Dragon Tamers - A room for those of us with anxiety / depression / etc

[Cora Courcelle]

I'm sorry you are feeling a bit uhh about your birthday rovingjack, alas time speeds up the more of it you've had!
Try not to think of them as milestones, for some people they become millstones.  I always think of you as adventurous, travelling around, visiting new places, trying out new ideas.  There is still time for you to gather any milestones you want to and enjoy life.

[Caledonian]

Life has been though recently. My relationship didn't survive the whole covid thing, and it's caused friction with my friends as well
But I got antidepressants, so that's good

[J. Wilhelm]

Life has been though recently. My relationship didn't survive the whole covid thing, and it's caused friction with my friends as well
But I got antidepressants, so that's good

Life is just a test Caledonian. COVID has exposed a lot of things around the world. Things will get better.

[Cora Courcelle]

Life has been though recently. My relationship didn't survive the whole covid thing, and it's caused friction with my friends as well
But I got antidepressants, so that's good

Yes, antidepressants are wonderful things.
So is gin.
But, unfortunately it is not a good idea to mix the two!

[Sorontar]

We are all philosophers, worried about our role in life - some philosophers like the tipple.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtgKkifJ0Pw

[Miranda.T]

Life has been though recently. My relationship didn't survive the whole covid thing, and it's caused friction with my friends as well
But I got antidepressants, so that's good

I am so sorry to hear that. The whole virus situation has stressed everyone and made tempers short, making its awful legacy more than just damage to physical health. I do sincerely hope better times are around the corner for you.

With all my best wishes,
Miranda.

[von Corax]

A bespectacled, slightly-disheveled figure stumbles in from the storm, patting his pockets and mumbling, "Where did I put it?" He wanders over to one of the just-sufficiently-numerous quiet nooks, drops into the overstuffed arm-chair, pulls out a pocket-sized Babbage Engine and begins to read the thread from the beginning.

[MWBailey]

The fabric of reality in the inner vestibule splits, revealing  a glimpse of utter blackness, punctuated by the interstellar fires of the galactic firmament, and curtains of primordial plasmic incandescence. Through the split half-strides, half-stumbles uncoordinatedly a tallish figure in a brown trenchcoat, black-and-gold brocade waistcoat and black dress slacks. He grips a device, a black, button-bestudded brick of a thing in one fist and his cane in the other, glowing blue fog emanating from gaps and apertures in the bricklike device, which suddenly flashes orange-and-purple from within, as the split in reality seals itself once more.

He  peers past the inner entrance as he straightens his frame and his clothing, adjusts his flat cap and changes his grip on his cane, pocketing the timebrick somewhere in the depths of the trenchcoat and producing a turnip watch from his waistcoat pocket. He snaps it shut, having opened and perused the readouts therein, and proceeds into the room, a series of tentacles appearing from under the hem of his coat and snagging scones, butterpats, and a cup of tea and saucer  from the cart  in the center of the room, as the man (?) continues to a carrel in the corner of the room, sits in the high-backed overstuffed task chair provided, and begins to butter said scones and sip his tea as he reopens the watch and reads what he finds there...

[von Corax]

* von Corax looks up from his Babbage Engine.

As you may know, Brass Goggles is looking for a new Administrator, and I am one of the interested parties. I have just had communication with proteus which leads me to believe I am able to manage the financial end of things. This, of course, stirs up in me all the anxieties ever. Am I able to handle the technical end of things? (Of course you are! You have a degree and several years experience in this stuff! Current employment is irrelevant!) Am I prepared to take the fate of the whole of Brass Goggles into my hands? (Your hands are very capable, and more than large and delicate enough for the job!) Am I about to bite off more than I can chew? (You are not! Remember the onions!)

* von Corax pours himself a very large Irish coffee and retires to his overstuffed chair to settle his nerves

[J. Wilhelm]

* von Corax looks up from his Babbage Engine.

As you may know, Brass Goggles is looking for a new Administrator, and I am one of the interested parties. I have just had communication with proteus which leads me to believe I am able to manage the financial end of things. This, of course, stirs up in me all the anxieties ever. Am I able to handle the technical end of things? (Of course you are! You have a degree and several years experience in this stuff! Current employment is irrelevant!) Am I prepared to take the fate of the whole of Brass Goggles into my hands? (Your hands are very capable, and more than large and delicate enough for the job!) Am I about to bite off more than I can chew? (You are not! Remember the onions!)

* von Corax pours himself a very large Irish coffee and retires to his overstuffed chair to settle his nerves

You got this. Plus you have an offer for technical help from Uncle Bert.

Change is good. Stay the course.

[Sorontar]

Responsibility does bring on stresses but remember that you are actually well qualified for what responsibilities you are given/taken on.

I have a PhD, having been teaching for 10 years and been in the industry for over 20 years, and I still have concerns about whether I know what I am talking about (Imposter syndrome is one description of it). I realise that sometimes I get things wrong. If so, I own up and correct myself and don't do it again. This is called learning. I like learning (you sort of have to to do a PhD) so I tell myself to not get worried. I may not be perfect but I know more about what I am talking about than most people. I am a specialist.

