A Real Talk About Mental Health

Ryuu and Adobe have a heart-to-heart about mental health. They share their stories throughout their lives, while providing feedback and input to those who may share the same experiences. As always, they still crack jokes and provide comedic *relief* (especially towards the end), so please enjoy!

If you are struggling, please reach out to someone or follow the links below
https://988lifeline.org
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net

Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to give us a download and let us know what you think! You can follow the podcast or either of the hosts at the links below.
 
Discord Server: https://discord.gg/fkKexVH2k9
Twitter: https://x.com/whatareweinfur
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/whatareweinfur.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatareweinfur
Ryuu: https://x.com/RyuuDerg
Adobe: https://www.youtube.com/@adobetheretriever

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Dude, you burp. I know I burp a lot. You burp weird. Every burp you give, not every 50% of the burps you give, so I'm like, you're gonna throw up. And I don't I don't want to hear it in Discord because it cancels it out. So I'm like, oh, I hadn't that's that's why I don't respond to half your burps because I just it doesn't pick it up. And then I'm in the recording, I go, Oh, what did that happen? You're literally going when you're doing it, honey. I'm like, why are you gagging?

SPEAKER_04 0:26

Because I just I don't I don't know. It just it just happens, it just happens.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

It does happen, and you know what else happens? What today's episode cuts a beautiful day and a beautiful day to tune into the What O We Infer podcast. Hello everyone, I'm Adobe, and this is our podcast where we record, talk, and record, I guess, about anything related to the furry fandom. My buddy Ryu and I take turns introducing topics each episode, sometimes entirely about the fandom or just not enough about it. But speaking of him, Ryu. Hi, buddy. How are you? What's new?

SPEAKER_04 0:58

Hey, hey, what's new? What's new? Um, um, we closed on our house. Did I mention that in the last episode?

SPEAKER_00 1:08

I don't remember, but that is awesome. And then now you're gonna be in the process of getting all the boxes and stuff moved to it.

SPEAKER_04 1:14

Yep, starting starting tomorrow throughout the whole rest of the week and the weekend, we'll be moving in um to our new crib. So we're super, we're super stoked for this. I really wish I was there to help you. I know. I wish I was here. I wish you were here to to just be here, you know?

SPEAKER_00 1:35

Nice, nice. I give that that's a three out of ten. Three out of ten burp right there.

SPEAKER_04 1:40

Mountain biking, bike, bike bit. Bike bit. I went I went riding uh yesterday morning. I went up early. I got up early, I got up at seven. And I went out to the trail at around eight, and I I was just kind of doing hitting my little favorite trail, trying to get a faster time on it in my head, because I wasn't actually timing myself, I was just trying to get faster. But uh there was this lady there, this mom with her kid, and they clearly just started mountain biking, and it was it was great to see new new bikers out there. Oh wow. And they were like, Hey, have you seen have you been riding these trails around here? I was like, Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, we haven't been on any. And I was like, Oh, really? You should come follow me in on this one. They followed me in, and her and this kid's mom was hitting everything.

SPEAKER_00 2:29

Oh shit.

SPEAKER_04 2:30

She was she was doing everything, she was fucking sending it. It was awesome.

SPEAKER_00 2:35

Hell yeah. Had a great time. That's sweet, that's sweet. How's the how's the hip? Because I know you had a a little a little injoly. And how's it?

SPEAKER_04 2:43

Very bruised.

SPEAKER_00 2:44

Can I get a picture?

SPEAKER_04 2:45

Very bruised, but I can walk. Yeah, I'll actually send you a picture right now. I mean, I've seen your ass before, so if it shows a little bit of butt cheek, yeah. No, yeah, no, you're fine. Yeah, it's a lot more like purple and like down my hip, but it doesn't hurt. I'm still. Oh, that is pure butt cheek. Yeah, that's pure butt cheek.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

Oh shit, wait, one sec. So important. Hold on, break back. I got hold on.

SPEAKER_04 3:07

Okay. Um, anyways, guys, uh, we have Instagram and Blue Sky now. Uh go check out what do we infer on Instagram and Blue Sky and give us a follow. You know, you know what to do. Come talk to us, send us DMs, get it, get in our DMs and have a good time with us. Especially here in the Discord. I think the Discord's going great. I mean, what do you guys think of the Discord so far? It's pretty I'm I think I'm having a great time in the Discord. Meg says the Discord is amazing in all caps. Yes, it is. Quite amazing. My vape doesn't work. My vape doesn't work. Both vapes don't work. I don't know what it is. I bought so I tried um my friend's vape. And it was it's blueberry watermelon, it's the same brand that I that I buy, but I never tried the blueberry watermelon before. So I was like, oh, that tastes really good. I'm gonna buy one. So I bought one, and then it stopped working. I was like, oh, that sucks. So I went and bought another one of the same flavor, and it was working just fine. And then today it stopped working. And um, I've been stealing Amalda's my lovely wife's vape. I'm actually gonna go take it right now.

SPEAKER_00 4:25

We're good. So sorry, so sorry.

SPEAKER_04 4:27

God, no, it's fine. I filled in the fucking silence for you. Don't worry. Do you shout out the fan mail? No, I didn't shout out the fan of the Discord. Oh I did shout out the Discord and the Instagram and the blue sky. So you suck my fucking blue dick.

SPEAKER_07 4:41

It was a question. It wasn't it was a question. It was just a question.

