The prevalence of mental health issues is incredibly high, so we know that many of us are supporting someone with mental health issues, have our own mental health issues, or both.
This week Adrienne and I set up a new community for caregivers who have their own struggles with mental health.
If you’re already a member of any of our other communities, your request to join should be automatically approved. If not, you’ll be asked a few questions in order to keep our communities safe.
Here’s a message from Adrienne about the group:
Sure we’re caregivers, but we’re people first and we all have problems. Some of these can’t be put on the back burner.
Many of us suffer with mental disorders—anxiety, depression, bi-polar disorder, in addition to the meds we often turn to just to keep us going, as well as eating and other addictive disorders that arise out of caregiving. These are only exacerbated by the tasks we are obliged to carry out every day. Trips to the doctor. Hospitalizations. The ever increasing burdens of tasks at home. The kids. Medical bills and insurance forms. It’s overwhelming, seems endless and only adds to stress levels that make our own mental health issues worse.
As a former caregiver who suffers with chemical depression, anxiety attacks and thoughts of suicide, I get it. You need a place where you can share your feelings with other caregivers going through what you are. You need a place to unload. What YOU and not your caree are going through is real.
Our hope is that here YOU can discuss what you’re experiencing without any judgment, guilt or shame. Welcome.
Put simply, this is a community for the many of us who suffer with our own mental health issues. I know these problems are very real and how they affect our ever more complicated lives. This is a place to discuss what YOU and not your caree are going through. A place where other caregivers going through what you are, will be able to discuss these problems without shame or guilt.