Sorontar

[SeVeNeVeS]

* von Corax looks up from his Babbage Engine.

As you may know, Brass Goggles is looking for a new Administrator, and I am one of the interested parties. I have just had communication with proteus which leads me to believe I am able to manage the financial end of things. This, of course, stirs up in me all the anxieties ever. Am I able to handle the technical end of things? (Of course you are! You have a degree and several years experience in this stuff! Current employment is irrelevant!) Am I prepared to take the fate of the whole of Brass Goggles into my hands? (Your hands are very capable, and more than large and delicate enough for the job!) Am I about to bite off more than I can chew? (You are not! Remember the onions!)

* von Corax pours himself a very large Irish coffee and retires to his overstuffed chair to settle his nerves

I think it is safe to say, that if you decide to go for it, the members here will give you all the support they can, do not doubt your capabilities........... deep breathe.............Aaaand go for it.

 

[The Bullet]

Go for it.

Being Admin does not mean to have to do everything anytime yourself.
There is always a team to support you.

[Caledonian]

Been having serious mood swings and I can't figure out what triggers them...
Its ruining the good days and made me start crying in class...

[Madasasteamfish]

*Spoilered for potential trigger warning*

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I don't know if I posted about this at the time (and tbh I can't be arsed to go looking to see if I did) but just over a year ago I was having some serious problems with work related stress (thanks in a large part to my then line manager's approach/response to the issues I was raising) which ended up in me attempting to throw myself off the roof at work. Obviously, because of that (and other things that were causing the aforementioned stress) I ended up being dismissed.

I was looking through some documents for a job application and came across a pack of documents from my previous job related to my dismissal and began looking through them which brought all the pain, anguish and frustration associated with that time, and it really messed me up.

I know I'm past all that now, and I'm happy enough with the job I currently have (albeit I'm still furloughed for another few weeks) I'm just wondering if I'll ever be past it.

[rovingjack]

*Spoilered for potential trigger warning*

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I don't know if I posted about this at the time (and tbh I can't be arsed to go looking to see if I did) but just over a year ago I was having some serious problems with work related stress (thanks in a large part to my then line manager's approach/response to the issues I was raising) which ended up in me attempting to throw myself off the roof at work. Obviously, because of that (and other things that were causing the aforementioned stress) I ended up being dismissed.

I was looking through some documents for a job application and came across a pack of documents from my previous job related to my dismissal and began looking through them which brought all the pain, anguish and frustration associated with that time, and it really messed me up.

I know I'm past all that now, and I'm happy enough with the job I currently have (albeit I'm still furloughed for another few weeks) I'm just wondering if I'll ever be past it.

In my experience it is less about getting past it and more about reframing it into the context of things that helped you grow into who you become and being proud of being a person who survived the turmoil of that past.

I like to think in terms of the characters in stories that so impressed me as a kid. All the heroes face soul crushing challenges and some of them even floundered under those weights, and for me the most heroic one to me were the ones that became more heroic by using their experience to help fuel their drive to heroic things.

We are all heroes in our own stories in some fashion, and we've had challenges, and may face more as time comes. But those things give us compassion and empathy toward others who struggle, and help guide us in making choices that guide us in those adventures to come and making a difference.

maybe that doesn't help, maybe a different thought form is what you need or want, but it's something I think about sometimes and I hope it give you a little bit of hope too.

[Synistor 303]

In my experience, when it comes to a really awful tragedy in your life, you don't get over it, you get used to it.

[MWBailey]

*Spoilered for potential trigger warning*

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I don't know if I posted about this at the time (and tbh I can't be arsed to go looking to see if I did) but just over a year ago I was having some serious problems with work related stress (thanks in a large part to my then line manager's approach/response to the issues I was raising) which ended up in me attempting to throw myself off the roof at work. Obviously, because of that (and other things that were causing the aforementioned stress) I ended up being dismissed.

I was looking through some documents for a job application and came across a pack of documents from my previous job related to my dismissal and began looking through them which brought all the pain, anguish and frustration associated with that time, and it really messed me up.

I know I'm past all that now, and I'm happy enough with the job I currently have (albeit I'm still furloughed for another few weeks) I'm just wondering if I'll ever be past it.

In my experience, similarly to what others have already expressed (or near enough to it as makes no difference), hurts are much like that really bad shaving cut that you thought healed over completely - it actually did, but some vagary of either experience or forgetfulness makes you  neglect to be careful; one time out of a million, and just like the stray razor stroke that takes the top of the scar off yet again, you reopen your own wound by simply thinking incisively about it  or attempting to do so.

I keep saying "you," but in reality it's "we." We all do it, whether we're people expressing anxieties on here or some overconfident nit who thiniks he has no anxieties (trust me, everybody has them, some just lie to themselves about it and put on a convincing - and untruthful - front). I thionk we're far more honest with ourselves, but then that's me. Everybody knows I'm off my nut (lol).

* von Corax looks up from his Babbage Engine.

