7 Cups Birthday Reflections Writing Submissions! ALL WELCOME
Over the past year, we have all grown as a community and individuals. Here we would like to honor the accomplishments of individuals. We have all grown over the past year! In your submission below, please answer the following question:
Describe how you have grown over the past year! You can do so through telling a story or explaining a personal situation situation or challenge. As you do this, let us know how being part of the 7 Cups community has helped you in your personal development and progress. Share the impact of being a listener or member has had on your life and personal growth.
We want to show off all of the personal growth and development our community has shared in by hearing your specific stories of struggle, triumph and accomplishment. Don't be shy! No accomplishment is too small.
------------------> You may submit in this forum thread or in a submissions form foundHERE!
HI... I've only been a member since May 2015. I've been diagnosed with major depression and anxiety and most recently PTSD. My meds were managed by my General Practice physician, I love her, she's very understand, but she's been wanting me to see a psychiatrist because all the meds she's given had not worked.
So I googled depression support and the first thing that caught my eye is 7 cups. I joined with an open mind and since then I've been 'hooked'. I have met so many friends in the chat rooms who truly understand what I'm feeling and what I'm going thru. I have used listeners and TBH some I didn't click with others weren't really here to help me but to help themselves. But instead of being discouraged I continued on with 7c. I stayed in the chat rooms to jus talk or listen to those coming in needing help or advice. I stayed using the forums to write out my feelings and thoughts.I've used it as my electronic personal journal.I love seeing a post up coz I kno someone else either agrees or they feel the same as I do, mutual understanding. That makes me feel good.
Since starting 7c, I became brave enough to FINALLY see a psychiatrist. And today I am seeing a therapist. My psychiatrist have gotten my meds finally in control to where I'm see brightly again. I have my friends whom I talked to on a daily basis,I love them, they truly make my day.
In actuality, 7c to me, is not only a support group site, it's my new world in virtual life. I come in here, mad, upset, depressed, and anxious knowing I can find friends to help me thru it because they understand me and what I'm going thru. Now, the chat rooms are beginning to look like a dating site, but thanks to our Moderators, they are able to handle it the best they can. 7c is a social media got the mentally ill?? That's not the right description...but pretty much people who need people who can understand then without judgement, criticism, or labeling. This is my virtual world now, my escape from my harsh reality.
I love it here in 7c, please continue to evolve it and thank you for creating it....
I've been where you have been. I first saw my GP about depression. He helped me as much as he could, but he suggested that I see a psychiatrist. At the time, I lived in a very rural area and my husband's insurance company said that they would only cover a psychiatrist that was located over 2 hours away. My GP suggested that I call one that was closer. I called the first one in the phone book. It was my lucky day. The secretary told me that in the US that there is something called a Single Case Agreement law. This law requires insurance companies to provide services for you that are closer to you when the doctors in their system are located to far away. You only have to ask the doctor's office you want to go to to set up this arrangement for you.
Don't be afraid to go. It's a good decision. Psychiatrists know more (not everything) about mental illness than GPs. Don't be afraid to tell him how you feel. Let him know what is working and what isn't working. Side effects, drug interactions, your own unique set of symptoms and coexisting conditions, and your body's reaction to the medications can affect results. Be your own advocate. Only you know exactly how you are feeling. Bring someone along who has helped you monitor your behavior. Be proactive.
Be sure to tell your psychiatrist about your and your family's health history. Some disorders (such as bipolar disorder) are known to run in families.
Don't be afraid to tell your psychiatrist if the medication he prescribed isn't working for you. It's not you who failed the medication. It's the medication that has failed you.
I won't lie to you. Advocating for yourself, taking your medication as prescribed, reaching out for help when you're low, and maintaining a resemblance of a normal life is hard work. It's really hard work. Try to think of it as your job. "This is my job. This is what I do. I keep myself well so I can participate in life." It's a great job.
Please, don't ever believe that you are somehow not good enough because you are mentally ill. You are so much more than a depressed person. It's not something lacking in you that has caused you to be ill. Don't beat yourself up. No one would tell a diabetic to get over it and if they wanted it bad enough they could eat sugar again. No one would tell him that taking insulin is bad for them. Take the medication you need to make your life better.