SPEAKER_00 4:46

Yes, Ryu. I'm doing I'm doing alright. So I've been looking for jobs lately, and this this job we had an hour and a half fucking meeting where they're trying to get things back together and like you know, try to be like more professional with things and open. And it's like, what are we doing? Why are we doing this now? Why weren't we doing this like over a year ago? And just I don't know. There my job's starting to be more like talkative and like trying to get like more engagement with like the team, but uh oh, there it is.

SPEAKER_04 5:14

Oh, there it is.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

I don't really think it's worth sticking around still. I'm very drained because of work and I'm really sick of it. But I've been getting back into YouTube editing again, so you know I can start shouting out my YouTube and be a little more proud of it.

SPEAKER_04 5:25

It's a new new episode isn't out yet, but uh I'd be I'd be that's why I keep shouting out the YouTube in the old episodes because I knew I knew you would come back, I knew you'd make a comeback.

SPEAKER_00 5:34

I'll I'll upload when I can. I think I want to start doing more of the like the indie scene or like friend slop stuff and just have fun.

SPEAKER_04 5:40

Absolutely, dude. I got the games, I got the games ready.

SPEAKER_00 5:43

So I think we'll start doing that just more casually because podcast priority, and I don't want to lessen the upload schedule that we do because I appreciate our consistency and I think it makes it fun for listeners to make us part of your schedule. And if we're part of your schedule, you're a beautiful listener, and we appreciate you so so much. Um, what else?

SPEAKER_01 6:00

You're a beautiful listener.

SPEAKER_04 6:01

You appreciate that very, very we appreciate that very, very much of you, our great fellow listeners of the What Are We In for podcast.

SPEAKER_00 6:10

Have you noticed the more you do the Trump impression, like over a long period of time in a sentence, you turn into like a nerdy version of Trump. I noticed that last episode. Well, we had a guest on Mr. Tripper, you guys should go check out episode 45, the episode right before this. Why are you watching this one? If you want to go watch that, go watch that one first. It's funny.

SPEAKER_04 6:28

I would say, I would say, my Trump impression has gotten quite better overall, over time.

SPEAKER_00 6:35

I was not saying better. Exceptionally better, even. Oh, that one was good. That one was good. Pat yourself on the back. Just pat yourself on the back. Um, now that you have to ask me how I'm doing, let's see. Let's see, I'm so happy you're so invested in me. Oh, I love you so much. You really want to know what I'm invested in right now? Yeah, what are you invested in?

SPEAKER_04 6:58

This fucking beer I'm drinking right now.

SPEAKER_00 7:00

What beer are you drinking?

SPEAKER_04 7:02

Cower's Banquet.

SPEAKER_00 7:04

Core's Banquet. Oh, that's the little weird-looking bottles with the little nipples on top. Yep. Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep. Nipple mouths. Yep. I I I don't know how to explain that to anyone. I I think that's only a me terminology thing. Nipple mouth.

SPEAKER_04 7:16

I know what you mean, though. I know what you mean.

SPEAKER_00 7:19

They're okay. I only like my light beers though. Oh, I went to a party over the weekend. Oh, yeah, how was that? A furry party. It was great. I had my first 40. I broke my 40 virginity. I saw. I saw my girlfriend was there too. She showed up after uh one our local fur bowl.

SPEAKER_04 7:36

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 7:36

But it was fun. It was about a bunch of furries, probably like 15 or so furries, roughly around that number, come and go, somewhere coming and going, so maybe around that number on average. It was really fun. Drank a lot, slept over there, so I didn't drive. And it was a great time. I really enjoyed it. I'm getting back into the social scene, but not too too much. I'm just kind of trying dipping back into it just a little bit. And it was a really, really good time. And I missed some of those friends I used to party with because they're good people. They're not just solely frat bros that are trying to get me drunk and leaving it at that. They're really good people, and I had a really good time, and I'm excited to hang out with them at our local con Mopafa in October.

SPEAKER_04 8:11

That sounds fucking fantastic. And I wasn't sure. Oh, I love you so much. That's why we're together forever.

SPEAKER_00 8:23

Together forever.

SPEAKER_04 8:24

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 8:25

Um, but yeah, I'm gonna start getting into like the local furry scene a little bit more again. Um, just we're work's been sucking, so it's been hard to want to do stuff. But I'm finding my flow again, I think. Finding my flow. Um yeah. But I think it's enough about me because were you?

SPEAKER_04 8:42

I can always listen to you. I can always listen about you. Oh, okay. Let me see what else I got.

SPEAKER_00 8:46

So I have the convention coming up, and I'm just fucking kidding. I'm talking about that money either.

SPEAKER_04 8:51

So you don't got no fucking convention coming up. You don't got no fucking money, bitch. Because you broke as hell.

SPEAKER_00 8:56

You were broke as a it's a 500 furry get together. So you could call it, it's more of a weekend furry meetup. It's called Wapafla, and I already have my fucking ticket. Yeah, because I'm yeah, I know about Wapafla. And I got invited to an exclusive group chat via email because I had a registration. Sick, dude. Uh that's totally radical.

SPEAKER_06 9:19

Rio!

SPEAKER_03 9:21

Ryu!

SPEAKER_00 9:22

Adobe. Hey, beautiful brother, blood brother, brother, brot brother from another mother.

SPEAKER_02 9:28

That's completely we're not even blood brothers. We never are my brother.

SPEAKER_00 9:31

You are my brother. I've seen every single part of you uh sometimes unwillingly. But I'm proud to say that. And I would like to know what do we infer, Ryu?

SPEAKER_04 9:41

Adobe.

SPEAKER_00 9:42

Hey.

