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Sophie_M Big Blue Table - Right here on the Forums!
  • replies: 8

Hello to our wonderful forums community! We have decided to run an ongoing Big Blue Table thread ‘Forums Edition’ until the end of October! What is a Big Blue Table? Big Blue Table is Beyond Blue's signature event held during October, Mental Health M... View more

Hello to our wonderful forums community! We have decided to run an ongoing Big Blue Table thread ‘Forums Edition’ until the end of October! What is a Big Blue Table? Big Blue Table is Beyond Blue's signature event held during October, Mental Health Month. Big Blue Table encourages people host a meal with their friends, family or colleagues while fighting the stigma that surrounds mental health. So why are we running one here? The reason we are doing this is so people have an opportunity to connect with others and have the experience of sharing their thoughts and feelings over a meal, no matter where they are in Australia. We know Mental Health Month can be a vulnerable time for many and believe this thread could be a safe space for people to be heard and learn from others’ experiences. Our community champions will be here to support you along the way, and our moderation team will be around to answer any questions you may have, as well as to ensure the thread remains respectful and safe for everyone. We encourage you to choose from the following questions to start a conversation: What do you do to look after your mental health? Are you comfortable sharing your feelings and emotions? If not, why? What are you passionate about, and why? Who would be your dream Big Blue Table guest, and why? After you have shared your answers, we would love to hear about what you are eating or bringing to the table. You can even tell us a little bit about your setup and what you can see around you to really immerse us into your world. This is your opportunity to be as creative as you’d like! But remember, there is no pressure or ‘right’ response, whatever you bring to the table will be more than enough. We hope this thread allows you to feel connected, supported, and a part of the Big Blue Table initiative. Now… get cooking!

Sophie_M Welcome to the BB Social Zone - guidelines for posting in this section
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, This section of the forum is a little different to the others, as you may have noticed in looking around the threads. Elsewhere on the forums, we discuss some pretty heavy topics: mental health issues, thoughts of suicide, trauma, abuse,... View more

Hi everyone, This section of the forum is a little different to the others, as you may have noticed in looking around the threads. Elsewhere on the forums, we discuss some pretty heavy topics: mental health issues, thoughts of suicide, trauma, abuse, relationship breakdowns. Here is the place to come to get away from that and have a bit of fun. Distraction can be an important tool to draw on if you're finding yourself overwhelmed by distressing thoughts and feelings. As this is a section for respite from difficult topics, we will remove posts made in this section that attempt to discuss personal issues. Please use a support thread in the appropriate section for these discussions. Happy posting!

Kazzl The BB cafe
  • replies: 20591

The BB cafe is open for business! Welcome all to a new chill and chat place for everyone on the forum. The BB cafe is whatever you want it to be. There are comfy sofas, tables and chairs, coffee machines, a kitchen stocked with everything. There's a ... View more

The BB cafe is open for business! Welcome all to a new chill and chat place for everyone on the forum. The BB cafe is whatever you want it to be. There are comfy sofas, tables and chairs, coffee machines, a kitchen stocked with everything. There's a pool outside, a bbq area, an annexe with comfy beds for a quiet sleep, tv, dvd, books and whatever else you would like to have here. Most of all, it's a place to meet friends and fellow travellers for a bit of company. Talk over problems, tell jokes, share your day, escape into a world of your making. Grab a coffee and pull up a chair ... So, with a nod to the wonderful Carole King (Hard Rock Cafe) ... Now if you're feeling just a little bit lonely Don't sit at home just mopin' Come on down to where the friendship flows freely You know the door is always open At the BB cafe Come to the BB cafe They will help keep your blues at bay At the BB cafe Important Message from ModSupport: The main intention of the BB Cafe is to encourage light conversation. Please look after your fellow community members by nuturing the BB Cafe as a place to escape some of the more pressing issues in life and save those conversations for personal threads.

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Jack_Falco Better call saul
  • replies: 1

Hi, are there any Better Call Saul fans? The season finale is pretty interesting

Hi, are there any Better Call Saul fans? The season finale is pretty interesting

Paul The Transcendent Rainbow Cafe - social space for LGBTI members
  • replies: 1503

It would be so great to have a thread here where we can chat about almost anything. We can have fun, tell jokes, share stories, you name it! There's a "BB Cafe" thread in the general area where lots of people chat daily and have established some nice... View more

It would be so great to have a thread here where we can chat about almost anything. We can have fun, tell jokes, share stories, you name it! There's a "BB Cafe" thread in the general area where lots of people chat daily and have established some nice light hearted conversations, it's treated as if it's a real cafe, there's even virtual baked goods and coffee! Let's create a chat here for anyone to join, in particular the GLBTIQ community to let their collective hair down and chill out. It's a safe space to be yourself. We just need a name