Try to reach out to people around you, too. It can be hard sometimes. Depression can make you want to withdraw from the entire world. I try to say hello to everyone I meet. I talk to the people at the grocery store, the fast food restaurants, the guy who comes to fix my washing machine, etc. Everybody has a story. Everybody has a hero inside themselves. So what if you get rejected. That person probably has his own problems. Don't take it, personally. I try to remember that if I think someone else's life is perfect, then I probably don't know that person very well. Reach out. I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised. I often run into people outside of their workplace and end up having great conversations.
Reach out to support groups. Your psychiatrist or therapist can help you find one. There are also people who can help you find any social services you need and how to navigate the systems. It can all be quite complicated, but don't give up.
Take an inventory of yourself. Ask yourself, "What are my strengths? What unique experiences have I had? What have I learned about life that I can share? What are my skills? What is my silly side? How do I like to have fun?" You are a whole person. You matter.
Life is a ride. Enjoy every minute of it.
Thank you so much, hearing/reading about what you go thru helps me tremendously. I am feeling better day by day, my psychiatrist listens to what I tell him and my therapist seemed to do the same. I am still withdrawing from the world, however, I was invited to go to a bday celebration, which I originally agreed and I declined a few hours ago. But I'll work on that. THANK YOU again...
This is awesome! :)
*BUMP*
Just shared my experience with 7 cups. Happy Anniversary to you all the supportive listeners and members.
Thank you everyone! Keep sharing!
I joined 7cups a few months back. I don't take on a lot of people because I don't want to overwork myself, but I'm surprised how much I've grown. Helping the people who talk to me helps me as well. When I first started, I told myself that I'd stay clear from my own triggers - sexual abuse and self harm. Last Monday, though, I took on my first sexual abuse case, keeping in mind that I could refer her to someone else if I couldn't take it. The session went pretty well, and we both left feeling better. :D
Well done x
My spouse and I had spent three years attempting to adopt a foster teen out of USA foster care. Why we failed is a totally different subject but I will say that being honest, having integrity, and dedicating 100% to the effort and expecting at least something in return from the system is not an approach that works. My spouse and I found we could not do it any other way, so we gave up.
That three year effort endedin February 2015. After that I was heartbroken. I had all of this love. I had decades of living. I had a huge hole in my heart. How in the world was I ever going to give my life meaning? I had gone through so much, overcome trauma, learned about myself, learned who I was, and I was happy. The only thing missing was someone to help, to empathize with.
Then I found 7cupsoftea. I am addicted. It is my self-care isto come here and to listen to those people and be able to use my gift of empathy and support to help others. It?s even better than adoption because while adopting one child would have benefited the one, I can benefit many by just being here and talking to those that need an ear. It has given my life the meaning it lacked. I have met many people that I respect and the members? Oh my, they are my heroes. They are going through their trauma and even though they have been mistreated and abused in some cases, and they have even faced the concept of ending their life, they have chosen life and love. That is brave and courageous. I am so proud to be a part of this and a part of their lives.
And then there are the times when I read my profile and the reviews. This broken person that a few months ago lacked meaning in their life; this shell of a person that was just so empty, and now, I see people who credit me with changing their lives and, in some cases even saving their life. I am humbled, happy, and thankful. I cannot help but cry when I read them as I know the people that wrote them.
Then, the reward I get about every day. A member comes out of nowhere and tells me how they are doing. They have found value in their existence and love in their heart. They are gaining self-esteem. They are changing their own lives. They thank me. I cry. They tell me they love me. I cry. They tell me that they consider me the difference in their lives. I cry. I cry just about every time I am on 7COTit seems and most times they are happy tears.
You see, when they say that, it?s not me hearing those words, not the middle aged person. No, it?s the 8 year old that tried and tried to earn approval and praise from their parents and could never do it. To hear that I have done something so profound as change someone?s life for the better. After hearing someone say that about you, saying they love you, they owe you, they value you; how do you go on without being fundamentally changed yourself?
