going to catch that uber. so i went home. i have messaged her and said i was worried about her but she has not replied or gone into the message yet. she recently got a puppy too, and i am scared for the little pup. it was very scared and timid, not what a puppy should be like. i know she would never intentionally hurt an animal, but even she said a few times that she was scared she might hurt her.

i would love and need to get support on how to respond to what she says. help with any resources that could help me help her get some professional help and stick to it, i feel like i need help with needing help right now 😞 

but mainly, she is a beautiful soul and she doesnt deserve to go through what she is going through. i would like to do everything in my power to help her find peace and find herself again. 

thank you ❤️ appreciate you all

[Frank_ie]

Hello 👋 everyone, thanks for having me. My hubby was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder, with a differential of BP2 about 18 months ago after being admitted following several suicide attempts. Toughest part so far for me has been watching someone I love struggle everyday and not really knowing how to help and not being able to 'fix it'. I have realised this is going to be a long journey for the both of us and whilst I have good support around me, not alot of those supports actually have any experience with complex and significant mental health. Hoping this group might be able to fill a bit of a gap in that regard. 

Hope you are all having a nice Sunday wherever you are, it's nice to virtually meet you all 😌.