BearShark Coping through writing
  • replies: 3

A few weeks ago, I found myself, questioning everything in my life and could not sleep, and I had this re occurring concept in my head. So I got up and simply began writing. This is what followed. Ascent Down As my alters falter, fleeing like scurryi... View more

A few weeks ago, I found myself, questioning everything in my life and could not sleep, and I had this re occurring concept in my head. So I got up and simply began writing. This is what followed. Ascent Down As my alters falter, fleeing like scurrying rats Leaving this lost and confused shell Not knowing whom or where to turn too? The broken and disillusioned child is all that is left I dare not venture down that path As I know the outcome An ascent down Returning to the gates of hell A cave of loneliness and darkness Burning with the fires of emotions Destruction of self, the previous outcomes, already determined Why now? Whence so much progress has been fought for The demon battles and dark morbid angels confronted Wasting in the aisles as this battered and scared soul emerges Moving from a world of self-denial Acknowledging the previous cobblestone pathways to emerge victorious The survivor, yet once again facing the… Ascent down What has triggered this once soldier of empath To consider returning to the realm of implosion Is this another flash in the pan, testing my resolve? Or is it another ascent down Ending in my final demise Where is my preceding survivor? Who shone the light of hope for self and others Why now has his light began to fade? I need to survive this ascent down As there will no return from this last crusade, ‘sept for esteem or failure What of the coups? What of the conquests that have been made? Recall with valour and pride alike How far you have ventured and how much you decreed to others What of the forages that you have embarked, never knowing of the aftermath? Is it really time for the…? Ascent Down. I drawdown on my bankroll of strength and resilience Cashing in my last hurrah, to grant my last crusade To accommodate my esteem to its rightful manor Who shall bellow in the great halls of victory…that the wrongs of others have been righted? Who will halt this disease, this plague of youth? Who will stand with foot on heads of the predators…victorious in this last crusade? If not, it be I. I must end this Ascent down. For others less fortunate enough Less resilient and seeking refuge in the bright shadows that I cast Providing light and hope, like the beacon protecting ships lost in the night I need to once again don the armour to protect the pathways for others to follow Away from their own Ascents down. BearShark 5th April 2022

Spacefiasco Game: Hilarious Haikus!
  • replies: 5

I’ve been making up silly haikus while on the train to help me get out of my head and into the present moment. I thought we could make a game of it! The rules are simple - Write a poem of three lines only. 1st line: 5 syllables 2nd line: 7 syllables ... View more

I’ve been making up silly haikus while on the train to help me get out of my head and into the present moment. I thought we could make a game of it! The rules are simple - Write a poem of three lines only. 1st line: 5 syllables 2nd line: 7 syllables 3rd line: 5 syllables Then leave one word for the next person to write a haiku about. I’ll go first: The inventor of Haikus are really helping Quiet my weird brain PUPPY

Sophie_M Mixed Emotions - share how you're feeling about the last few years with us here
  • replies: 17

Hi everyone, We’re all going through a global pandemic on a scale no one has ever experienced before. And because this is all so new, it’s hard to find the right words to explain and talk about how we’re feeling – with many of us feeling emotions we’... View more

Hi everyone, We’re all going through a global pandemic on a scale no one has ever experienced before. And because this is all so new, it’s hard to find the right words to explain and talk about how we’re feeling – with many of us feeling emotions we’ve never felt before. We've created a new set of words that give labels to these ‘Mixed Emotions’, so it’s easier to identify and talk about them – even if we don’t know exactly why we’re feeling them. Mixed Emotions: Are you feeling HappyFlat - when you’re excited for the day ahead, but just can’t be bothered anymore? Or ChillPanic – when everything around you is calm, but inside you’re stressing out? Or maybe you feel WorryHope - when you keep switching between looking forward to the future and being worried by it? You might feel OpenShy ­- when lockdown is over, but you’ve forgotten how to talk to people. Do you feel FineTired? Everythings alright, but you just want to nap all day. Or maybe it’s BoredStress ­- when you can’t think of something to do and then get worried you’re not doing enough. We’d love to hear if you connect with any of the above mixed emotions, or if you’d like to share your own mix of feelings. We’d also love for you to share what’s helped you through the pandemic. Is it self-care? Enjoying more time at home? Acknowledging how you’re feeling? Reaching out? If you don’t know how to feel right now, you’re not alone. The Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service is available to everyone no matter what the situation – you don’t need to be in crisis or have a diagnosed condition to seek support - and no problem is too big or small. We’re available 24/7 at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au, or on 1800 512 348.

