Peer Group Chat // The Fuel of Anger // Thursday 13th July 2023, 7-8:30PM AEST

[amber22]

Hey everyone!

On Thursday 13th of July 2023, we will be holding a Peer Group Chat on the topic of The Fuel of Anger.

Sometimes anger can serve as a small voice to remind us of areas we may be ignoring, or where our boundaries are being disrespected- it's there for a reason. But, it can also be a bit like fire- quickly ignited and at times, hard to keep control of. Let’s come together to explore why anger might show up, what anger looks like, as well as how we could harness it.  

The event start times across Australia are below:

Western Australia: 5pm 
Northern Territory & South Australia: 6:30pm 

Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria & Tasmania: 7pm

For anyone unfamiliar with Peer Group Chats, each focuses on a specific topic and is guided by Peer Workers with lived experience of mental health issues and recovery, &/or caring for someone with complex mental health. A counsellor is also present as a moderator to help ensure a safe environment for individuals and the group. It is a space for us as peers to share our stories and experiences, and connect with those who are going through something similar. 

Anyone is welcome to join! Tagging some members who may be interested below: 

@Shaz51 @Snowie @Meggle @Appleblossom @Bobbie @sammy3 @Jacques @creative_writer @Captain24 @Mk333 @Gillie @Gillie1 @tonys @wellwellwellnez @Laura4 @Messylife @Bow @Smiling_Gecko @chibam @ShiningStar @CloudBerry @Shaymanpihama @StuF @Dimity @Kyle1 @Emergence @outlander @Meowmy @Spirit_Healer @Medicated @7cough9 @june23 @Shaz51 

Peer Group Chats are hosted outside of the forums, using a platform called Chatwee. 

To join an Online Peer Group and participate, you will need to register for an account with Chatwee.
To access the group to observe only and not participate, you can access Chatwee as a Guest.
On the night, follow this link to access Chatwee before the group starts.
You can join our Peer Group Chats every Thursday from 7:00-8:30pm (AEDT). Check out the FAQs page for more information.  

We hope to see you there 😊 If you can't make it but are interested, you can always catch up reading the transcript afterwards here. We also invite you to continue the conversation below on this thread if you can't make the night but also wish to contribute some of your responses. We will post some dot point prompts on the day that can get the conversation started if you're unable to make the live event!

[Captain24]

Sorry @amber22 @TideisTurning 

I can’t make this one either. 

[TideisTurning]

Hi Everyone, 

Just a reminder that the next Online Peer Group Chat on The Fuel of Anger will take place tonight from 7-8:30pm AEST.  As always, for ease of reference, times across Australia are in the graphic and listed below: 

Western Australia: 5pm 
Northern Territory & South Australia: 6:30pm 

Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria & Tasmania: 7pm 

Tonight, you can expect discussion about:  

• How anger might show up within our lives and ways we could manager anger when it arises 
• The benefits of processing anger and expressing it in a healthy manner 
• Communicating feelings of anger constructively to others 

Tagging members who have supported or otherwise interacted with the thread so far as well as those who may be interested to receive a reminder: @LadyMouse @Appleblossom @creative_writer @chibam @Jacques @Former-Member @Ginsmart @CloudBerry @Birdofparadise8 @Emergence @Shaz51 @outlander @Oaktree 

[TideisTurning]

Hi Everyone, 

Just a reminder that this Peer Group Chat on the topic of The Fuel of Anger will be starting very soon, in around 20 minutes at 7PM AEST! Tagging those who have interacted with the thread and who may be online and/or interested to receive a reminder 😊 @LadyMouse @Appleblossom @creative_writer @chibam @Jacques @Bill16 @Bow @Shaz51 @StuF @The-red-centaur @Determined @Eeyore2 @Historylover 

[Bill16]

Hello @TideisTurning how do I join the forum please?

[tyme]

Hey @Bill16 ,

Have you registered for an account before?

Here's the link to log in if you have an account https://client.chatwee.com/popout/5fe12dcb78c130638b151232

[TideisTurning]

Hi Everyone,

among other things in this discussion, we talked about the potential for anger to function as a fuel for further action. For me, I sometimes refer to my angry moments as my ‘pufferfish’ moments’ (a term I borrowed from comedian Hannah Gadsby- it’s featured heavily in her ‘Douglas special, but there’s an excerpt here to illustrate)- I might say ‘I’m puffer-fishing’ or ‘I’ve puffed up’ for example. For me, this idea of 'puffer-fishing' can illustrate the function of anger to make myself more visible and/or heard When I don't feel like I've been seen/ heard.

What I’m really curious to hear from whoever here would like to share is- what might we be able to channel experiences of anger into? Also, how could we channel our anger into these things? @Bill16 @Captain24 @LadyMouse @Appleblossom @Shaz51 @chibam @tonys @Jacques @creative_writer 

[Captain24]

I’m feeling really angry at myself right now. I need to challenge it into something productive. I did go for a brisk walk. Which helped. I could also vacuum and wash the floors. It’s something that can be done aggressively to challenge the rest of the pent up anger. 

[chibam]

@TideisTurningI've been on the recieving end of anger far too much to be able to see it as a "useful tool" or the like. Whenever I get any amount of anger or contempt directed at me, I pretty much just shut down, so I can't even bear to contemplate inflicting that on someone else myself.

I'm not claiming to be perfect. There have certainly been a few moments when I've blown up at people. One time, I was likened to Bilbo Baggins in that scene in "Fellowship Of The Ring" where his face distorts into a monsterous form when Frodo won't give him the ring.

Bilbo goes crazy
Lashing out never accomplishes anything, except stirring up more resentment towards you, IME.

From the recieving side, I've found that angry people tend to not be very rational, and that can really hamper any hope of progress with whatever issue is in dispute.

It can also cause the target of the anger immense anxiety, which can cause them to make mistakes and make the whole situation much, much worse instead of better. If you ever watch that show "Air Crash Investigators", there are several episodes where the crash is caused because the copilot screwed up, because the captain had been terribly abusive towards him earlier and the copilot was too nervous to do their job properly.

I don't get visably angry very often, and I try as best I can to avoid interacting with others when I am angry, as doing so when I'm in such an unbalanced state is almost certain to accomplish nothing good, and more then likely to only lead to long-term problems.

[Appleblossom]

Yes @TideisTurning so many animals assert through increasing size or sound ...

Had a moment on weekend .. when I told a lady to "practise" in a full throated voice with frustration, cos she was taking up group time to get her bit right, and also had made incorrect over generalised criticisms about group, but there had also been smooching going on ... it was only at break ... when we spoke ... I discovered she was a supposed hot shot ... but still ... I stand by my moment ... jeez gotta know who ya are up agin!  Hope the feathers were not too ruffled ... we seemed to get on... in conversation as we had lots in common ... tho I never been no hot shot ... and definitely rarely smooched.lol