SPEAKER_04 9:43

I feel like I feel like we've said this a lot lately. I feel like I feel like I've said this or we as a podcast have said this a lot lately, but he's tripping up. We're in for a more serious shut the fuck up! We're in for a more serious um topic today. We're gonna talk about mental health. Disclaimer, we are not mental health professionals. Everything we talk about today will come from our own experiences and what has helped us personally. Um if you are struggling, we encourage you reaching out to a qualified mental health professional, of course.

SPEAKER_00 10:16

And down below, we'll also provide the 988 link for anyone um who is listening to this based on this topic. Go check that out if that is something you guys are in need of. We encourage it. So please do if needed. It'll be down below.

SPEAKER_04 10:28

Also, I want you to post the veterans crisis link in there as well. I'll send you the link for that. Yeah, I do.

SPEAKER_00 10:33

Yeah, we'll have the veteran crisis down below as well for anyone who needs it.

SPEAKER_04 10:36

Well, I mean, I feel like the furry phantom is really good at talking about creative uh creativity, conventions, art, and our personas, but we don't always talk about what's going on behind the screen or like with us, you know. Everyone has bad days, everybody struggles with something. Sometimes it feels like we're the only ones. So today I just wanted to kind of have an honest conversation about mental health.

SPEAKER_00 11:03

I'm super down for this because I often talk to others about their mental health rather than my own. So this is kind of in a good way, awkward for me. Um I think it I think it'd be enlightening for anyone to hear like personal stories and also a way to get to know us better and just kind of take our experiences and kind of also learn from that. But oh yeah, I appreciate I appreciate you bringing in this topic because you're my lovely salamander buddy. No, thank you.

SPEAKER_04 11:32

You welcome I need salamander art. I just need like some like like a salamander sketch.

SPEAKER_00 11:38

We what we need to get, it'd be funny for like an April Fool's Day. Uh though we just keep this part in, even though it's kind of behind the scenes stuff. For like an April Fool's episode, we should do like have our sonas drawn as like a fox and a salamander, just as like opposites, and that'd be like a podcast cover art for something for one of the days.

SPEAKER_04 11:56

That should be funny as hell. That'd be really funny, dude. No, but real shit. Before we get before we get started, I want more art. I need art. Like, I want to buy art for I want to spend money. I want to give you beautiful artists money to draw me something because I want maw art.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

I will say, Ryu and I are looking for art for also a new cover, possibly down the road. So if you are an artist, please feel free to reach out to us. And uh, this is a plug, but bear with us, we do have a fan mail down below. But if you are interested in having us possibly commission you or you do just want to share your art, you guys can let us know in the fan mail down below. You can let us know about anything else related to the fandom or just what you thought of an episode. But I we're encouraging, especially this episode, if you are an artist and you're looking for commissions and just want to share your art, give us a link down below that we can shout your uh Twitter or links down below. We will we will shout you guys out in a future episode when we have some fan mail come in. But that being said, reach out to us. If you guys are an artist, we are looking for some art, whether it's personal art of either of us or art together, possible new cover art down the road. Highly encourage it because we need art. I also need art. I don't have a lot of art. We need art.

SPEAKER_04 13:08

I'm trying to find my ref sheet.

SPEAKER_00 13:10

My girlfriend just posted our ref sheets, and it's so funny because she posted the one where your dick is just so clearly scribbled out.

SPEAKER_04 13:19

Yes, it's a pee bus.

SPEAKER_07 13:21

Kokiri said, Were you canceled?

SPEAKER_04 13:25

It's my first ref sheet. That's my one and only ref sheet, okay? Okay, back on topic, back on track, okay? Why mental health matters? You ask, Adobe. Thank you for asking that. Uh mental health affects everyone differently. Everyone, everyone struggles, even if they don't show it.

SPEAKER_07 13:49

Oh my god, that was gravelly.

SPEAKER_04 13:52

Social media. Social media often shows people's highlights. It's okay to admit that you're not okay sometimes. Um, I think some of the I think one of the hardest things is looking online and looking and thinking everyone is had like has it figured out, and you're like, oh, well, everybody else has it figured out. Why why can't I get it figured out? But like you see amazing people posting amazing art and going people going to conventions, hanging out with your pink people, hanging out with friends, people getting commissions, but you don't see the panic attacks, you don't see the sleepless nights, you don't see those days where getting out of bed feels like an accomplishment. Mental health doesn't always look the way people expect. Um, and Adobe, I was wondering if you had anything to say about that.

SPEAKER_00 14:44

So, as you were saying, you know, the things that happen behind the scenes where people only see the happy side, um, and how you know they see everything at face value of what they see maybe at a con or what they see with their friend groups. Yeah, as you were completely correct when like people don't see the behind-the-scenes stuff. And we've mentioned it and joked about it in episodes prior, but uh you and I both suffer from depression and other mental health issues as well, but that being a main one. And uh I do think it's very important to celebrate the small things. You mentioned on uh on how getting into bed is an accomplishment. On those days that you are struggling, it's important to recognize the little things you're doing. You you got up and brushed your teeth and walked around your house. That is an accomplishment. People are very focused on the uh negative and overarching things that happen in the day. And getting through depression is a very difficult task that people don't like to give that enough credit. And uh being able to celebrate the small things is extremely important. It's a very minute idea. I feel like it's overlooked very much so, but mental health is rough and it is seriously a struggle for very many people. Like some of the happiest people are also some of the most depressed people I know, and I mean that. I'm not just saying that. So it's a struggle, so I'm excited to see what else we're gonna talk about today.

