What's your idea of having fun?

[anewyear]

..and when did you last do it?

I don't just mean having "a nice time". I mean specifically, having fun.

Personally it's not something I'm experiencing enough at the moment and I need to sort that.

[anewyear]

At the risk of becoming the sort of bore that explains jokes I was having a think as to what fun is. I reckon it's "having a nice time" but possibly something new, with other people, and it's a bit of laugh. But maybe others view it in a different way.

[Toxic]

I think I get a bit of a short term dose of fun at a theme park

I honestly can't think of much else, I really don't do anything but work and sleep and its wearing me down into a bit of a state. However then the whole avoidant, slightly agoraphobic mood puts me off trying to do anything remotely out of my comfort zone (which is basically home or work)

I'm bored of my comfort zones but can't bring myself to leave them

Times like these when you need a local chum to come and give you a boot up the arse and drag you out, alas I don't really have that option either

I went to a theme park about 2 years ago, it was great it was october, it was rainy but only rainy enough to put people off coming, not rainy enough to close any rides so we certainly got our moneys worth!

[3stacks]

Sleep

[Dougella]

That's a tricky one. Something new with other people doesn't really mean fun for me!

The only things I can think of is playing with an animal, probably a cat or a dog, they're funny and fun. The other thing is in the bedroom department with my partner but that's all I'll say on that one.

I used to enjoy things like bowling, crazy golf and stuff like that. Pub quizes and board game meeting type things sound fun. Going to the beach used to be fun. Oh, ice-skating, that was fun.

[Professor Willow]

I think fun is a very subjective thing, what is fun for one person may be absolute boredom to another.
Personally I think that I'm almost scared of having fun or being happy because of the come down after.

I'm not really sure what my idea of fun actually is :/

[Schmosby]

Originally Posted by Dougella

The other thing is in the bedroom department with my partner

Under the thumb of the patriarchy, quite literally

I thought you were better than that.

[Dougella]

^ Who is, him or me?!

[Schmosby]

^ :/ *Googles pegging*

[Dougella]

^ You've taken this in an entirely different direction to what I was meaning

[Consolida]

Fun? What's that?

It's been so long since I've had fun that I've forgotten what it is. There's things I enjoy a lot, like a walk in the countryside, but I wouldn't exactly call it 'fun' more.. 'pleasant'.

Anything that involves other people (not including my husband and son of course) is NOT fun so that pretty much rules most things out.

I suppose going across Niagara Falls on a zip wire last year was fun in an almost pee your pants in fear sort of way.

[limey123]

^ I've been to Niagara. One of the most impressive things I've seen, and also one of the most awesome/terrifying.

[endo_endo]

Playing with my friends.
Seeing my family.
Playing video games alone or with others.
Going to new places ( don't do this enough )
Drawing.
Painting either statues or pictures.
Watching films.

.. I do a lot of things I enjoy.

[Schmosby]

@Consolida wow! that was brave.

I think I find cycling fun and maybe exercise, like going to the gym. Bowling is fun, but the effort of going outweighs the fun. Contact with animals can be fun, depending on the animal.

I think there are lots of things I might find fun, but they would all involve effort that outweighs the fun.

[anxiouslondoner]

I had fun once... I'm not doing that again!

[Consolida]

Originally Posted by limey123

^ I've been to Niagara. One of the most impressive things I've seen, and also one of the most awesome/terrifying.

Yeah it's quite a sight isn't it, especially when it's lit up at night. It was during the Autumn/Fall that I went so all the surrounding trees looked particularly beautiful

[Jen.]

Originally Posted by anewyear

..and when did you last do it?

I don't just mean having "a nice time". I mean specifically, having fun.

Personally it's not something I'm experiencing enough at the moment and I need to sort that.

Ice skating, escape rooms, bowling, rowing, pub quizzes, travelling, socialising/drinking with friends, picnics, gigs, crazy golf. I don't think something has to be new to be fun, but other people being involved can certainly upgrade certain activities from being "a nice time" to "fun".

I would do some of these things more frequently if I had friends or family near where I live. I would really like to go to more pub quizzes, but they always seem to start late and require going early to get a table (and I get bored staying in the same place for hours). There was a video game quiz that I went to a few times and really enjoyed, but it had a break for drinks in the middle and the sheets weren't collected, and I saw some people looking up the answers on their phones and writing them down instead of playing fairly (the host should really have taken the sheets and handed out new ones for the second round). There's no point doing it if people are going to cheat, it isn't fun at all then.

