Thoughtful Thursday: Navigating Family Challenges Together
Hello, Community!
In the spirit of support and understanding, let's come together for "Thoughtful Thursday." This week's theme is "Navigating Family Challenges Together."
Life comes with its ups and downs, and family dynamics can be complex. This thread is a safe space for you to share any challenges you're currently facing within your families. Feel free to share any challenges you're currently facing within your families, whether big or small. This is a safe and judgment-free zone.
Let's support each other with empathy, words of encouragement or support, or even just by being good listeners. We're all in this together. Remember, your experiences and insights might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
Looking forward to creating a supportive space for our community. Share your thoughts and let's navigate these challenges together! 🌟
@CheeryMango i like this idea!! :) let's show some support!
Excellent idea Mango! 💗
Well, I'm dealing with a difficult situation where I'm the main caregiver of my mother.
Unfortunately she got a physical disease followed by a major depression..so I'm struggling to keep her following therapeutic plan and everything else.
Everyday is a fight to do normal things like taking food and meds, personal care, call doctors to check her status and so on.. mostly because of her depression she tend to refuse any kind of help, it's like she's inside this dark tunnel and everything we do isn't meaningful to her.
We reached some good health improvements since her previous hospitalization, despite this she "doesn't believe" she can fully recover and we need a ton of energy to keep it going.
I'm super stressed, I also miss a lot some outdoor activities I was doing in my free time to recharge myself in the nature.. Still searching a way to balance things between having time for myself and taking care of my mother.
Does anybody experienced assisting one of his relatives through a major depression state? what to expect across this journey?
I'm in the same boat Gentlebeing. I am dealing with the stress and concern as well as the guilt because I've said and done things to my mom that are so wrong- no matter how justified I felt at the time. Finding that balance seems impossible but we know logically is not. Her depression is affecting me. My advice... don't say or do anything you'll regret because that just adds to the problem, to the stress. But if you do because you're human, just do better tomorrow and know that you aren't alone!!! (Hugs)
❤️ @Lifer ❤️
❤️ Hi! Thank you for supporting others and sharing your experience. It can be really tough ❤️
❤️ I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with guilt. It can be crushing. I know forgiving yourself is hard, but I still encourage you to seek support and be kind to yourself. Also, if it helps, here's the Forgiveness guide ❤️
❤️ I send you all of my support and hugs (if you want them). Lastly, please remember that you deserve to forgive yourself and live a happier life ❤️
❤️ @GentleBeing797 ❤️
❤️ Hi! Thank you so much for sharing. It's hard to talk about, so thank you for your courage to seek support ❤️
❤️ Firstly, I want you to know that what you do is meaningful, whether or not she can see it. Sometimes, depression makes it hard to see how much others love you. Other times, it lets you see it, but it doesn't let you tell others how thankful you are (perhaps she is thankful but can't currently show it). Either way, thank you for taking care of her. You're amazing ❤️
❤️ Secondly, depression is a lot about being hopeless, so, unfortunately, it's not surprising that she thinks she won't recover. Even though there's no cure that automatically erases all symptoms, today's treatments allow patients to manage their symptoms and live a good life. So, I just wanted to remind you that it won't be like this forever and that her recovery is possible ❤️
❤️ Thirdly, you're dealing with a lot! Stress and a lack of time are truly frustrating. I know how that feels, so I suggest you try the Time Management Course and the Stress Savvy Challenge ❤️
❤️ Lastly, you have all my support (the whole community is here for you!). Thank you for trying so hard. Your mother is lucky to have you ❤️
@GentleBeing797
Hey gentlebeing, I absolutely feel your pain and the load you´re taking on in order to help your mom through this very difficult time. Depression can so greatly influence one´s life that other loved ones suffer a great deal of pain too. It sounds like what you are partly experiencing is missing self-efficiacy about helping your mom. I want to tell that even though it might seem as though you aren´t, you really do make a great difference. Depression is hard to cope with and certainly challenging but if people can rely on the help of others the chances of remission go up greatly, so I am here to encourage you to keep doing your godly work! You´re making a difference. I am proud of you for staying and reaching out us also. Here is a community that loves to help and spread support ! Well Done :)
@CheeryMango
Duo some reasons I sadly can't share much, but its tough sometimes. In a way I hope I can escape it all by studying in Korea soon but i honestly have no clue anymore. As a kid I always thought how could this be true, but in the past years I sadly have to believe in what is truly happening.
To whoever is reading this, you are awesome pawesome, fabulous and a totally wholesome person. You deserve to be here, your loved and I'm so proud of you for still being here totally. Always remember, you are loved <3
❤️ @kenzolena I'm sorry to hear you're going through so much pain. Please remember that it's okay to not know and to struggle to accept what's happening. You don't deserve to go through that, but I trust in your ability to cope and do what's best for you. I'm here for you and proud of you (also, practice self-care!) ❤️
- I just wanted to remind you that no matter what situation or circumstance you and your family are going through that things won't always last forever. Stay strong and don't lose hope. I hope things get better. ♡
- For those of you are mad or holding a grudge on your family member, please try and allow forgiveness to enter your heart. Whatever it is bothering you, please release it. Family is so important. No family is perfect and has it together all the time, so please don't hold onto it. Remember bitterness can lead to resentment.
- Time waits for no one and too many people are leaving this Earth left and right. Tell your loved ones you love them daily and go hug them. Like right now. 🤗😉
just found this nice article for caregivers about stress relief, posting here for others too:
https://www.verywellmind.com,caregiver-support-caregivers-and-stress-relief-3144520
and also this one about family member and depression
https://www.verywellmind.com,how-depression-can-impact-your-family-5097903
hope this helps!
hugs to everyone 🫂
@CheeryMango
bunny has a lot of family issues and i can't share but id like to say everyone here is so awesome and you are amazing, no matter whats happened. And I'm always here for you.
@Daf8
This truly means so much, thank you ❤❤❤
❤️ @Bunnylovesyou ❤️
❤️ Of course! I'm here for you, awesome person ❤️
❤️ My family is chaotic. To anyone struggling with family issues, please take the time to engage in self-care and seek support! If it applies, consider using conflict resolution and empathy, but please be kind to yourself first ❤️
Thank you for sharing this message. I appreciate your initiative to create a supportive space for our community. Family relationships can be complex indeed, and sometimes we need a place to feel heard. I'll start by saying that lately, I've been trying hard to work out on my family relationship, and it has been quite a journey. Let's support each other through the ups and downs of family life.
Hello, I have decided not to spend Christmas with my parents this year due to emotional abuse in the past. I was going to zoom with them, but decided I don't even want to do that and sent my mom a message saying that I am having a hard time and I'm tired of bottling my feelings and acting like we all get along on the holidays. In the past, she and my dad would have tantrums and start screaming at me that I'm being mean to my mother, etc when I say no to something. I am trying my best to express my feelings and stand up to them even if they respond that way. It is scary and hard.
it happened a similar situation to me too, growing in a toxic family. At a certain point of my life I made your same decision, taking some distance from my relatives and focusing on myself, my feelings, my goals and so on.
Is not easy when you start because you feel a certain authority from them but you have to keep going with your choice, trust yourself first and slowly you will discover you have all the resources to be independent from them.
for me it was like a "day by day" process, one step at a time. the more I kept distance from them, the more my self-confidence grew and I started feeling a lot better and having more energy for myself.
hopes this helps 🙂
@GentleBeing797 thank you. I really appreciate it! I'm sorry you have had a similar situation and hope you are able to enjoy some things for yourself too this holiday. :) <3