SPEAKER_04 16:04

You ever seen those? You ever seen those those videos where or that that meme where it's like the the happy guy in the friend group whenever he gets home and it's like he's all sad and lonely. Yeah, it'd be that way sometimes, you know?

SPEAKER_00 16:18

Absolutely. So I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm excited to talk about this more, and I'm I'm up I'm I'm happy to have another series episode. I feel like it's actually been a minute since we have a real serious episode, so I'm very much looking forward to it. And thank you, Ryu, because I love it.

SPEAKER_04 16:30

The comp the the chat right now is going crazy. Um, there's a bunch of ref sheets getting posted in here, and there's a bunch of there was five banana reactions to my ref sheet. Um for penis, pee bis. But yeah, like okay, I kind of my the next the next segment. I kind of wanted to talk about like our personal experience. Like, what what have you been struggling with lately? How does it affect you in your everyday life? What emotions come up whenever stuff happens, you know, and like what are what are things that you've learned about yourself?

SPEAKER_00 17:05

Yeah. So I have a long running background with mental health. Um, I'll give maybe a little bit of history if that works, real quick, and then go into some recent things. Does that work? Sure. A lot of my history with mental health was I was diagnosed at a young age uh with depression, and it had also bounced to bipolar disorder. At a very young age, bipolar disorder is not common. And for those who don't know, and the best way I can put it is bipolar disorder is kind of mood, it it's the basis of mood swings, right? But much more into it, it's a whole other topic on its own. And I don't want to go into it too much because that's not what I'm diagnosed with. I am diagnosed with depression. And I have been on and off medication and therapy from the age of seven to uh seven to nine years old. We'll base it right around there. Um and it has been a struggle. And being diagnosed with depression at a very young age and growing up alongside my peers, I felt like an outcast. I felt like an outlier because I'm an individual who can put a happy face on, but I also understand how much I was struggling internally. So being in a space, especially as a child, who was extremely self-aware that I was different and very much so struggling with waking up each day or getting out of bed to going to school each day, made me feel extremely isolated. And it made me learn not in the best way, to only open up to those I'm close with. And I will say moving forward into the now and the depression and anxiety that I do deal with, um, I would say nowadays that does go hand in hand um is I've still kind of kept that mentality of only opening up to those I'm close with. But I will say that's probably a lot more closed off than it used to be. Um for other reasons I actually don't really want to dive into, but just to give kind of that blanket statement as as you were as you were asking, it has been a struggle. And I back on the advice I was talking about earlier, is I'm I'm trying to at least appreciate the little things I do through my day-to-day, being able to go to work, being able to come home and make food, being able to allow myself to relax without feeling lazy. And I'm I'm teaching myself over a long stretch of at least over the past couple of years when it's been much more serious, of focus on me, do what I need to do and what's important for myself, physically, mentally, um, anything in between. I think I've found a ground in my life now where I'm much more stable. And I actually was just talking about it in the small talk earlier where I feel like things are kind of more grounded and I'm able to kind of start doing things again. And it's been a very welcome change, but a very, very rocky road. Um, but how about the same question back at you? What about you? What's your experience?

SPEAKER_04 19:46

Dude, I I mean, lately I've been kind of doing my own thing. I've been unemployed, moving to a into a house, and which is kind of weird, but it gives me more time to focus on packing and getting things ready to move, you know. But um it's it's it sucks being unemployed because I'm at home and I kind of just pace around the house during the day because I don't really have anything to do. Everything's already kind of packed away and we're just kind of waiting to move tomorrow. Tomorrow's the day. Tomorrow tomorrow I'll have a better outlook on things. But um being unemployed definitely affects me in a negative way throughout my everyday life because I get bored really easily and I'd really like to be outside, but there's an awful heat wave out right now, and I don't feel like going to getting hot and sweaty and um have a heat stroke in this weather because it I I just don't wanted that to happen. Uh being cooped up in the house kinda makes me upset, you know, because I can't go do the things I want to do.

SPEAKER_00 21:01

What about growing up? What was your history with like mental health and what that whatnot growing up?

SPEAKER_04 21:06

Um in in middle s or so I was diagnosed with ADHD in elementary school, and then I started medication for it, and I kind of went cold turkey on my ADHD medication whenever I turned 18 whenever I joined the military, and I did okay. And then for the longest time I was unmedicated in the military for about four years, and then I got back on medication after my deployment. Now I'm now I'm kinda here where I am, you know. But middle middle school, middle school and high school was tough, especially like with my grandma, how she would she would try to be help helpful, but it didn't really always work out the way that she planned. And we kinda butt our butt our heads together sometimes. But other than that. Um, I learned a lot from her RP. One thing I've learned is mental health doesn't always announce itself loudly.

SPEAKER_00 22:07

It's just does not creeps up to having sometimes.

SPEAKER_04 22:10

Yeah. Like having no motivation, feeling emotionally drained, overthinking everything, not enjoying the things you usually want to do. Like I got up early, I wanted to go ride my bike this morning. Or last night. I was like, I'm gonna get up early and go ride the bike. And then I got up and I was just was like, nah, just I don't feel like loading my bike up and driving that far today. But at that point, I feel like I feel like would I really have fun if I actually was out there right now?

SPEAKER_00 22:39

I relate to that all too well. I relate to that very, very much so.

SPEAKER_04 22:44

Sometimes it's just subtle. But yeah, dude. I kind of wanted to move on to recognizing when something feels off. Did have you ever you know what I'm trying to try trying to talk about?

