Bama

Happy birthday!!!

Happy Birthday and have a great day

Happy Birthday @Bama

XtremeIdiots would like to wish all members celebrating their birthday today a happy birthday.
Bama (53)

Was a lot of fun!  I believe Gatlinburg was on fire just after we left. 🤔

Was a lot of fun!  I believe Gatlinburg was on fire just after we left. 🤔

@Ruggerxi @Sitting-Duc @Olive @Bama @Ov3rKi11 @wildthing @B-Murda ...and many others that I'm failing to include (apologies!)

Aerobic exercise like walking, where you raise your heart rate even modestly for a period of time helps immensely; the only issue is willing & doing it when you wish to do nothing.

I think the title Socialist Country is misused for the most part.  Some countries, like China, (see the bottom quote) might be worded as a Socialist Country, but in my mind it is plain and simple Communist / Dictatorship - like.  When I think of real, working, functioning well Socialist Countries, I think of ones that are based on Capitalism yet with a wide range of social programs.  The list below of countries, THOSE are what I think of as the real McCoy of Socialist Countries. 
These countries below are the best examples of what some folks think of by the term Socialist Countries, which I disagree - nope they are Communist - Dictatorship - like imho.  
 
2 more cents tossed in.  

Sorry to hear about your loss friend. Good that your talking about it and reaching out to others here.

Now Rob jokes about everything, but please listen to me, great pressures are put upon young people now, far more than in the past. Please please use your brains and think yourself out of any suicidal thoughts, simply because nothing will be accomplished, only deep sorrow for those you leave.
You ARE NOT too fat, too thin, not cool, ugly, thick, etc etc etc, these thoughts are programmed into you by others, once you realise that deal with it. The way to deal with it is not to take your own life, but to live the life you're given, it may not be the dream life, but it is yours.
Life is very precious, and I know as I am nearing the end of mine, those who speak here I play with daily, they are nice normal people despite what they might think. Everyone gets down on occasion, especially in your teens, you must work your way out of depression, and I mean 'work'. It is easy to lapse into laziness, laziness means not caring, not caring means low self esteem, low self esteem encourages suicidal thoughts.
There will be many idiots in this position, get out of it by literally working, I'm not talking about a job necessarily, I'm talking about giving something, and getting it in return, but without an effort it will never happen, work at something it is the path out. You may never be on Love Island, or a millionaire, or a celebrity, but if you can hold your head up in society as someone who tried you will be a hero in all our lives.
Don't ever give up.
Rob (who almost died 2 weeks ago)

Timmah, Bama and Painkiller thank you for sharing your personal struggles with depression. I believe most people struggle with it at some level at some point in life, whether they've identified it as depression or anxiety or not.  I'm generally pretty optimistic and upbeat, but I've been to some dark places in my 56 years. I've sought therapy and it helped. Talking through it with people who understand or care works for me and when I start feeling low, I reach out. I've lost a couple of friends to suicide and I have a lot of people in my life who are in a constant struggle with anxiety and depression. I'm here for them to listen, talk, whatever they want. Same is true for any of you. 
What a great group of people this is! Proud to be a part of XI

As someone who was severaly depressed and suicidal a good 5-6 years ago now, I can tell ya, it isn't easy. I really feel for you fuckstick, going through that loss of a friend in such a way is terrible. I almost offed myself a few years ago, planned it out and everything but the one thing that stopped me was that I didn't want my mom to be sad. And such a silly sounding thing was the one key thing that kept me on this earth. Now I have so many more reasons.
It took me three sets of therapy and a different assortment of medications and massive life changes to get me better and to where I am now. There IS help out there for people who need it, but I hate the stigma of "man up" or "get over it." Stuff like that doesn't help. Yes I am better than I was 5-6 years ago but I am a long way from being top-ticket. I get bad bouts; ended up in hospital last November because of my anxiety and depression and only recently finished therapy and getting help.
I hear you there completely Timmah, it changes you but you can get through it, you and I are living examples that this stuff is possible to get through. The help I got got me through it and taught me so many life lessons that I try to pass on to others when they too are troubled.

Have you ever logged your diet?  I've known a couple people whose migraines were mainly caused by certain foods; or so they concluded.

