How have the forums helped you?

[ArraDreaming]

The forums have helped alleviate isolation and exclusion, where previously I was often put in the too hard basket and not really understood. I feel heard here and supported to improve so I can manage my anger and things

[Judi9877]

Hi @Zoe7 . Thanks for posting this question. The forums have helped me to connect with others who have mental health issues and give me a sense of belonging which is important to me in my life. I don’t have many friends and it’s nice to know that I can come here to the forums and talk to people who understand what it’s like to have mental health issues along with be social as well and help with the isolation that I often feel. I’ve made some friends here who I care about and have a connection with and it’s nice to know I’m not alone in what I’m going through. People understand me here and I like that in the forum community. I’m not an odd or weird crazy person that some people in the outside world like to see me as. I’d like to think that I matter here and I belong here and that’s what I’ve found here on the forums.

Judi9877☺️

[oceangirl]

@TAB 

Thank you for the tag 🙂

The forum has helped me connect with others (forum friends) It's given me a sense of belonging and support and understanding. It's given me a voice and its ok for me to take up space in the world because I do matter, and I am enough. We are all enough. Keep moving forward and to find more peace in our lives. 

[Ainjoule]

Yeah, like @oceangirl this forum has helped me connect with others and centre myself. I get experience chatting with others - I can be a bit shy in real life. The forum has both provided me with emotional support and a chance to support others. 

[ArraDreaming]

I know you said 1-2 sentences but I can’t. Explain just how much this organisation has supported me If it wasnt for here I probably would have disengaged from most services and not sought any help at all at the start of last year I was feeling very discouraged and like I had no place in any services, a lot of places had kickedme out in the past Sane has worked hard to help me succeed

[ArraDreaming]

The extra mile

[MJG017]

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@oceangirl wrote:

The forum has helped me connect with others (forum friends) It's given me a sense of belonging and support and understanding. It's given me a voice and its ok for me to take up space in the world because I do matter, and I am enough. We are all enough. Keep moving forward and to find more peace in our lives. 

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I think that sums it up so well for me as well.

[Snowie]

The forums have helped me in numerous ways.

They have been a platform where I have been able to get the help I need when needed. They have given me the opportunity to be 'heard' by others and to not feel like an outsider. It is so much easier talking to people who just 'get' you. They have helped me through some of my toughest times.

It has also allowed me to interact with others and form some lasting friendships, even if they are just online.

[Faith-and-Hope]

Hi @Zoe7  …. 👋💕

The forums gave me a community when I was completely isolated within our circumstances offline.  I couldn’t speak with medical professionals without a diagnosis around the ex and his mental health issues, and I couldn't leave - it was unsafe and the kids and I were so bound in coercive control methods that our resources were completely controlled, including all digital devices, which also pinpointed our whereabouts, financial transactions, communications with others, etc.  

Still don’t know whether ex discovered my involvement with SANE or not, but he couldn’t do anything about it without affecting everything else he had goin’ on anyway, and exposing the nature of his true identity behind the mask of civility he was wearing.  SANE was my lifeline.  I was heard, understood, validated, and supported here.  Our situation was / is extreme, but elements of the experiences of others were relatable, and it gave me strength to keep developing coping strategies until we could escape.  

Ironically, he left us for someone else.  Then there has been a many years’ long legal battle to get out of the massive financial betrayal that was revealed after the split.  SANE member support has been with me all the way ….. my story helping to make sense of other people’s struggles  and help them to find ways to move forward brings some meaningful closure to what we have been through.