SPEAKER_00 22:56

I do. I do. Recognizing when things feel off is having to be extremely self-aware. For some people that comes very easy. For others, uh it's extremely difficult. But I personally am an extremely self-aware person, and I'm not saying that when my mental health creeps up that I notice it immediately. I I would say I notice my signs whenever they become a bigger problem when things are visibly being affected in some sort of pattern, I guess. But there is no easy answer, but my experience is to learn what your needs are. And I think a big one is don't be hard on yourself. Um, everyone is their own individual largest critic. And learning to be easy on yourself is a step to a multi multiple step sort of ordeal, but it helps build who you are and how you know yourself for those who at least struggle with who they are, um, those who struggle with um their their mentality, those who struggles with how those who struggle with, you know, how they look on the outside or whatever that might be. I always, always, always recommend therapy to anyone. I know that isn't everyone's cup of tea. Some people don't have the time or the money or the insurance, or whatever that might ask. So one of my largest recommendations when you at least start recognizing when things are off. I got this from a YouTube short a while ago. I don't want to take credit for it. And it's also do as I say, not as I do, is if you have a friend you can reach out to, if you have anyone who you are close with, um, it when you notice things are off, to no matter what the severity might be, but especially when things are more severe, is uh asking that person bluntly can I have seven minutes of your time? Psychologically, seven minutes of someone's time can help make someone feel less alone. So when you start noticing these kind of signs, it is uh no issue to anyone you are friends with to be like, hey, that can entail a game, that can entail a phone call, that could entail just a handful of text messages. A lot of people who do reach out in times of need, and I am guilty of this, more often than not, may I add, is I'll be like, hey, what you up to? Hey, what's going on? Hey, you busy? You kind of ask these service level questions due to being afraid of judgment or due to being afraid of um feeling lesser or admitting that there is something going on behind the scenes. Pick up the idea of asking someone just for a few minutes. I feel like that is a genuine and great way to that person can understand a little bit more about you, but you're also in a safe space and it is no harm to anyone. If they don't have time, that's okay. And that that's more than okay. And that means they're busy or can't respond at that moment, and that's that's more than okay on their end, but it's okay to reach out. Being able to recognize the signs that you go through, it is a hard process. But I always recommend just reaching out to friends. They are always there for you. And I know it's a generic statement, but it does genuinely help. And this can go for family members too. If you're closer with your family or your mom or dad's your best friend, your sister, your brother's your best friend, your cousin, your stepsister, whatever that might be. Same thing goes for them. It's anyone who you are close with who you can feel comfortable talking to. It's extremely important to reach out in those times because then maybe they can learn a little bit more about you. And if you don't want to dive into it, if it's not something you're comfortable talking to, because not everyone has to open up, not everyone has to share their whole story in that short amount of time, just having that general conversation can help you out of a pit that you might not even be finding yourself in. Yeah. It's important not to always, it's important not to feel isolated. It's okay to isolate at times when you need it, but don't keep yourself isolated.

SPEAKER_04 26:39

Yeah. One of the one of the signs is isolation, is whenever's whenever something's off, you know, like such as also stuff like changes in sleep, like appetite changes, irritability, loss of motivation, or difficulty concentrating.

SPEAKER_00 26:56

Overthinking.

SPEAKER_04 26:57

Overthinking, overthinking. I started noting, I mean like I started noticing like little warning signs. Maybe like I'm staying in bed longer, or I'm like avoiding text messages, or maybe I'm and maybe everything feels overwhelming even though nothing major has happened. Learning those learning those warning signs have helped me like kind of catch things a little earlier, though. And then like I'll be able to let my doctor know, like, hey, this has been going on.

SPEAKER_00 27:25

Everyone has their own signs, and it's important to kind of take note of where you are. And I do want to not too much of a side tangent, but my girlfriend mentioned this in chat, and I think it's extremely important, is if you are being there for a friend, uh, if you are there to help them in whatever way that might be, uh, she mentions, and I quote, at the same time, you cannot fix people who have mental health issues, and and you can't hurt yourself in the process of helping others. You have to find a healthy balance. I think that's extremely important too. Um, just on while being on that topic of noticing the signs, if you notice your friends having signs, it's just important to be there for them. You can't cure it. You won't be able to maybe even snap them out of it, depending what that might be. But just understand you can be there for them and being a good individual towards whomever you are you feel important to. That was worded weird. Uh oh no, we cut that part out, but being there for friends that you are close with and who you have that time to put towards, just understand that you can't heal them. You are you are a support system to them, and that's what's that's what's gonna help. Um, don't let other people's mental health stress yours out. Take yourself into priority first, and then do what you can after. Yeah. I just I just wanted to sprinkle that in there while I saw it. I've been also reading the side change, I've been reading all the chats. The chats are great.

SPEAKER_04 28:41

The chat the chat has been having me crying and smiling all at the same time. Are you also like a shitting at the same time too? I'm pissing, shitting, farting, throwing up all every burping, everything, you know.

SPEAKER_07 28:55

Every possible every possible every orifice is leaking.

SPEAKER_04 29:00

Yes. Oh disgusting. That's disgusting. That's so gross.

SPEAKER_00 29:12

Or you're very porous because you got you have to like slather yourself with like you know, like your slimy saliva so you can swim good. You know what I mean? What? You're salamander, my man. You're a salamander. You have a bunch of orphans.