LOL ROB, getting off the floor now, and wiping laughter tears off my eyes.  Yes, believe it or not, I on occasion do kill successfully with my little three shot wonder, just got lucky hehe.  
NOW ABOUT DEPRESSION:
Yes, I think most of us know at least one person who has killed himself/herself.  We are complicated we really, really are.  How many of us from time to time get super depressed and so on?  I think this modern society of ours is not super great for us.  Too many folks live alone, especially the older generation!  They are super lonely.  Just driving to and fro everywhere stopping at every damn intersection for the light is super depressing for many.  We need sunshine, we need community, we need to be productive and so on.  I have found that groups with similar issues really help, for example, I have chronic migraines and it sucks!  I have a group of folks and we all discuss our migraine stuff and we feel so much better being able to complain, sympathize, and be in this together in our group.  I think of it as group counseling.  Another thing, some folks brains just don't have enough "happy stuff" in them, hence the meds like PROZAC works! 
 
To anyone who talks about suicide, or being depressed, I do mention the benefits of Antidepressants.  It helps the brain get back to where it is supposed to be, with plenty of Serotonin.  https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin
 
 
 
But wait there is more:  
 
 

Heyyyy.... I had the distinct pleasure of living major clinical depression in my 20's.  Words can't describe the many layers, facets, breadth & depth of major depression.  It excoriates you, warps your sense of self; shit, it changes who you are.  Everything takes on a tinge of desolation; the sun seems blisteringly cold & the mornings were- for me- the worst.  Apathy, melancholy, anger, paranoia, deep sadness way out of proportion to anything happening in one's life.  I was fortunate to find a counselor to walk with me through my travails & provide me with the skills my parents couldn't & didn't.  On the bright side, there's not much that can trouble me any more & I have a greater true appreciation of life & its joys.

Depression and anxiety problems are huge, and most men don't like to talk about problems to others. I can tell you for a fact that just talking about it with another friend, or even a professional, is a big boost to getting better. I've been there, and many others have too. Seeking out someone you can just talk to about it is a big step to recovering and getting your life back in order. I speak from experience.

Depression and anxiety problems are huge, and most men don't like to talk about problems to others. I can tell you for a fact that just talking about it with another friend, or even a professional, is a big boost to getting better. I've been there, and many others have too. Seeking out someone you can just talk to about it is a big step to recovering and getting your life back in order. I speak from experience.

Depression and anxiety problems are huge, and most men don't like to talk about problems to others. I can tell you for a fact that just talking about it with another friend, or even a professional, is a big boost to getting better. I've been there, and many others have too. Seeking out someone you can just talk to about it is a big step to recovering and getting your life back in order. I speak from experience.

Depression and anxiety problems are huge, and most men don't like to talk about problems to others. I can tell you for a fact that just talking about it with another friend, or even a professional, is a big boost to getting better. I've been there, and many others have too. Seeking out someone you can just talk to about it is a big step to recovering and getting your life back in order. I speak from experience.

I know I'm late to the party, just wanted to add this. Basil hung an argument on Finland, and I don't believe it holds up.
While Finns enjoy an expansive social safety net, good pensions, and robust sick and family leave protections, their economy cannot be characterized in good faith as socialist. Finland is a thoroughly capitalist nation: Some people make lots of money, and others make very little. But Finland has chosen a more inclusive form of capitalism that ensures that the wealthiest Finns pay their fair share in taxes while the poorest Finns don't suffer for lack of access to food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. In so doing, they've redefined what freedom means in the modern world. They have struck a pretty good balance between social issues and free market.
They also do not deal with the diversity that most countries have to manage. Ethnic Finnish people make up about 96.5% of the population.. just an observation, not a mandate for ethnic cleansing 🤣

A few years ago I found out that one of my old friends from my UT 2000  gaming days killed himself.  He was super depressed.  His girlfriend at the time was cheating on him and she was pregnant with another mans kid.  He pretty much did everything he could for her and nothing worked.   He disappeared for years, and then I found out he killed himself due to depression. He stopped talking to everyone,  stayed to himself, he had a good job, but the pain was eating him up inside.  We all go through things in life, and we have our ups and downs, but if anyone who is reading this has thoughts of ending their life or ever has, you need to reach out to someone - XI or not.  We are gamers, but most importantly, we are a family.  

Sure wish I could join ya'll.