Hoping to find people who relate
Hi, I'm Chas.
I'm 21, married, and have an 11 month old son. I also have bipolar depression, and anxiety.
My husband is greatly supportive and helps me as much as he can. Frankly, I'm lucky to have him. But, often times I don't know what to say to him. The age old question "what can I do to help?" I don't know how to help myself, let alone give him the answers to help me.
That's why I joined 7 cups. I'm wondering if this is a place I can connect with like minded people and get some advice.
Hello there @Blindwolf13 ! Welcome to seven cups <3 We're glad to have you here in our community. Here you can find some basic threads to get your started on your path. :) Also I'd like to add that listeners cannot give advice, sorry for any inconvenience there. Advice can be easy to give, but it is limited, potentially wrong, and can be harmful. The listeners dont have a wholly understanding of you and your situation. Having said that, they can help you to figure out things to do.
@Blindwolf13
For Your Husband
When I was a new listener, I asked my members that question and their response is usually the same as yours - they're not exactly sure, and they're not sure how I can help. I realized (and so did you!) that implicit in the message "how can I help?" is the assumption that the person I'm asking has the answer. When they don't (and they often don't), it can create more stress rather than less.
Now, I ask "is there anything you believe I can do to make you feel better / safer / less sad / more loved / etc?" My default is listen and to show compassion and provide empathy. Here is a wonderful short video on empathy by Renee Brown.
For You
7 Cups has some wonderful self-help guides that you can peruse! Here is a guide on depression as well.