SPEAKER_04 29:22

I'm not slimy. I'm not slimy. Look at me. Adobe is the Mander's heat rock. Oh yeah. What does that mean? I don't know, but oh yeah. Oh, you're oh is that is he the rock that I lay on? You can lay on me.

SPEAKER_01 29:36

Ew, ew, make, ew!

SPEAKER_04 29:40

What is that?

SPEAKER_01 29:42

What is this?

SPEAKER_00 29:45

Oh my that's so nasty!

SPEAKER_04 29:50

That's fucking funny. That poor penguin. Ew. Got caught in the back blast, bro. That'd be me if I was. Oh my god. Hey, I bet I bet you wish you wish, I bet you wish you knew what we were talking about. If you weren't in the Discord, come join the Discord, and then you'll know what we're talking about because we're looking at the chat in the Discord. We can interact with you guys. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 30:12

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:13

Interaction. Yeah. Okay, moving on. I just kind of wanted to go over like some healthy ways that I kind of cope or that I've learned to do to like cope, you know, from experience. Um, grounding techniques is a really good one. Um, I learned a lot about grounding techniques while in the loony bin, and I have since then forgotten about them and I don't use them anymore. Uh, so we I won't be going no more questions, please. Um, next, uh going outside. Sorry, go outside.

SPEAKER_07 30:50

The loony bin. Okay. I was also in the loony bin at one point. It's okay.

SPEAKER_04 30:58

Um going outside, yes. Go touch grass, go ride a bike, go skate on a skateboard, go photosynthesize, like Meg said, photo synth photo photosynthesis, photosynthesis, photosynthesis, photosynthesis, photosynthesis.

SPEAKER_00 31:16

Why do you think saying it?

SPEAKER_04 31:19

Photosynthesis. Uh listen to music. Go hang out with some friends. I don't know. Take a break from social media.

SPEAKER_00 31:32

Oh, I actually no no. I I actually think that's a very, very, very important topic to lean in on. Um, I have a couple ground techniques I want to share in a little bit here as well. Yeah. Social media does not help, right? Like the doom scrolling aspect, I mean, we can maybe sometimes that can help just get your mind off things. Social media is a really bad place for some people because it either ignites that feeling of isolation, that you get feelings of jealousy or wishing to be in these certain situations. Take a break off social media. Don't need to come home and check Twitter. You don't need to come home check YouTube. Sometimes if if there are videos or content creators that help you get out of ruts, by all means. But scrolling through a Twitter feed and then, like, I I I'm saying this because I relate to this, is like you're scrolling through a Twitter feed and you see all these things you wish you could be a part of. That doesn't help.

SPEAKER_06 32:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:22

When you put yourself in a situation, catch that. Catch these small things you're noticing. These are these are what what did you mention either? These signs. Catch these signs because sometimes if you notice yourself looking through social media and it making you feel more negative, do take that step outside. Give yourself 15 minutes to just step outside, sit on the porch. Is it raining? Is it cold? Put a jacket on. Is it nice and sunny? Put some sunglasses on and just enjoy it. That helps you feel grounded. A big one for me that I've noticed that that can help is specifically while you're driving. Sometimes you have anxiety attacks, panic attacks, or just large bouts of depression. Listen to the what are we in for podcasts. The what are we in for podcasts? Podcast for two best friends. Talk about the furry fandom. Sometimes anything related to the furry fandom or just not enough about it. I agree. I agree. Share it with a friend. I totally agree. I have learned to take three deep breaths and then afterwards I count the amount of cars I see for the next few minutes. Very simple. But what it does is it helps reroute my brain. This is especially for overthinking anxiety. This is what I do personally is I'll take some deep breaths. And, you know, if I'm overthinking, I've you know, just trains run through my mind of all these thoughts and emotions and feelings. Ground yourself and count things that you're seeing on the road while you're driving. It doesn't cure anything, but it helps bring you down to a level that's reasonable and you can control. That's my personal, that's one of my big personal grounding things that I've just learned on my own. Doesn't work for everyone, but just something I do suggest. And some of the things I mentioned early in this episode would work for the grounding techniques as well. Reaching out to a friend asking for a few minutes. Um, you know, stuff like that. Very, very big.

SPEAKER_04 34:02

Dude, I love hanging out with people. If you're in a DFW area and you want to hang out, we can go ride bikes. I got plenty of fucking bikes, I got plenty of helmets, I got plenty of pads, I got plenty of bikes, bro. We can go fucking ride bikes. Go eat shit together or something, you know?

SPEAKER_00 34:16

Go bruise your hips and then show me y'all's butt cheeks through telegram again. That'd be cool. Don't do that. Yeah, don't do that.

SPEAKER_07 34:25

Don't get hurt. I don't want to see y'all's ass cheeks. I'm sure they're voluptuous and as big as Pluto, but I don't want to see it.

SPEAKER_04 34:30

Yep. Yep. Okay, we're gonna talk about things that don't help. Mental health.

SPEAKER_00 34:37

Doesn't need yeah.

SPEAKER_04 34:38

Classic, classic things such as sleeping in bed all fucking day. I would I would never me neither. I could never. Me caught dead sleeping in bed all day. Fuck.

SPEAKER_07 34:56

Me in bed scrolling in social media, whatever.

SPEAKER_04 35:00

Yeah, one of my points is doom scrolling. Um, doom scrolling is a is a term used by the younger generation. Um, and it is it is it means that you scroll on your phone on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter slash X on what are we inferred, podcast, Blue Sky, you know, whatever. It just makes you sad, and you end up buying things and you spend a lot of money, and then you get in credit card debt, and then you get sad because you're in credit card debt, and then you gotta work two jobs and to pay off your credit card debt, and then you have a shitty life. So don't get sad and scroll on your phone because you'll buy things and get in credit card debt and have to work two jobs and have a miserable life.

