[CHAT] Sharing Your Story
Whether sitting down with your closest friends, or standing in front of a large audience, sharing your lived experience with mental ill-health is an incredibly brave and powerful act. By sharing your story, you can help change attitudes around mental health, increase understanding and encourage others to seek help.
However, being open about something so personal can be pretty scary! How do you go about sharing your story and sharing it safely? What can you do if you're met with negative reactions?
Join us on the 8th of May at 8pm AEST to learn (and give advice) about sharing your story, whilst also caring for your own mental health. 
What are the benefits of sharing your story?
For me, being open about my mental illness makes it so much easier to communicate with the people around me. I don't have to make up silly excuses... I can just be myself.
Also, I've been lucky enough to be able to share my story publicly at schools and in the media. It's the best feeling, knowing that my story can help other people.
I guess being able to receive help, if people don't know what's going on for you then they can't help. I guess people who hear it will feel as if they aren't as alone as they think they are either and the fact that it can be a big step in helping you with what's going on, so kinda accepting it. 🙂
Hmm so it seems like we all feel like telling your story has a bunch of benefits. Reliving tough times can sometimes be a bit stressful though. So here's a question about looking after ourselves- which all the new Builders will be very tired of answering by now 😛
If this conversation gets a bit tough, or telling your story does, what can you do to look after yourself?
If this conversation gets a bit tough, or telling your story does, what can you do to look after yourself?
Sharing your story brings out so many emotions, and those emotions can quickly become overwhelming. It's essential to take a break when you need it, and do something to distract yourself. It's also important to set boundaries with the people you're sharing with. For example, if someone asks you a question that you don't feel comfortable answering, it's so important to let them know. Never feel pressured to share something you're not comfortable with. The ball is in your court. 🙂
There's some great suggestions for what we can do if the conversation gets a bit tough!
Next question is....
Have you told people about your mental health? Can you tell us more?
Have you told people about your mental health? Can you tell us more?
My initial experiences telling people were pretty negative. I was in such a dark place mentally... I was desperate for help and that desperation was pretty confronting for a lot of people. They didn't understand, they just thought I was attention seeking. Has anyone else experienced that?
More recently, I'm in a much better place, so I'm able to share my experiences safely, and in a way that doesn't trigger others. I can talk to my friends openly. I don't feel any shame anymore. I've shared my story at schools, events, and was recently involved in a schizophrenia stigma reduction campaign (coming soon). It's the most rewarding experience, especially when people tell you that you've inspired them or helped them in some way. 🙂 It is a dream come true for me and is something I NEVER thought I would be capable of. 🙂
Have you told people about your mental health? Can you tell us more?
Only a very select few. Therefore I would say, not really.
One of the reasons why is because out of this select few, one of them broke my confidence and told a lot of people (people that I would be the last to find out). Rumours spread and no one knew the truth except me and I wasn't prepared to tell those people. Anyway, since then, I don't say a word to anyone except my psychologist and even then...
I find people label and act differently around you and if you tell people your personal details, they can't be untold. I guess I'm worried they could use it against me in some way. I don't know if I want my mental illness to be carried around with me for the rest of my life.
However, without these trust issues (I guess you'd call them), I would love to share my story to give hope to other people or break the stigma and to perhaps allow myself to reflect on how far i've come. Maybe one day...
Have you ever been caught off guard, like someone has noticed a scar for example?
Not quite me but my sister has actually. She tried to hide it for quite a while but it became....harder to hide over time. At this point, we all know (being the implication, she has never said it out loud) so we're trying to help reduce/integrate and not make a huge deal over it. Baby steps after all!
I have on here, my boss at work knows and my mates know snippets.
I found it easier to talk on here than in person. I had to tell my work because there has been times when things have been super terrible and I've sort of had no other option, it was really tough at first but once I opened up I noticed them supporting me and being considerate of it.
With my friends, a couple of my mates know pretty much everything thats happened and other mates know of a few bits.
I remember when things were so bad last year I decided to actually leave the house for the first time in ages and when my mates asked me how I was, I was honest, and it was such a releif.
My current partner doesn't know a lot only some basics, not quite ready to share it all yet, it will happen one day.
Have you told people about your mental health? Can you tell us more?
Most people have some idea because I have visible scars. But in terms of how much I've actually divulged, and to how many people, only a few of my closest friends know and I felt so much better for telling them. I've told them all at different points, when the time felt right.
Same goes for some members of my family, although in general I find it more difficult talking to them.
I was actually caught off guard a few weeks ago at uni and I felt quite shaken for the rest of the day. They actually asked me directly if it was from SH and I don't like lying so I said yes. But I think I was quite rude to them afterwards because I kept thinking over that part of the conversation and wasn't concentrating on what else they were saying.
Stuff that helped me was to call up a friend/family member I trusted and tell them about it. And I also treated myself to a hit chocolate that afternoon and wrote about the incident to process how I felt about it.
Anywho, I'm heading off for the night. Thanks for the great chat, guys! See you around the forums! 
Night @letitgo! Thank you for sharing and also talking a bit about what helped tooo 🙂
@Ben-RO and anyone else really, in the past I've had close friends who I've noticed had scars and I never know how to approach it, what's the most respectful way of asking someone if everything is okay without overstepping boundaries?
