Lived Experience Forum

[amber22]

Hey everyone!

On Thursday 9th March 2023, we will be holding a Peer Group Chat on the topic of Recovering From Invalidation.

Invalidation can happen when someone rejects, judges or ignores a person’s thoughts, feelings and emotions, instead deeming them to be invalid or not understandable. For some, the impact of invalidation may require ongoing work to rebuild self-esteem, trust, and self-identity. Let’s come together to share our thoughts and experiences surrounding recovering from invalidation.

The event start times across Australia are below:

This is currently held in daylight savings hours:

WA: 4pm 
NT: 5:30pm

SA: 6:30pm 

QLD: 6pm

NSW, ACT, VIC & TAS: 7pm 

For anyone unfamiliar with Peer Group Chats, each focuses on a specific topic and is guided by Peer Workers with lived experience of mental health issues and recovery, &/or caring for someone with complex mental health. A counsellor is also present as a moderator to help ensure a safe environment for individuals and the group. It is a space for us as peers to share our stories and experiences, and connect with those who are going through something similar. 

Anyone is welcome to join! Tagging some members who may be interested below:

@mr-robot-75 @Hope0011 @Shaz51 @Hams @Appleblossom @Captain24 @Snowie @chibam @Jacques @wellwellwellnez @outlander @NatureLover @Adge  @petrichor @Pancake @Gwynn @Sophia1 @pinklollipop15 @Lila3 @BlueBay @RedHorse @Arizona @SJT63 @Owen45 @Appleblossom @Eve7 @Bow @Snowie @Shaz51 @JungleGiants @BPDSurvivor @wellwellwellnez @NatureLover @utopia @Millieme @Anastasia @Jorge @CogsWhirl @Clawde @SunFlowersHope  @SJT63 @Owen45 @utopia @Laura4 @creative_writer 

Peer Group Chats are hosted outside of the forums, using a platform called Chatwee. 

To join an Online Peer Group and participate, you will need to register for an account with Chatwee.
To access the group to observe only and not participate, you can access Chatwee as a Guest.
On the night, follow this link to access Chatwee before the group starts.
You can join our Peer Group Chats every Thursday from 7:00-8:30pm (AEDT). Check out the FAQs page for more information.  

We hope to see you there 😊 If you can't make it but are interested, you can always catch up reading the transcript afterwards here. 

[NatureLover]

Oh gosh, this is such a valuable topic! I can't attend but I hope it goes well @amber22 

[amber22]

Thank you! @NatureLover Hope to see you at another one soon 🙂 

[TideisTurning]

Hi Everyone, 

Just a reminder that the next Online Peer Group Chat on Recovering From Invalidation will take place tonight from 7-8:30pm AEDT.  As always, for ease of reference, times across Australia are in the graphic and listed below: 

Western Australia: 4pm 

Northern Territory: 5:30pm 

South Australia: 6:30pm 

Queensland: 6pm 

New South Wales, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory & Tasmania: 7pm 

Tonight, you can expect discussion about: 

• What invalidation looks like for us and the impacts and experiences of invalidation and feeling invalidated 
• What validation can mean for each of us 
• How to validate ourselves and how being validated might impact our lives 

Tagging members who have supported or otherwise interacted with the thread so far as well as those who may be interested to receive a reminder @justanotherguy @Owlunar @tonys @Shaz51 @creative_writer @Birdofparadise8 @mamabear88 @Captain24 @Jacques @Kyle1 @Sophia1 @NatureLover  

If you're not able to attend live tonight or you don't make it, we'd still love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share anything you'd like (within guidelines of course!) here in this thread using the dot points above as guiding prompts if you'd like/ would find that helpful 😊

[Owlunar]

Hi @TideisTurning 

I like the idea of this subject - certainly I have been invalidated and recovered - as we must do to find our best selves

I have a technical issue I am going to try and get fixed now - hopefully I can contribute to the Peer Group Chat tonight.

Thanks for the tag.

Owlunar

[tonys]

hello @TideisTurning,    thankyou very much for the invite.   I really enjoyed reading and writing in the space you provided after the live chat show last time.  made my head hurt,  which is good  so if its O K .  I will read peoples responses and cook up a homework assignment to hand in again.   I have saveloys for fingers and the A2 thing,  My book beautiful keeper friend says a delayed response is a safer way for me to interact.   Thank god for her. . ! Shes been away for a few days.  . can you tell.  L o L

Look forward to seeing what gems people produce.   

Take care of yourself and have a great day.       tonys   mb 1 

[justanotherguy]

Hi @TideisTurning , thanks for the invite, but I keep telling myself I need to get back to the real world and stop running down rabbit holes on the internet. The last thing I need right now is another account and another password. Thanks tho.

[amber22]

Hey everyone! 

Just a reminder that this Peer Group Chat on the topic of Recovering From Invalidation will be starting very soon, in around 20 minutes at 7PM AEDT! 

Tagging those who have interacted with the thread or that might be interested in coming along tonight @justanotherguy @Owlunar @tonys @Shaz51 @creative_writer @Laura4 @mamabear88 @Captain24 @Jacques @Kyle1 @Sophia1 @NatureLover @Appleblossom @Dimity  @LeChuck @StuF @Smiling_Gecko @sammy3 @BlueBay @wellwellwellnez @Bobbie @Snowie 

Hope you can make it. To join us, head here, or, for those interested but unable to join live, a transcript will be made available after the event here. Feel free to continue the conversation below on this thread too 🙂 

[Owlunar]

Hi @amber22 

I am trying to get into the chat room - I can see I am there but I can't type anything

Life is a puzzle at times - I guess tomorrow will not have to try too hard to be better

I was so looking forward to getting into a chat room - I even felt the session was one I could contribute too - having felt invalidated through my whole life by my other and somehow finding myself growing better all the time

It wasn't easy - we have to really know ourselves and to do that we have to learn - is this a chicken and egg situation?

Whatever - I was able to remember so much after my mother died - and forgive her - knowing her behaviour really didn't have anything to do with me - although I did provoke her.

I know her reasons - I won't give her excuses though - and I can forgive and still be angry. That's okay

All the best everyone - I am going to try and read the chat if I can find it again

Owlunar

[amber22]

Hey there @Owlunar 

Oh no, I am so sorry that you weren't able to contribute. But now that I know that this was the case, I will ask our lovely moderator for next week @tyme to keep an eye out for you and we can check in, I think it might possibly have something to do with signing in as a 'guest', but tyme will know better than me 🙂 

I really appreciate you coming along and reading, and if you wanted to share some of your responses in this thread you're more than welcome to. It was nice having you there even if you could only read along. 

I am so glad that it benefited you as well, and that it helped just a little bit. I hope you can make next weeks one ❤️

Amber22