originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:32 PM

Goodnight @florenceforever !!

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:37 PM

Just for fun! Many people find that music is the best thing to get them through tough times. What's your favourite song that always seems to get you back on your feet when you're struggling?

 

Mines a bit weird!! but at the moment playing "sexual healing" always puts me in a good mood! its hilarious and so catchy!

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:48 PM

For me it's actually playing music (especially performing).  I get such an adrenaline rush.  
But my "cheer me up" songs are:

Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley

Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks

Broken Leg - Bluejuice

 

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:41 PM

haha sjg, great/cheesy song! 😛 I have so many that can get me feeling good - I think the best one, one that has definitely made me feel relaxed and happy, is by a band called Black Moth Super Rainbow (best band name ever, right?) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2hL32fDs6c

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:42 PM

hahah sounds amazing!! My friend made a playlist on spotify called feelgoodaboutlifesongs and theyre all amazing!!

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:45 PM

Haha love it @SJG ! I have heaps of favourites, but the first one that jumped to mind for me was Lift by Shannon Noll. It's so motivating for me when I'm feeling down:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQIfBJVFTWE

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:44 PM

sounds awesome! what other songs are on there?

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:48 PM

um there is

a tout a lhuere by bibio
sweet nothing by calvin harris
cape cod kwassa kwassa by vampire weekend
i spy by mikhael paskalev
september by earth wind and fire (so good) and heaps more!

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:51 PM

sjg, nice list! Can't say I've heardhalf of those though... 😛 sorry!

Caity, I agree, playing music is the best! What do you play? 

Alright, last question for the night! 

What's one thing you'll take away from tonight's session?

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:55 PM

I'll take away the great ideas about identifying signs of stress, and ways to make sure you look after yourself, even when you're not able to manage your thoughts. 

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:54 PM

@Magga  I'm a bit of a multi-instrumentalist: I play flute, saxophone, and sing.  (I also play piano but I'm definitely not good enough to perform on that!)  You?

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:58 PM

caity, that's so cool! Wish I could play all of those. I play mainly drums, but I also do a bit of guitar. I also got a harmonica for my birthday... 😛 should be fun. 

I think I'll be taking away some of these coping strategies too! So many good ideas. I'll make sure to try them next time I'm stressed 🙂 

Here's a quick summary of tonight's session:

 

Some people talked about struggling with uni, while others struggled with personal and mental health issues. Everyone seems to rely on friends and family to help them get by, and it seems important to take some time off to get things back to normal before getting into anything too stressful. Also important – seeing a counsellor/psychologist! If you're experiencing any kind of emotional or mental health difficulties, the most obvious (and best) thing you can do is to talk to someone who knows how to deal with these sorts of problems.

So when things do get tough, how can we cope? There are so many ways! Talking to someone, socialising, doing art, listening to music, positive thinking, and allocating time to think about the things that are bothering us (to identify issues and fix them). Writing is also good – whether it be writing a list, or writing down the things that are wrong to get a clearer picture. Going for a walk, reading, and playing games are also great ways to deal with stress!

As mentioned before, uni is a big area that people struggle with. Work, social life, relationships, and our own selves can also be a challenge to deal with. So how do we deal with these? Asking for help, talking to the counsellor, committing to coping strategies and hobbies, watching tv, playing music, exercising, socialising...

Stress can lead to all sorts of mental and physical issues. Depression and anxiety are the big ones – but there's really no telling what effect excess stress will have on you. It's important to try to exercise regularly, take time to be alone, spend time with friends, eat healthy, and be self-aware. Self-awareness is important because if you don't know what causes your stress, you can't possibly do anything to fix it!

It's easy to recognise the signs if you've been through it yourself – not attending uni, not handing in assignments, sleeping late and refusing to get out of bed, drinking a lot, eating a lot, mood swings, if they seem extra quiet (or extra manic). It's important to listen to friends and be there for them – if you see any telltale signs of mental illness, ask your friend if they're ok!

After so much serious talk, we had a chat about good tunes to listen to when we're feeling stressed! Top suggestions included Never Gonna Give You Up, Come On Eileen, Shannon Noll's Lift...and many others.

Thanks for coming guys, great session! Hope you all got something out of it. Have a great night, see you next week! 🙂 

originally posted on 22-09-2014 10:02 PM

Thanks for moderating guys, it was a great session! Night all xx

originally posted on 22-09-2014 10:00 PM

Goodnight everybody and thanks heaps for joining us tonight!! We had a great session i think, hopefully see you all next time, i know im feeling a little better about my issues after this and i hope you all are too 🙂

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:53 PM

I learn a heap of ways to deal with anxiety, so thanks heaps everyone! Im going to write down a list of everything after this 🙂

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:51 PM

haha delicatedreamer, I'll take your word for it! 

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:50 PM

i agree with the performing

i am a drummer and that is a huge stress reliever 

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:45 PM

come on eileen HAHAHA 

dont know why

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:47 PM

haha j95, that's great 😛

 

and Shannon Noll! It's been so long since I heard him. Wonder what he's up to these days?

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:51 PM

Yeah, it's an oldie but a good @Magga 🙂 I'm not too sure... I think he might have released a single not too long ago? Don't quote me on it though haha!

originally posted on 22-09-2014 9:31 PM

Night @florenceforever !