Weekender: Opening Up [PTSD Awareness Month]
June 1, 2019 by dignity
With this month being one dedicated to supporting those who are suffering from PTSD we thought we would re-run one of our episodes of XLBS where we talked about opening up and discussing what for some may be a difficult and emotional subject.
![Weekender: Opening Up [PTSD Awareness Month]](https://images.beastsofwar.com/2019/05/Weekender-263-xlbs-rerun-Cover-Image.jpg)
To download right click image and select "Save Link As..."
We've been joined by Mel The Terrain Tutor this Saturday. If you're currently affected by any of the issues discussed in this week's show please speak to someone. Friends, family, or one of the charities below. You don't have to talk about how you're feeling if you're not ready, just talking helps.
Telephone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, free to call)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.samaritans.org
Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (9am-6pm Monday to Friday) or text 86463
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines
Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line
Telephone: 0300 5000 927 (9.30am - 4pm Monday to Friday)
Email: online contact form
Website: http://www.rethink.org/about-us/our-mental-health-advice
Hobby Time
Justin kicks off Hobby Time with his current space marine paintwork. He has a beefy Redemptor Dreadnaught, Marneus Calgar in his upgraded Primaris armour with his Victrix Guard, as well as some Primaris Reivers.
Gerry follows up with the aftermath of his Confrontation Ogres and discusses dealing with the glut of models he still has to get to.
Mel has been working on some Burmese jungle terrain on his channel and has tried his hand at using it in Bolt Action with mixed results.
Warren gives us an update on new gameplay developments for his scaled up St Nazaire raid game, and his plans for more Rorke's Drift inspired participation games.
He also received a stunning 3D printed tower from community member wolf320f as well as a wonderful handwritten letter, which Warren loved reading.
Mental Health In The Hobby
Be aware - This section of the show may be difficult to watch.
Dealing with mental health issues is something that affects 1 in 4 of us every year.
No one should feel ashamed by it, but the very nature of it can lead to anxiety and isolation that only amplifies the problem.
By sharing our experiences, together we can end the stigma.
Hobby brought us together and as a community we can help to support each other.
As well as the charities listed above there exists Models For Heroes who supply model kits to the Armed Forces organisations and aim to raise awareness of the mental health benefits of scale modelling.
Drop your thoughts below on everything we've talked about today!
Have a great weekend!
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
Great to see this out in the open, still one of the most beautiful episodes of XLBS in my opinion. ?
And many, many hugs ? to everyone struggling with mental health issues like this or any others, I know what it’s like unfortunately.
Was a great show and glad to see it make it to the front stage
As someone who suffers from PTSD, Thank you!
I got the trial of the backstage pass just as this episode aired. I was going through some stuff (it seems small but at the time these things are huge, that’s just how depression works). This episode came at just the right time for me. It made me feel like a had a community that I was sorely lacking and its why I love these folks so hard.
Watch this, please. You might find out you need it more than you think.
Such a great thing to be open about. I paint about 500 28mm models a year. It drives my wife mad, but she gets that it is the only thing that actually zens me out. I did 14 years service including Iraq and Trashcanistan, and in the years since my last tour (2008) there have been swathes of suicides. Its utterly tragic. It sounds daft but if I have a bad turn, I crack the paints out and watch tv/ listen to podcasts. Some times in down the painting rabbit hole for 3 days. But job done. Feel really good… Read more »
Cheers mate. Glad to see the episode going out there. It’ll sure help some people.
It took me a few weeks before I struck up the nerve to watch this on backstage when it was first aired. I had been struggling for the past couple of years with stress in my workplace and depression. I had struggled with depression before, especially when my father died, he was my best friend and we did so much together – building trains, gardening, going to the rugby and the pub – it took me a long time to recover. Anyway, things just slowly and steadily started going downhill again, due to a multitude of many small reasons. Instead… Read more »
Great to see that you did find help before it was too late, I hope you’re doing better than you did back then. Many hugs ? from me and keep it up.
Thank you. The good days are starting to outnumber the bad. The light at the end of the tunnel is much brighter than it was before.
Thanks for opening up and shareing. I was diagnosed with PTSD while in Iraq and serving my 2nd tour with the 82nd airborne. The military didn’t tell me I was diagnosed with PTSD for 5 years. And this was after I failed many civilian activities and tried to get back into the army. Since then I have been diagnosed with ADHD, and that cocktail combined makes life a little hard sometimes. But I am extremely luckly in that I have a supportive famly, and friends. The hobby is a great help and help me settle. And it’s just great fun.… Read more »
Great to see this topic being discussed so openly and frankly. It’s such an important subject these days and the stigma that has been attached to talking about it in the past is changing. Well done.
the person that Says life gets better the older you get was talking BS in my opinion.
the tower looks great.
group hug for Justin we’re with you in spirit if not in person.
A good initiative. I’ll check it out!
Thank you for opening up and sharing – so awesome, so courageous, so supportive. And the reason why we love and admire the BoW / OTT Family (team and community) so much.
I watched this video as the XLBS show, and then again today. I got emotional both times. Not because I thought the show was sad, or tough to watch. Not because I felt bad for the guys who opened up, but because of the relief I am not alone in feeling this way. My hobby is my escape. As Warren and Mel said “Its a refuge, not a home”. In some of my darkest moments, I have tried to shut the world out and just hobby until the anxiety of opening the door and letting the world back in has… Read more »
Really glad you guys shared this one outside of Backstage. Had a really good chat with Justin at Salute about it and even just having a few words can make a big difference. I want to say what a great community we have, the support that goes around is something special and should never be understated.
Gentlemen, thank you for posting this. It takes courage to be vulnerable and you have displayed great courage. This is easily the best episode I’ve seen on the channel, not because I love any of the other content less, but be cause of the importance of having this discussion. Few communities are able to have conversations like this. We’re blessed that this one is understanding and supportive enough to encourage it. Have no doubt. This was the right conversation to have. You may never know, but you may have offered someone comfort or even saved a life by posting this.… Read more »
This is possibly the most real, courageous and educational show I have watched in over ten years, on any media format. And yeah, I am a member of posse PTSD too.
Mels the man.
Thank you.
Thank you to open up this XLBS to the frontstage. Brain rotates, thank you
I didn’t post on the original XLBS, BUT, a big thankyou to the team for airing this again. As someone who has/is going the the “wringer”, this community has been an immense help for centering and helping me deal with things more effectively than how I was.
I may be a quiet member, but this is one thing that as a community we need to help and support people who are struggling with life.
If anyone every needs an ear to bend please pm me! I may not answer straight way, but I will answer.
This was a really powerfull show to watch. I am still thinking about the subjects you talked about. I recognise some of the symptomes in a roommate. Thinking back to that now, I should have seen it earlier in him. Luckely he is doing fine now after a lot of professional help. Hopefully you guys get through this. Im with you guys in spirit.
Mistake
Justin – please say that more often.
Been there, probably sstill there. Probably always there. You’re all ruddy heroes.