My partner has bipolar.  I’m struggling to cope with the mood swings and outbursts.  He had 30 rounds of tms at the start of the year and that worked for awhile he was due to go back in June for a week of tms but hasn’t booked in. is it normal for a partner to be blamed for everything and in my partners mind he does nothing wrong.  I’ve got to the stage I’m calling him out on his behaviour which he doesn’t like.  Any suggestions on how to handle this ... View more

I have Type 1 Bipolar and over the past 12 months I've gained weight [edited by moderator] from my meds. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed as I feel like I have no control over my changing body. Today I saw in my doctor's notes that they classify me as obese. I'm an active person, I eat a vegetarian diet and don't drink or smoke. I felt so ashamed reading that and cried half the day. I'm a fairly body neutral person most of the time but it's hard not knowing when these changes will stop and knowing I can't come off my meds. Anyone have experience with this issue? How do you stay positive and focussed on recovery when you feel physically uncomfortable and ashamed? ... View more

@tyme @appleblossom My daughter (20) has mental illness that is causing chaos in her life. She is homeless (4th time in the past year and a half), unable to live independently or with others, unable to keep jobs anymore, has very little self care, can't sleep, self medicates with whatever she can find (not sure if she's trying hard drugs but she's mixing with some very scary people and been in some very frightening situations lately), self harms (has even been in hospital and released shortly after surgery because 'she wanted to go' and because she 'presented well' regardless of me explaining to nurses what was really going on with her mentally and pleading and begging for further intervention), restrictive eating, end of life threats (for a while it was weekly threats at all times of the night or day), defiant, compulsive and so much more. She says that the services she is presenting to have no accommodation for her unless she pays a contribution. She has no money. She is giving up. I am pretty much her only contact and I have to limit that as it's exhausting beyond belief. Her dad can't communicate with her at all and same with most of the family. Everyone is cutting off to protect their own mental health. We are all at breaking point. I have counselling and am told to not enable (give no money and don't try to save her). Just be there to listen. Easier said than done. I feel like a traitor and a complete failure. I am broken. I have done everything and more and still nothing seems to work. At my daughter's request earlier this year I arranged an appointment with a psychiatrist. That appointment is finally in four weeks. I don't know if this doctor has experience with personality disorders (that's what we think she has apart from her OCD diagnosis and potential ADHD). I'm so scared she will end her life. She seems to be giving up. She's not living she's existing. I'm sure this story is not unfamiliar with some of you. Why can't these beautiful young people get the help they need before it comes to this? ... View more

Looking for opinions on private adult in-patient mental hospitals in Melbourne, for a loved one that is very suicidal. There's a previous post with more detail.  Any positive / negative experiences with specific places would be helpful. Google reviews really vary widely on these - most average 2.5 stars for places that just do mental health. It’s clear some places are just in for the money. Other parts of the family are trying to get him to an appointment tomorrow with CATT Team.   It’s been a big last few days, I’ve called every number out there, everyone was empathetic but there wasn’t a lot of new info to be had (this may be different for you, so if you’re reading this in the future don’t stop calling - local public mental health services had best info)   Only thing close to a comprehensive list I can find is from Department Veterans Affairs https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-07/dva-contracted-mental-health-private-hospitals-1july2024.docx Thanks to the community for the support so far. ❤️ ... View more

Hi there,   I just joined the site today. thanks for having me. I think my mother has borderline personality disorder. She has never been formally diagnosed but these are my suspicions. She certainly fits the symptoms.   I am feeling scared and anxious (this realisation has made SO much fall into place). It also feels a bit overwhelming. I now realise as much as I love her, I can never trust her.   I am in therapy (which is going really well) and I think now, I have to learn safe, protective methods and start instilling very good boundaries. I have already done this physically - we live in different states. I really do love my mother, but she is hard work.    I am a strong person, but I don't have a lot of support in my life - and this is hard sometimes. Any support/advice/input appreciated.   thanks 🙂 ... View more