Type what you're thinking about right now (11)

[AireleeBray]

I really enjoying seeing people working through social anxiety fears on Instagram, though I'm nowwhere near it, it gives me hope.

[Dougella]

^ Can you recommend anyone that you follow that does that?

[Dougella]

^ I am pretty cynical, but not cynical enough to believe that anyone on Instagram who talks about SA is a phonie.

[Consolida]

Originally Posted by The Devil, Probably.

How people tend to argue that pain without higher consciousness, i.e. "animal pain", isn't so bad. I wonder whether it has all along been the opposite. It's impossible to know what pain means to an animal of course, even to another human, really. Though in the latter we can deduce from sounds and signs and imagine ourselves in those shoes. However maybe only animals ever know pure pain - without the "pain relief" of context, reflection, of knowledge of it likely passing soon, etc. I don't think anyone sane thinks animals don't feel pain. But how that pain is experienced is a mystery. It seems plausible to me to imagine the experience of pain being "worse" for animals than humans precisely because they are less able to process it through higher consciousness.

Of course anyone who thinks that animals don't feel pain as intensely as human beings need their head examining but it's interesting to consider that other animals may feel pain more greatly than us. I can totally see how the knowledge that we will soon receive treatment to relieve our pain provides much needed reassurance in a way that animals won't experience and thus making the whole thing so much worse.

I think it suits a lot of people to delude themselves that animals don't experience intense pain because how else could they justify the cruel way that humans continue to treat them

[AireleeBray]

Originally Posted by Dougella

^ Can you recommend anyone that you follow that does that?

Yoursocialanxietybestie

[Dougella]

^ Thankyou

[Tubbs]

Originally Posted by Merritt

My bins have so far remained proud and erect, though I'll have to see what storm Eunice has in store for them. God help them if storm Aldo shows up.

Hahaha Where do they get these storm names from?!

[Tubbs]

^ Storm Fanny sounds like a particularly powerful queef

[Mike.Kzov]

I think I had Powerful Fanny Gusts 5 on DVD as a teenager.

[anxiouslondoner]

^^ I think they alternate between male and female names so you'll have to wait until next year, sorry!

[Dougella]

^ So the next one will be Fred?

[Percy]

Loving the Owlkitty videos,

[Professor Willow]

Originally Posted by Mike.Kzov

I think I had Powerful Fanny Gusts 5 on DVD as a teenager.

At least you could pause the DVD without the picture going fuzzy!
Us oldies had VHS

[Azalea]

Originally Posted by Professor Willow

Us oldies had VHS

Don't pause it for too long you'll stretch the tape!

[Amara 94]

Most people seem to find me boring. Maybe it’s cause I find it hard to actually open up and express myself fully or I’m just on a different wavelength to most people. It makes me feel like it was probably rational that the cousin I wanted to bond with didn’t find our chats engaging and would do stuff such as taking a long time to respond or the silent treatment and another cousin just wasn’t interested in chatting with me. It’s depressing to think about but reality.

[Jen.]

How if anyone ever says something like "I don't know much about this subject, but..." you can just stop listening/reading at the word "but".

"I'm no epidemiologist, but...", "I don't really know much about this Ukraine business, but..." It saves so much time!

[Merritt]

I'm going to a wedding reception in a couple of weeks and currently despairing about having to dress semi-smart. I have a porky belly and page 3 stunner moobs, and I don't know what I can wear to cover myself up enough to not feel like a deformed lump the whole evening. Made me appreciate the magic of a baggy hoodie, anyway.

[Dougella]

^ Will you be wearing a suit jacket? They provide quite a lot of coverage.

[Merritt]

I don't think it'll be that formal, and trying to look too smart would probably create another set of worries for myself A jacket of some sort as an extra layer would help though, as long as everyone doesn't go 'You must be boiling!' every 2 minutes.

[Dougella]

^ Ah, yes I tend to go for layers as a means to cover up. Hmm, you could do a t-shirt with a loose shirt on top. Or a jacket like you say!

[Jam do Bronx]

Originally Posted by Merritt

I'm going to a wedding reception in a couple of weeks and currently despairing about having to dress semi-smart. I have a porky belly and page 3 stunner moobs, and I don't know what I can wear to cover myself up enough to not feel like a deformed lump the whole evening. Made me appreciate the magic of a baggy hoodie, anyway.

Forget about the wedding reception, after that description of yourself, there's only one thing you need to do - start an onlyfans account.

[Tubbs]

@Merritt how would you feel about jeans and a t-shirt with a suit jacket, for a sort of smart-casual look. Something like this:



I guess if it's happening in a couple of weeks, the weather's probably not going to be that warm?

I totally get where you're coming from, mate. For months and months I dreaded going to my brother's wedding. It triggered all sorts of self-hating thoughts about my appearance, amongst other things. Sending a hug your way

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by Merritt

I'm going to a wedding reception in a couple of weeks and currently despairing about having to dress semi-smart. I have a porky belly and page 3 stunner moobs, and I don't know what I can wear to cover myself up enough to not feel like a deformed lump the whole evening. Made me appreciate the magic of a baggy hoodie, anyway.

Dark flannel shirts are fairly excellent - busy (but not too busy) pattern, thickish material, buttons, button neck, collar It draws the eye around, so they are flattering. Also you can roll up the sleeves if it gets warm, roll them down if it gets cold. Pair with black jeans and you're done. *chef kiss*

[Dougella]

Why are some social occasions so long. I do understand that many people enjoy spending lots of time, many hours, with friends and family at social occasions. I'm sure there are people who want these things to last as long as possible, but for me it just seems like so much and so overwhelming.

I have to go to a wedding in a few months, and it's only small, but they are having the ceremony, then a meal at a restaurant, then going back to the couple's house for tea and cake etc. I'm not sure I can handle going to have a meal with people, let alone more after that. I may have to make some excuses to leave early!

[Jen.]

Having their celebrations split up like that is perfect for making an excuse between things! I think people would be understanding if you only went to the first one or two events and then went home before they moved onto the next, especially since each thing is less important than the previous one.

I went to a wedding a couple of weeks ago and pre-arranged a taxi to come so that I would have an excuse to leave early. It was great.

[Dougella]

^ I hope so, I think I'm going to pre arrange a taxi!

[Dougella]

^ Thanks. Yes I feel the same, I can maybe cope with a formal service but being expected to stand around and chat is torture.

[SpectralOwls]

Thoughts: I've been in the UK now for over a month. I've adjusted pretty quickly, and honestly I don't feel as much anxiety with going outside and doing whatever. I do feel like I had a heightened case of agoraphobia being in the states, while here it's really not as bad since I know that guns aren't nearly as much as a problem here. :/

(I read this morning after there was a mass shooting in Portland, that there has been 91 homicide deaths last year... Is it any wonder that I was terrified going outside?)

[Bored]

I hate you Butler!

[Amara 94]

It’s hard to be a good leader I honestly think. Because to be a good leader you have to utilise others strengths and actually put others before you in a way. I think it’s very possible to be a good leader but it takes so much mental work it really good psychological health which is hard to achieve.

I think most people are not good leaders, even most leaders.