Brainy Gecko’s Community Guidelines
Hi, I’m Alan Cox from Brainy Gecko and facilitator of the community.
We believe that carers need a carer because too often for whatever reason, the caregiver lacks emotional support and becomes the silent victim. To help this situation, we give carers the tools they need to connect (or reconnect) with their loved ones.
The community is a positive and constructive environment for caregivers and survivors to help other carers and survivors by sharing their stories. We do NOT offer counselling or advice but we do listen to you and, by sharing how members coped with their unique circumstances we provide support at least is the knowledge that others have lived with and experienced similar feelings.
Because every person’s experience is unique, when you share the problems and the wins you’ve had, no matter how trivial they may seem, your story can help others.
The community is about learning from others and getting ideas from others so you can apply what may work for you.
As member’s, our role is listening, sharing good and bad experiences, encouraging positivity, and providing emotional support.
What about sharing resources?
As a member of the community, can you share a resource that has helped you?
Yes! On the condition that you have personally used the resource and it has proven beneficial for you and/or your loved one.This community is:
1) To share your journey and experiences so other members can learn from them applying to their circumstances what is relevant.
2) For you to use the tools we teach to encourage, empower and support other caregivers and survivors by listening to them.Below are some guidelines.
Guidelines for Caregivers Community
- Boundaries: Members are encouraged to share their experiences and concerns and ensure that discussions remain respectful and constructive. As a member you are encouraged to share you challenges but not to vent or dwell on negative emotions.
- Positivity: We encourage members to share experiences challenges and successes so that others can take heart and learn from your challengers and successes no matter how small they may seem. We all have to start somewhere.
- Celebrate: Celebrate and share uplifting stories of milestones and accomplishments no matter how small. Konni, a stroke survivor, celebrated the first time she made it to the top of the stairs on her backside, even though it took 30 minutes and heaps of determination.
- Support: Members are encouraged to support one another by sharing personal experiences and solutions that they found helpful in their unique circumstances keeping in mind each member must find the solution that is right for them.
- You are not alone: It is easy to say you’re not alone but far more difficult to uphold. Community members are not alone because their struggle is ‘heard’ and understood. They know they’re not alone because they hear similar experiences from other carers and survivors. They can learn from each other’s experiences.
- Community: The community is not a place to offer advice but to share your story of what worked or didn’t work for you. Our focus is on supporting and sharing our experiences. When we share our stories, other members can take what strategies and solutions from them that may be appropriate for them, addressing their challenges rather than simply dwelling on the problems.
- Resources: Community members are free to share resources and information that have help them in their journey. Every member’s situation is different. One size does not fit all.
- Seek outside help: If necessary, members are encouraged to seek medical advice from a doctor, professional counsellor or therapist to offer guidance. This community offers encouragement and emotional support not advice.
- Resources: As long as the person recommending the resource has personally used and received benefit from the resource they can share it with the community.
Ultimately, it’s essential for us to balance supporting members while ensuring the community remains a positive and constructive environment.
By listening, encouraging positivity, and offering support, we can ensure that our community of carers and survivors remains a supportive and healthy place for all members.