Certain things I find fun only if the circumstances are right otherwise SA gets in the way. E.g. crazy golf - which has to be mostly empty, because people being slow in front so I have to stand there waiting for them to finish every time, or rushing from behind so I feel like I need to be quick, can make it no fun at all. I don't really enjoy bowling if the lane that shares the ball return thing has strangers on it either - it has to either be empty or be used by people I know.

[sillypenguin]

Can't say I find much things fun anymore, depression likes to suck the fun out of everything. Sometimes I feel better after running or going out on the bike but i have to summon up a lot of energy to even get out the door to do it. I'm going a train teip to Austria next month so I guess that's giving me something to look forward to

[Tembo]

The only time i'm having proper fun, where you feel joy and your stress levels go, is playing with my dog, watching live comedy, going on a rollercoaster-type ride, and certain moments when i'm travelling.

I really enjoy meeting with my friends at a pub, going for urban/country walks, but I still have my thoughts with me, so its not quite the same, as enjoyable as it is.

sillypenguin, I hope you enjoy your train ride in Austria - some of the most scenic rail journeys in Europe. My 2 hour train ride from Innsbruck, Austria to Bolzano, Italy earlier in the year was certainly a moment where I forgot all my stressful thoughts. I hope it has the same effect on you!

[Jen.]

Originally Posted by sillypenguin

Can't say I find much things fun anymore, depression likes to suck the fun out of everything. Sometimes I feel better after running or going out on the bike but i have to summon up a lot of energy to even get out the door to do it. I'm going a train teip to Austria next month so I guess that's giving me something to look forward to

Where/when are you going? I'll be there at the end of November (also going to Bratislava since it's so close to Vienna).

[sillypenguin]

Aw cool I'm flying to Vienna on 30th November so will probably stay there for 2 nights then head towards Salzburg/innsbruck way

[Oddity]

^ It's only been re-themed, and the VR stuff wasn't available when I went last year, not that I see the point

Definitely theme parks for me, well the rides anyway I want to visit loads of them, but I don't see it happening.

[Jen.]

Originally Posted by sillypenguin

Aw cool I'm flying to Vienna on 30th November so will probably stay there for 2 nights then head towards Salzburg/innsbruck way

Ah, that's the same date I'm coming home. Maybe I'll pass you in the airport Going to Vienna, Linz, Salzburg and Bratislava. Should be nice at that time of year, the Christmas markets start a week or two before then.

[Utopia]

My therapist tried to encourage me to "do something pleasurable" recently, but I kind of felt happy not to in a way. In my early 20's I was more of a pleasure seeking doing lots of things guy, and the most healthy pleasurable things for me are things with other people, although that's not to say that isn't also quite exhausting for me really. I feel that doing the things I like to do, while not necessarily pleasurable, they are mentally stimulating and I get enjoyment from them. She was worried that the new treatment effect wouldn't last if I wasn't doing lots of things, but really I need to make some money atm and focus on my studies if I want to do these things. Also, I was definitely more motivated to do things when I had someone to do them with.

I feel like I'm misunderstood, although she is encouraging me to seek out other people and experiences and that could be a way to improve my isolation. I can be very focused at times.

I still feel happy enough as it is atm, and that's what's important, because pleasure is short lived and has diminishing returns anyway. That's not to say I'm completely ok, it's just the effect of the treatment I've had has lasted.

[Lone Dog]

I suppose fun can be had on your own, but ideally if there was no SA it would be something spontaneous with other people involved instead of solitary pursuits. However, with the SA brain policing everything you do or say it is not so clear cut. Instead of fun you find yourself doing something just to kill time and fill in the hours, which is a chore, not fun. Most things I would have called fun at one point seem to have ended up like that.

[neilm]

Originally Posted by Jen.

Ah, that's the same date I'm coming home. Maybe I'll pass you in the airport Going to Vienna, Linz, Salzburg and Bratislava. Should be nice at that time of year, the Christmas markets start a week or two before then.

All places Id love to visit someday. Specially the old coffee houses of Vienna, the Blue Danube, the music of Mozart/Hayden etc . Salzburg looks pretty spectacular too, and has great hiking opportunities nearby, so right up my street.

Dont know so much about Linz, mind, except that Hitler was born in a nearby town!! Ime sure its a lovely place despite that though!!