Crochet_queen Time for a cuppa
  • replies: 15

just looking for people to chat with while I warm up with a cuppa. Migraine pain is high today so need to unwind a bit. I like to crochet, spin my own yarn and sometimes when my migraines let me do Diamond dot art. Any other craft people around who w... View more

just looking for people to chat with while I warm up with a cuppa. Migraine pain is high today so need to unwind a bit. I like to crochet, spin my own yarn and sometimes when my migraines let me do Diamond dot art. Any other craft people around who want to chat?

EmPTSD Version of 20 questions...
  • replies: 14

Hey, Just feeling the need to add a few random mates to my handful, so here we go! 20 questions (condensed to 10 haha) that can help start a conversation with just about anyone, find people with similar interests or assist us help someone in need...i... View more

Hey, Just feeling the need to add a few random mates to my handful, so here we go! 20 questions (condensed to 10 haha) that can help start a conversation with just about anyone, find people with similar interests or assist us help someone in need...if there is any questions you aren't comfortable with answering, just swap it with one of your own no pressure, just want to have a chat with fellow Aussies I'll go first...here we go! 1. Favourite Colour: Red 2. Fail-Safe Way to Make You Smile: Watching any Robin Williams movie always gets me chuckling.. 3. Favourite Animal: Meerkat 4. State Where You Were Born/Live: Born in Melbourne, living in Brisbane... 5. Dog or Cat: Dogs always and forever 6. Favourite Movie/TV Show: Any games show, currently watching reruns of wheel of furtune hehe 7. Android or Apple or Windows: Android all the way 8. Favourite Activity: Playing Volleyball/Painting 9. Something You're Passionate About: Children's rights 10. Freebie Question: Farourite Poem - A gloom of one's own. A gloom of one's own, a picture or two. A chair by the window, a sad little view. Of yourself walking by, in the street all alone. What a wonderful thing, is a gloom of one's own.

mmMekitty End of 2021, Holiday, Humbug, or what?
  • replies: 30

Hello everyone, It's getting close to 'that time of year', & I'm seeing some mention of it here on BB, so I thought, wonder what people are doing this year? Will this year be the same as always for you, or what? Do you plan anything? Go anywhere? Do ... View more

Hello everyone, It's getting close to 'that time of year', & I'm seeing some mention of it here on BB, so I thought, wonder what people are doing this year? Will this year be the same as always for you, or what? Do you plan anything? Go anywhere? Do you want a grand Xmas / New Year? Or something simple &, whether by yourself, or with others? Will you be around BB over the 'silly season', as much, less or more? I would like to be hanging around here, greeting people who may be lonely, or feeling the stress of societal expectations around these days, such as we see & hear in the ads, movies, & how people always ask 'what are you doing for xmas?', 'spending time with family?' & astonishment if you are not. I'm not sure what I'm doing this year, I do like to buy myself something, because I don't expect anyone else will. I get some food I usually don't have (not xmas food), & to make my own special meal. I Know I am mostly doing this because of the societal expectations that 'everyone' does it, & people seem honestly puzzled if I'm not doing anything, because I don't practice any religion, don't have a lot of money to buy gifts, & don't like the commercial crap, or go on holidays, & such, don't even like noisy parties.. maybe I'll be invited to one Xmas lunch, like last year, (while COVID-19 was a little quiet & we could), but it seems I won't have other places to go & catch up with some people I know, & think of as friends, well, sort of...not as much as I thought, I guess.so I can say I do something. I do struggle with people I would usually see being away for up to a month, possibly more, & because I don't have a wide circle of friends or family I miss the presence of even one. A couple years ago, I went to a community lunch, hosted by a church, for anyone to come along to, & be with other people. I did enjoy that. But I'm not sure if they will be doing that again, yet. In any event, I thought, this year, I can hang around here, Any thoughts? Any ideas? Any plans? Or what? mmMekitty

technooz New Year Feelings
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, With 2022 approaching, let's talk about how you feel for the past 2 years living with Covid and what you look forward to once everything goes back to normal. Let's keep our hopes up and spirits high and celebrate the new year!

Hi everyone, With 2022 approaching, let's talk about how you feel for the past 2 years living with Covid and what you look forward to once everything goes back to normal. Let's keep our hopes up and spirits high and celebrate the new year!

Mae51 What I did today!!!!!
  • replies: 2

I am 70 yr old lady who lives on her own and would like to post what I did today and hear what others are doing. Life can be a bit lonely around dinner time and I thought it would be somewhere safe to chat about the day.

I am 70 yr old lady who lives on her own and would like to post what I did today and hear what others are doing. Life can be a bit lonely around dinner time and I thought it would be somewhere safe to chat about the day.