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Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember29 Jan 2020, 12:51 pm AEDT

Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Whether you have a pet that makes a huge difference to your wellbeing or you have the pleasure of connecting with animals in wildlife on walks or nearby you! There are lots of ways animals impact our mental health and we have decided to do a whole Topic Tuesday dedicated to talking about just that! We may even share some funny animal memes??! Come along and get involved.

Want to receive an email reminder on the night? Hit the 'Support' button below.

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I'm new here - what is Topic Tuesday?

Topic Tuesday runs from 7pm - 9pm AEST monthly. Each month we focus on a different topic, with the session facilitated by a Community Manager or Moderator. Sometimes Topic Tuesday will feature a special guest, who is an expert in the topic.

The first post of the thread (this one) will give you an idea of what the topic is and what will be covered.

How do I get involved?

Topic Tuesday takes place right here! It's text based, so no software is needed. During the session, to keep up with the latest posts hit the 'refresh' button on your browser for the latest posts (it doesn't automatically update). Keep an eye for page numbers at the top & bottom of the page, and jump to the highest page number for the most recent post.

Throughout the session, the facilitator will put questions out for you to answer, usually asking for your own experience on the topic. To contribute to the session, just hit the 'reply' button and share your thoughts. No answers are right or wrong and everyone is welcome to get involved.

What time does this event start in my timezone?

AEDT- 7pm
AEST- 6pm
ACDT- 6:30pm
ACST- 5:30pm
WST- 4pm

If you have any questions about how to use the Forums, check out our Guides.

133 replies

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In response to: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember18 Feb 2020, 7:36 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

@CheerBear you mentioned being able to reach out and feel the fluffy fur of your cat being comforting. The idea of connecting with senses is great for grounding techniques generally. Have people found that when it comes to animals in their worlds they can helpful to connect to self care strategies? Such as, if you were struggling with a bit of panic, stopping to listen to a bird could help or patting an animal.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

BlueBaySenior Contributor18 Feb 2020, 7:39 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

I'm sorry @Former-Member I need to go. I should go snd pat my dog. She will calm me.

In response to: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember18 Feb 2020, 7:40 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Yes @Former-Member Holly provides all of that for me. But its also a huge responsibility having a pet. I worry a lot about her. Sadly she is becoming deaf and is no longer the fabulous little watchdog she used to be. And it seems odd talking to her when I know she cant hear me. She used to be such a good listener too, and understood so much.

But she remains a great comfort to me regardless. Like @CheerBear I wake a lot at night, often in a bad state, and to feel Holly by my side is very grounding.

In response to: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Shaz51Senior Contributor18 Feb 2020, 7:40 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Ohh yes @Former-Member I have had lots of different animals in my life

And now I have my customers pets who I see every week xoxo

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

SnowieSenior Contributor18 Feb 2020, 7:40 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Hi all,

My little cavoodle helps me through some rough days. She is helping me tonight after a hard day. I think I will just stay in the background tonight.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Unknown userMember18 Feb 2020, 7:42 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

No worries @BlueBay - glad you can go and have some pats to calm its been lovely having you with us, you are welcome to pop back at anytime!

@Shaz51 so great you get to connect with your customers pets too

@Former-Member yes it can be hard when they start to age, but how wonderful that we can support them in turn and give them what they need as much as they have for us. And even though she is deaf, I believe that animals can understand us when we have such strong bonds with them!

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

CheerBearSenior Contributor18 Feb 2020, 7:42 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Perhaps the quiet and still that some animals need could be a kind of self-care connection @Former-Member. I have a quite scaredy cat (lol) cat who needs me to be calm and still around her (she doesn't like the kids at all 😆). In a way she helps me to find some kind of 'stillness' sometimes.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

Shaz51Senior Contributor18 Feb 2020, 7:43 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

@Snowie I love your Izzy xx

@BlueBay , I love you Jersey

@Former-Member , I love your holly and now you stray cat

@Zoe7 , love your Toby and cat xxx

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

frogSenior Contributor18 Feb 2020, 7:43 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

@Former-Member my dog helps me pause which can be a real circuit breaker in terms of reflecting on self care. The other thing is humour. She's funny - another circuit breaker for me, and helps me with perspective. Tonight she discovered a caterpillar and it was if she'd never seen such an interesting thing before!

Hi @Scoo @cutiepiekitty @Holly

I'm having trouble remembering everyone now lol - the sign of good gathering!

@CheerBear @outlander @Adge @Former-Member @BlueBay @Shaz51

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

cutiepiekittySenior Contributor18 Feb 2020, 7:44 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

I have 2 cats but love all animals. I really love alpacas. Got the chane to lead some in the Royal Show a couple years ago. When I was little my two best friends were Bluey and Bobby, a blue tongue and a bobtail lizard. They ran away from others or hissed and threatened them, but came when I called. I also find I get along well with camels, especially ones that are often anti social. Seems we knoiw we need and trust each other

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