To the listeners, members that became listeners and anyone else that rewarded me with their time and gift of love and friendship, I say thank you. You saved me. You saved me in ways I cannot explain. I will not tag anyone because you all, one line or hundreds, have helped this tired middle aged person become reinvigorated. I love, I cry, I laugh, and I smile. I think. I do all of the life experiences here at 7COT. I appreciate you, I love you, and I want you to know you have made a difference in my life. I am blessed. Thank you all. Thank you 7COT.
You bring so much light and love to this community, I am so glad you've found a second home with us. <3
Hey everyone, I would personally like to say a big happy birthday to the 7cups community made even more special given today is exactly my 1st anniversary of being a listener here. I would like to thank all your awesome listeners from accepting me as I am and as a sister in this wonderful community as while the amazing and selfless work you do for those in the world that need a ear. I would also like to thank those who have continuously supported me through my journey. It would take me too long to mention all of you but you know who you are.
Lastly, members and guests thank you for trusting me to lend you my ear to listen and support you.
Stay awesome, lots of love
SandyM
Happy anniversary!!!! Love your post so positive and I know it's weird but I can feel ur happiness in your post. Putting a smile on my face...Thank you!
I was hoping the message could make you all feel the love
Happy aniversary! <3 keep doing what you're doing. You are amazing.
I'd like to start out by saying a bitol'HAPPY BIRTHDAYto 7 Cups. Though I've only been here for a little over half a year, the effect this community has had on my life is drastic. When I first discovered 7 cups, little old me was an anxious and depressive mess. I scoped out the site and discovered a rare gem on the internet, a community so accepting, and helpful and encouraging that it grew to be my family.
I became a listener within amattterof weeks, and in the months sinse then, I am proud not only of the work I've done to help those members and guests in need, but also of the development I've made as a person. Taking my first general request was an ideal of panic induced "what ifs", shaking hands, and copious amounts of tea. I laugh about it now, but after my firstGR, it took me a few weeks before I was ready for my second. Now, only 6 months later, I am proud and in all honesty, quite surprised to see I've managed to participate in almost 300. For the social anxiety monster living in my chest, accomplishing this isakineto climbing mounteverest. But the people here on 7 Cups, the mentors, peer support, teen stars, and every other listener who I've met, have all touched my heart and shown me that I can do anything I put my mind to, and that it doesn't matter if I need to take a break, or avoid certain situations, because I should be proud of who I am.
Now I smile as I click the General Request button, eager to help anyone I can. I speak out in chatrooms, where before I would hide and lurk, not sending a single message. I encourage participation and offer aid as a moderator in the group support rooms. I lead gropu discussions, I spread the message of 7 cups, and I hope that everyone I tell can see for themselves how beatiful this place and the people in it are.
Reflecting back on my life ofonly 17 short years, I recount birthdays, first dates, first days, vacations, competitions, tests, changes, and turmoil. However, none of the things that come to mind have been as influencial to me as 7 cups. I am humbled to be a part of this wonderful family, and I hope with all my heart that more people like me can find a home here, andwhat a wonderful home it is.
-Evangeline
I have only been here for 3 months ,but I have grown a lot ! I think I now manage to be myself a little more in real life and I am a little more ''outgoing'' too! I see the positive in many things that I didnt used to! Thanks to 7cups for making me and tons of other people happier :)
I've been here for about 4 months now, and I have seen myself grow so much as an individual. One major thing I've noticed is that I've become a lot more positive; I find it a lot easier to look at things with cheeriness and happiness. Another thing I've noticed about myself is how much more appreciative I am! I'm not taking things for granted anymore, and have become a better friend and person because of it. 7 Cups of Tea has truly made me a better person in the past 4 months and I can't wait to see myself grow even more
@RebeccaEmily, the most encouraging thing about the teens is you truly could be doing other things in your life. Free time is yours to do with what you will and you choose to come here and help others. It's encouraging. I thank you and the rest of the teenagers for being here on 7cups. It's wonderful to see.