SPEAKER_07 35:55

Sorry, that was just very emotional.

SPEAKER_01 36:00

Bottling up emotions. Don't do that.

SPEAKER_00 36:05

Yeah. I I strongly, strongly recommend to not keep yourself in total isolation. You you don't have to be someone who just spreads everything to anyone at any time. Um, that isn't healthy either. But recognizing when you are isolating, being in bed all the time, scrolling social media for weeks on end and not really doing much outside of that. Some people it works well and it isn't necessarily depression that connects to that or anxiety, but keeping yourself out of isolation, and again, that doesn't mean hanging out with all these people. Could you be hanging out with one or two people, could be going to see family, it could be going to walk in the park and just being around people. It really does wonders. But just do what's in the possibility of your environment and how severe your situation might be. Even if it's just going outside to walk in your neighborhood, something small, nothing major, uh uh three down the road.

SPEAKER_04 36:56

I get to do that. I get to have late night walks whenever I'm sad in my neighborhood.

SPEAKER_00 37:02

We've had drive-by shootings and uh some of our neighbor got hit by a car by a Grand Theft Auto one night. So not the game, the actual crime. So what the fuck? Uh yeah, I don't really walk outside at night here. I mean, I could, but I'm not going to. But that being said, because I'm not in a situation where I can just go walk on the street. I might go drive to the park if I really wanted to, play disc golf if my shoulder wasn't all fucky walkie. Um, talk to some of my friends, go play some friend slop games, something like that. Just makes everything feel a little bit better.

SPEAKER_04 37:32

Or go hit your friend's vape.

SPEAKER_00 37:34

Don't start nicotine, don't drink alcohol, don't smoke weed solely because you're depressed.

SPEAKER_01 37:40

Um, comparing yourself to others. That's a good one. Don't do that. Be yourself, express yourself.

SPEAKER_00 37:47

Express yourself.

SPEAKER_01 37:48

Express yourself.

SPEAKER_00 37:49

Everyone lives in their own life, and I always say, you know, everyone's like, oh, YOLO. But I take that phrase as in, you know, the legitimate statement of you only live once. You're the only person who can control your own life. You're the only person who knows truly how you feel. Take that with consideration and know that your time is limited. Everyone's time is very limited. And being able to capitalize on that when you can is important. There are times people need to relax, there are people times you just need to be lazy. But you're also the only person who can control what you do. So take that in mind and spend it, spend it how you want to spend it, how you want to live it.

SPEAKER_04 38:26

I like the way those words came out of your mouth.

SPEAKER_00 38:28

I like it when you come in my mouth.

unknown 38:33

Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 38:35

Clip that! That's a clip. That's a fucking clip.

SPEAKER_00 38:42

Y'all come on, it wasn't that out of pocket from everything I've heard from this guy.

SPEAKER_03 38:50

Multiple people are type yo, hey, if you keep flapping your lips, I'm gonna suck them off of you. Alright. So shut up. I'm not done with my with my bullet points here. Are you done? That's what I thought. Alright, ignoring basic needs. Like buying a new bike.

SPEAKER_07 39:10

That's not a basic need.

SPEAKER_03 39:12

I'm buying a new bike next week.

SPEAKER_00 39:16

I thought you I thought you already bought a new bike, or was this continuous?

SPEAKER_04 39:19

I did buy a new bike, but I'm buying their other bike. They have another bike that they were selling, and I was like, oh, I want that one too, so I'm gonna buy that one. I'm gonna have I'm gonna have five bikes. So you guys gotta you guys got a good choice of options whenever you guys come down here to uh to good old Texas to hang out. Anyway, basic needs. Basic needs. Showering, brushing your teeth, putting on deodorant, sleeping, eating, drinking water, make sure you don't get a headache, you know?

SPEAKER_00 39:51

I think that the something that I commonly and often overlook extremely consistently is my intake on food. Like the health, like, am I eating just processed fucking ramen or am I actually giving myself a semi-decent balanced diet? A balanced diet really can affect your mental health to a degree that people I don't think recognize. Right. Your body requires sustenance and vitamins. If you do not provide the body what it does require, even if it's just minimal amounts of certain things, it is extremely important to provide your body with those things. Otherwise, there will be chemical imbalances and there will be parts of your body that are trying to keep up with what it's not being given. I forget this extremely often. And impaired with not impaired, impaired with that is the correct amount of sleep. Everyone's kind of different. Everyone's like, oh, you need to get eight hours of sleep. I personally do. If I run off seven hours of sleep all week, it does significantly affect how I'm feeling by the end of the week until I catch up on the weekends. Some people can can live and function off six hours of sleep. And if that if that is your body, just make sure you're listening to what you genuinely need. If you start ignoring those basics, basic requirements, you will notice it. And it's a very slow growth. And like we were mentioning earlier, things will creep up on you. I'm not, it's not the it's not the cause for how you're feeling entirely. It could might not be the cause of you know the depression or anxiety, but it also might ignite it more than you might think. And that's something I have to remind myself often. Um, but as I was mentioning earlier, celebrate the little things. Be proud of the little things you can do. If you can get up and brush your teeth once a day, be proud of that. Don't beat yourself up because you didn't do it twice.

SPEAKER_04 41:36

Brush your teeth twice a day. Brush your teeth twice a day.

