Have you had someone ask you the above question when they find out you or a family member are recently diagnosed, or simply if they know you have a label/illness or disorder, or have gained or lost weight - they have advice for you. I often find this advice annoying at best or very upsetting. Yes, I know they mean well but I get this advice quite often and it gets me down.

I think it may seem I am being unfair. I like advice I get on blogs. The advice I find unwelcome is when people are dogmatic that certain foods or non medical or medical tablets or vitamins will incredibly cure a range of illnesses.

I have listed some of my tactics but they don’t always work.

- Let the person know that you don't want advice and why. You can say something like, "I've already tried that solution and it didn't work for me". 

- Listen to the other person without judgment. 

- Proactively explain that you know them and like their input.

-  If your words don't seem to send a strong enough message, you may need to limit meeting the person. 

- If you can't respond with positivity, you can be silent. 

- You recognise that you are not your feelings, and you can choose how to use them.

- You can see why people think the way they do.

Moodscopers, maybe you welcome advice.  If so, how do you stop it being overwhelming? Maybe like me you have a way of coping you can share. Maybe you feel you offer others’ ideas that helped you. Do you feel people welcome your experience?

Leah 

A Moodscope member