BB Social Zone

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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 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!

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, 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!

The BB cafe

replies: 20597

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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My Neighbour

replies: 1

I am a bit worried about my neighbour. We have been sharing a home and building insurance policy for our properties for the past 12 years. In the past she has always been very conscientious about paying for this insurance premium on time. This year she seems worried about her own health and the health of her immediate family. However our home insurance policy premium is now one month overdue. I am not sure how to talk to my neighbour anymore about this insurance policy. In the past she has always initiated the conversation.

How do we have store and pay our music these days ?

replies: 8

Hi people.The whole music thing has me as confused as these days.l bought a beautiful stereo about 13yrs ago, it does cd's, also had an iphone plug and l can play my Samsung or computer music through it using a cord plus it also has a media switch for usb but l've never been able to get that to play anything from a usb.There's well, pretty well everything l don't get though these days, it all seems to have totally changed.1st of all, what are we suppose to store our music on ?God almighty l have some on my ph some on my computer some on cd's , some on usb, ldk wth to do.Can't l have it all just on one thing so that l can play that on the lounge stereo or car or on whatever. Next is what is a sound system now?l can't even find any in stores l use to browse them from , Jb, Havey Norman and a few others and speciality sound system stores. None of them have sound systems any more all they have is a few sets of speakers, you use to need a sound system and speakers. not sure what the go is now.Do the speakers have it all inbuilt to them or something and is that it, is that the sound system?And if it is how does it work and what to you have your music on to play it or just wth basically ?ldk , l don't get any of it, l miss the old days of cd's and beautiful sound systems , real ones. Thanks in advance.rx

Lifetime of depression

replies: 1

Hi everyone,First time posting. I have struggled with depression all my life. Traumatic childhood and loss of a child. I find I can manage myself sometimes but struggle and fall in a hole other times. I feel like my brain doesn't work as I can't seem to remember lots of things. People say to me " you??? You don't seem depressed you are always smiling. They don't understand what it takes to keep smiling. I'm overly critical and don't like myself for that.

Bad days

replies: 8

I am a 63 yr male.I have suffered depression for as long as i can remember,about 50 yrs.I have had all the drugs all the phsic evals nothing has worked. I have no interest in taking my own life,to stubbon for that shit. Biu it would be great if i cou... View more

I think life’s won.

replies: 3

My whole life was a typical undiagnosed bipolar life…. Ups, downs, alcohol, sleeping pills, smoking, previous attempts etc etc. at 38 I was finally diagnosed, medicated and I changed. Left a toxic relationship, quit drinking, smoking and pills. Got a good job, became a single mum and bought a house. I was finally doing life ‘right’. Well, I just got made redundant and everything is crashing down around me. I’m alone and I don’t think I have the fight left in me for this, I thought this darkness was over. I’m failing, again. But I’m so tired. I don’t think I can this time.

Heatwave Assist...Your input is welcome!

replies: 4

Hey Hey everyone! (new posters are always welcome to post too!) If anyone has a cellphone (mobile) with a silicone or tight fitting case in this awful heatwave...Remove your phone case to reduce the core temperature of your device thus improving your ability to make a call when you really need to. Any tips about helping others in this heatwave (or any other matter) are always welcome! my kindest always Paul Paul

Software & Gaming, post up your favourites or dislikes

replies: 27

G'day All! Please share up your interesting software and gaming stuff. I collect software like others collect stuff. Open source software is particularly satisfying, but big corp software is just as valid in my collecting. It's all windows stuff and I quite like windows 10. Microsoft Office 2007 Small Business introduced me to Outlook which I came to use heaps and love. These days my email software is Mozilla Thunderbird. LibreOffice is my current office suit as it is open source and good enough. Jriver Media Centre 20 serves up my music/movies it's an excellent paid for software. VLC the open source media player that'll play pretty much any file type. OBS Studio for capturing gaming video/audio and broadcasting. KODI is another free media player. Steam. EA Desktop. Xbox. Origin. all gaming clients. These days I play a little Elite Dangerous or Forza Horizons 4... but have gamed since Commodore 64 era. I'm not a fan of Zoom. Damn thing wouldn't uninstall completely when I told it to, no wonder its so popular most can't get rid of it. Discord or Skype are my preferred voips, though of course an iphone is better. I quite like Microsoft Edge browser, it was a seemless transition from google chrome. I lust after Adobe software but it's all just too expensive for me and not stuff I'd actually use much. More esoteric software are Freemind, a mindmapping software. Anki a flashcard creator - which was instrumental in me learning 200 new anatomy/physiology terms at uni level. GIMP 2.0 - no thats not something rude, it's a graphics manipulator.

Self control and Alcohol

replies: 1

Hi there, I've recently gone through troubles due to excessive drinking and getting severe anxiety as a result. It affects my wife more than anyone which is the last person I want to hurt. I can't seem to have any control of the amount I drink and how often, as time goes on this has created a lot of problems for my relationship, partner and myself. Any help would be appreciated.

Hope

replies: 2

Hi everyone im back on the forums after being away for a while. I just wanted to say I have had personal experience with mental health. And I feel I have come a very long way. I have found myself again. And it feels amazing. It's my hope through sharing my personal journey it will give people hope and encourage them to know with the right support around you and the right help it is incredibly possible to get your life back on track. I can empathise and its one of my dreams to help people regain their lives. Because you have to know you truly deserve that. Im a living testament of this. May everyone find peace joy and happiness in their lives. Thank you Hope

Let me know your favourite word

replies: 20

Hi!! Drop your favourite word and its definition and maybe even teach us a thing or two. I’ll go first!!Alienation: The state or experience of feeling isolated or estranged Please be mindful that some words may be triggering or inappropriate. Other t... View more

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

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

The BB cafe replies: 20597

My Neighbour replies: 1

How do we have store and pay our music these days ? replies: 8

Lifetime of depression replies: 1

Bad days replies: 8

I think life’s won. replies: 3

Heatwave Assist...Your input is welcome! replies: 4

Software & Gaming, post up your favourites or dislikes replies: 27

Self control and Alcohol replies: 1

Hope replies: 2

Let me know your favourite word replies: 20