As you may know, Brass Goggles is looking for a new Administrator, and I am one of the interested parties. I have just had communication with proteus which leads me to believe I am able to manage the financial end of things. This, of course, stirs up in me all the anxieties ever. Am I able to handle the technical end of things? (Of course you are! You have a degree and several years experience in this stuff! Current employment is irrelevant!) Am I prepared to take the fate of the whole of Brass Goggles into my hands? (Your hands are very capable, and more than large and delicate enough for the job!) Am I about to bite off more than I can chew? (You are not! Remember the onions!)

* von Corax pours himself a very large Irish coffee and retires to his overstuffed chair to settle his nerves

*looks up from his tea and makes a remark, apoparently to the room in general, but thinks the intended recipient gets the message (or hopes so)*


"Seems to me,  a certain person has shown himself, to my mind at least, to be one of the more competent people on the forum. I would not be surprised to to hear that he has done, and will continue to do, very well for us."

*Continues sipping tea and perusing his paper*

[Cora Courcelle]

I must admit I'm finding it very hard to motivate myself at the moment.  I mean I know I've got all those projects I really do want to do, but it all seems a bit meh right now.
I'm hoping to get a bit more enthusiasm in a couple of weeks when we are having new heating fitted (at the moment it is not working - it's only 50 years old after all), and then I can get at all my craft stuff which has been put away.
It has been such a weird year.

[Prof Marvel]

I must admit I'm finding it very hard to motivate myself at the moment.  I mean I know I've got all those projects I really do want to do, but it all seems a bit meh right now.
I'm hoping to get a bit more enthusiasm in a couple of weeks when we are having new heating fitted (at the moment it is not working - it's only 50 years old after all), and then I can get at all my craft stuff which has been put away.
It has been such a weird year.

I have been un-motivated similarly....
However, I have recently become remarkably more motivated , co-inciding directly with the achievement of new sane national leadership.
as the Arthurian legend says " As the King, so the Country"

yhs
prof marvel

[Deimos]

[...
I have been un-motivated similarly....
However, I have recently become remarkably more motivated , co-inciding directly with the achievement of new sane national leadership.
as the Arthurian legend says " As the King, so the Country"

yhs
prof marvel

OK...I guess the rules on no political commentary have been suspended....
So, I am rather disappointed in the outcome of the election.
I hope the GOP can hold on to the Senate to put some brakes on the new kowtow-to-the-zeitgeist, stooge-of-the-left president.

[von Corax]

OK...I guess the rules on no political commentary have been suspended....

They haven't, actually, so please do be careful, both of you.

[Deimos]

OK...I guess the rules on no political commentary have been suspended....

They haven't, actually, so please do be careful, both of you.

For the record, I had no intention of mentioning anything about the election.
But this isn't the first time that members have mentioned something political and derogatory relating to the current administration, and said commentary is allowed to stand until the opposing view (mine) weighs in, and then suddenly the warnings kick in.
 So even tho' that door should swing both ways, it quite obviously doesn't.  Just sayin', juneau....
 

[von Corax]

Sometimes it takes a while for us to notice. Had I read the Professor's post sooner, I would have cautioned him sooner.

When Tinkergirl created The Steampunk Forum at Brass Goggles, her intent was to create a space which would, in her words:

…allow Steampunk fans of all sorts to discuss, share and enjoy things to do with Steampunk in a friendly, welcoming environment … the forum should be a neutral place where they can meet and enjoy each others company on a shared topic of interest.
Civility, and a welcoming atmosphere, are the two things most hoped for.

I refer you to the Forum Mission Statement for the full text.

In particular, her aim for the Forum was

to be both neutral and civil and as such does not allow political or religious themed discussion due to the passionate and irreconcilable flamewars that this can cause.  Much as you would not bring up politics or religion at a Victorian dinner party unless you knew well the temperaments and openness of your companions, you should not broach these subjects on this public forum where civility between strangers is sought.

My interpretation of this (and I believe the other Mods are more-or-less in agreement) is that the prohibition is specifically to contemporary partisan political argument. Where current events are concerned, (and I mean any "current events," not merely current "current events") it is impossible to know all the facts and thus positions tend to be based on emotion rather than logic. This applies not only to events surrounding the USA's current Presidential election, but also partisan perspectives on events in Canada (eg. the Government's COVID response), France, Italy, the United Kingdom (eg. Brexit) or anywhere else.

That said, my preference is for a light touch in moderating the Forum. I believe the Members of the Forum are, for the most part, responsible adults capable of carrying on a civil conversation. I also believe that all history is, in one way or another, political and that an outright blanket prohibition of all political discussion on a forum dedicated to historical fantasy would leave us with precious little to discuss. If I sense that a thread is skirting close to the edge of the rules, I will post to inform the poster, the other Members, and the other Moderators that I am watching the tone of the discussion; only if I see a danger of name-calling and inflammatory declarations will I issue a warning. More egregious transgressions warrant an appropriately stronger response.

It is also important for all of us to remember (and I am as guilty of forgetting this as anyone) that a given set of events may appear very different to those directly involved as compared to those at some physical distance, such as the current political situation in the United States. What is intended by an outsider to be a humorous quip may be interpreted by an insider as provocative or even insulting, and a remark intended to be inflammatory may appear innocuously entertaining to someone outside of the remark's political context.

[Deimos]

Roger dodger