SPEAKER_00 41:40

You should. But if you if you can only do it once, you can only take one shower every other day. Just do what you can. That's what's important. You do what you can, don't overwhelm yourself until you can get your back, until you can get yourself back on a schedule where hygiene is more consistent. But just do what you can. Don't overwhelm yourself. Take little steps and just be proud of that. Yeah. Yeah.

unknown 42:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:01

I mean, I've noticed, I've noticed when my Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 42:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 42:13

No, Further, the chat's going crazy right now. I've been reading the chat.

SPEAKER_00 42:16

And guys, if you guys are looking at content creation, make sure to look out for yourself and host and have a co-host who likes you. I think that's very important.

SPEAKER_03 42:27

Oh, I have a co-host that likes you. Remember all those times you were mean to me?

SPEAKER_00 42:34

Remember?

SPEAKER_07 42:35

Which episode?

SPEAKER_00 42:36

One through 30? Somewhere in there?

SPEAKER_01 42:39

One through 30, yep. One through one through 33.

SPEAKER_03 42:46

Ryu, tell me how you feel.

SPEAKER_06 42:48

I feel Kokuri goes. Ryu can't remember, so he's asking you.

SPEAKER_02 42:58

Um, I should have put my mic lower because I just ripped ass. I don't want to get rid of you.

SPEAKER_05 43:04

Wait.

SPEAKER_00 43:10

That was your mouth.

SPEAKER_06 43:12

No.

SPEAKER_00 43:13

You're kidding.

SPEAKER_06 43:15

I swear to God. I swear to God, I'm not.

SPEAKER_07 43:21

Adobe, play that back one more time. Adobe. Now play it again and slow that bitch down.

SPEAKER_06 43:39

Did you hear that?

SPEAKER_00 43:41

No, Adobe, one more time.

SPEAKER_07 43:44

Play it, slow it down, reverse it, and reverb it. Servert goes fart o we infer.

SPEAKER_06 44:09

I've been laughing so far in a very long time.

SPEAKER_07 44:16

But to put disclaimer, like disclaimer, there is a fart later in this episode.

SPEAKER_05 44:21

Don't don't put a disclaimer.

SPEAKER_07 44:26

Shard are we infer?

unknown 44:30

I can't.

SPEAKER_00 44:31

It like barely came through. It just like just enough. Because your Discord's like sound that's just a shortcut.

SPEAKER_05 44:36

My mic picked it up. My mic picked it up. The whole thing.

SPEAKER_01 44:44

Holy shit. I can't hear it through my headphones. Oh fuck. Oh dude. What's our time?

SPEAKER_00 44:58

Now, Krango's editor Adobe's gonna end this Derg's career. That's what you get.

SPEAKER_07 45:08

That's karma.

SPEAKER_06 45:11

Final thoughts.

SPEAKER_04 45:13

Um you're not alone. Don't ever think that you're alone because you're not. There's always somebody out there that can help be kind to yourself. It's the best thing you can do for yourself.

SPEAKER_00 45:26

Find yourself a salamander you can be friends with. A stinky what? A stinky salamander you can be friends with.

SPEAKER_04 45:36

A stinky salamander, am I stinky?

SPEAKER_00 45:38

Yeah. One more time.

SPEAKER_04 45:45

That was a straight from the heart.

SPEAKER_07 45:49

Straight from the shart is what that was.

SPEAKER_00 45:59

Anyway, guys, anyone who is listening, do remember that we did put those links down below for you guys. Veterans Health help number as well as a 988 number for anyone who is listen looking. Don't be afraid to reach out. As we all mentioned, everyone has their own mental health that they all struggle with. You are not in this alone. Be sure to reach out to those who you are close with and be there for those who you do care about. I think it's very important to keep your head on your shoulders and appreciate the little things. Um, as much as I had a great time here, I do appreciate all my time I spent with this dumb little salamander off in the corner who is, I don't even know what he's doing right now.

SPEAKER_04 46:34

I just wanted to thank everybody for joining in today, and especially our audience in Discord. I think this is one of our biggest audiences that we've had.

SPEAKER_00 46:42

Anyway, guys, you guys can reach out to us on the fan mail down below. Like I said, reach out to us about some art, or if you guys just want your furry related content or art or clothing or whatever it might be that you do in the furry fandom, be sure to reach out to us on the fan mail. Feel free. Shut up! Someone mute him. I would say, oh, he brain wants to talk about it. If you guys do want to reach out to us, feel free. We also have a Discord down below as well. You can come join us, join our live recording session, as well as just join the audience team we've been up to, and uh yeah, we appreciate you guys. Where can they find us?

SPEAKER_04 47:15

They can find us at what are we in for on Twitter slash X, they can find us at What Are We Infer on Instagram, on Blue Sky, on Discord, uh YouTube, and Adobe the Retriever. Uh Jerkmate, you can find us on Jerkmate now.

SPEAKER_00 47:30

You cannot find us on Jerkmate. Only fans, maybe.

SPEAKER_07 47:34

1,000 reviews on the video.

SPEAKER_00 47:35

You can find us on Jerkmate, jerkmate, and chatterbait. You guys can find myself at AdobeTheRetriever on YouTube as well as Adobe underscore retriever on Twitter. You guys can find Ryu at RyuDirk on Twitter as well. Everything's down below. Check it out. Anything y'all need.

SPEAKER_04 47:50

Just remember I'm a dumb dog. I'm a dumb dirk. See you guys in the next one. Bye. Bye, guys.