Newbie's Social Club - Come make some friends!

Hello forum friends! I hope you're all having a sunny Friday!

I wanted to take a moment to welcome our newest members from the week:

@ale_inmelb @Alfredo1 @Alynnschhhh @aria3 @AuntGlow @Birchbaby68 @BMan @Bonnie03 @Boots1 @busted75 @Caring-Karen @cheesypesto @CL @ClaireDeLune @Cold89 @coraroy @Cosmic1 @Daysdaisy @DB81 @Ed1975 @Eliza2025 @Ember19 @Fambam @Flourish29 @Flowerflesh @Georgena-55 @Flowergirl77 @globep @Grumps @Helana @HM1997 @IdentityFerret @jack558 @Janay @Justme-1234_ @karosweden1278 @Kit31 @KT7 @kuroneko222 @Lagoon2020 @lastLight27 @LCBABE1731 @Lecoopy @lentillyill @lethalsammy @LG @Lisa_79 @LolloRosso @M4 @magicaldelphin @Marlz03 @Meatball90 @Mindfulness29 @Minniek18 @Misskyliep @Monete @Nelli @NoWizardhere @OhGod @paperhat @Pinkcee @pleh1 @sanctuary123 @sedg @seven71 @Shemetal @Sinna @SK217 @SM66 @smilycollins @Subbi @Sweetpea1975 @T1ggr1971 @timshs @Trying2025 @VIOLET75 @Wacko @WilmaFlintstone @Wishfulmum @XxDannixX @yenyen2025

It's so wonderful to have you all here! Whether or not you've already had a chance to connect in other areas of the forums, please feel welcome to pop by and say hello here, we're always happy to chat 😊

Hi guys, [edited by moderator] I go by they/them (preferably, but I also go by he/him).

I have so many special interests including Motorsports (Formula One, Formula E, Indycar, MotoGP...), Art and Craft (Journaling, Scrapbooking, Drawing,...), Creative Writing and Reading.

I am an first year international university student in Melbourne. Love socializing and making friends! Hope to interact with everyone as well.

Hi there @ale_inmelb ,

Thank you for sharing. Great to meet you.

Thank you for sharing a little about yourself.

Just a quick note that these forums are an anonymous platform which means we've edited out your name to make sure your identity is not compromised.

Have you been in Australia for long?

Hi @tyme

Thank you for the reminder about anonymous posting.

Hey, I arrived in Australia just over 2 months ago, this month will mark my 3rd months away from home.

I am loving every bit of it so far, just the weather that is getting on my nerves. It has been too cold for me to cope with lately.

Melb will get much much colder than what it has been in the last 3 months @ale_inmelb !

This is actually a very WARM Autumn so far.

I'm glad to hear you love Melb so far. I love Melbourne too. I was originally from Sydney.

Hi everyone, thanks for the welcome.

Hope your weekends are worth looking forward to 😁

Welcome @Flowerflesh !

So nice to have you!

What are things you enjoy doing? We may be able to direct you to some threads that may be of interest?

Thank you for the welcome. I love that SANE is doing this and there's so much discussion that's happened. I'm living presently with disabling mental distress to the point where I've had to leave my part time job and I'm wondering if I'll be able to do it ever again. I have religious trauma, PTSD, ADHD, Bipolar, severe anxiety and depression.

The things that have kept me going are writing poetry, playing the drums, swimming and trying to keep my primary school aged kid fed, clothed and dropped off/picked up.

I'm very socially oriented and love hanging out with friends but have lost motivation to do this and even the above stuff most if the time.

Keen to chat about how art/music/writing is helping us, what kind of formal/informal support we're all getting and how helpful it is, including talk and pharmaceutical therapies, also interested in if anyone's participated in psychedelic assisted therapy.

I currently see a psychiatrist, psychologist and GP, and have also accessed free EAP counselling sessions through my former employer. I've used lifeline, beyond blue and SANE's phone supports before. I'd love to access peer support like through the guided recovery program but unfortunately my postcode isn't covered yet. The alternative in my area is more of a referral service run by a faith-based charity from a denomination I've experienced trauma from.

I have a lot of ideals for my life, and I'm feeling the grief of feeling out of reach, and I'm holding a flicker of hope, and it feels really dark a lot of the time.