If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. For Crisis Support (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Check out our JD Support Chats every Monday 8pm-9:30pm in partnership with the JD Foundation. They're focused around all things work, retail, fashion, sport and more.
Click here for more info!
Click here for more info!
Best Of
Re: Voting Age Lowered to 16+
Overall I think it is a good thing. We already have it in Scottish elections, and while I was over 18 before I voted for the first time because of the timing of them, I always thought it was good to get the opinions of younger people. After all, 16 and 17 year olds can join the army, work and pay taxes. At least here in Scotland you can literally leave education entirely at that age (as I did) and you're out there in that big wide world that atm, you don't have a say on. So in that respect it's a good thing.
Many are misinformed, and some are immature at that age, it's an age where maturity is widely different from person to person. But I think with good education about politics it could go really well.
Many are misinformed, and some are immature at that age, it's an age where maturity is widely different from person to person. But I think with good education about politics it could go really well.
Re: International Youth Day 2025
You lost me at United Nations. Single handily, they are the most inept, and useless organisation in the world, and it isn't even remotely close in my personal opinion. I'm genuinely curious by what has actually been accomplished by days such as these.
International Youth Day 2025
Hey everyone! You may not know but today is International Youth Day which celebrates the ideas and actions young people bring to the world.
This year, the United Nations are using it as platform to focus on the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Countries around the world have made promises and commitements to make life fairer, healthier, and more sustainable by 2030. We’re talking about stuff like:
-Ending poverty
-Protecting the planet
-Making sure everyone can go to school
-Reducing inequalities
Also, the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) is also celebrating how young people are organising and standing up for democracy, justice, and a greener future.
How do you think young people today are making the future more sustainable? What’s happening around you that’s making a difference? Or perhaps you think that there are so many awareness days like this it's difficult to keep up!!
All points are valid so be great to hear from you!
This year, the United Nations are using it as platform to focus on the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Countries around the world have made promises and commitements to make life fairer, healthier, and more sustainable by 2030. We’re talking about stuff like:
-Ending poverty
-Protecting the planet
-Making sure everyone can go to school
-Reducing inequalities
Also, the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) is also celebrating how young people are organising and standing up for democracy, justice, and a greener future.
How do you think young people today are making the future more sustainable? What’s happening around you that’s making a difference? Or perhaps you think that there are so many awareness days like this it's difficult to keep up!!
All points are valid so be great to hear from you!
Owen
4
Re: Updated Community Guidelines (Please read!)
Just a random thought after reading that - maybe people’s pronouns could be visible in the bar when we post? Because if someone’s profile is private then we can’t see them. It could go above/under under the user title like this:
Katie
Community Manager
She/her (from your profile lol)
Or maybe like this:
Katie (she/her)
Community Manager
I dont know how complicated that would be to implement
Katie
Community Manager
She/her (from your profile lol)
Or maybe like this:
Katie (she/her)
Community Manager
I dont know how complicated that would be to implement
Re: Updated Community Guidelines (Please read!)
Can i ask what's changed in the community guidelines because it looks the same as before?
Re: Updated Community Guidelines (Please read!)
I was also going to ask what exactly has changed. A summary of the specific changes would be really helpful, I see there’s new bits been added about DMs but it would be handy to know what specifically has changed from before
Edit: having another look, this looks pretty much like the unwritten rules have simply been written down. There are sections added about discussions of sex, alcohol etc, which were already guidelines, but you had to have been around for a while (or have broken them by accident) to know they were guidelines.
I see also that multiple accounts are no longer permitted under any circumstances. I think before they were allowed with approval for posts which could be sensitive in nature. If it’s been approved and the community team are aware of it, I don’t see how this has a major impact on safeguarding - if it’s known who’s account it is, surely it’s the same whichever account they’re using?
Second edit (I will stop after this i promise) if you’re not allowed to use the community while impaired by alcohol, i feel a similar statement should be added in the section below on drugs. At least the illegal ones, because they can change your behaviour even more than alcohol can so could be even more of a risk than being drunk.
Third edit (i know I’ve already broken the promise) might also be worth adding some clarification that you can’t directly DM the staff team on here unless they DM you first. At least for new users, they might try to DM before a thread is set up and feel confused as to why they aren’t able to.
Edit: having another look, this looks pretty much like the unwritten rules have simply been written down. There are sections added about discussions of sex, alcohol etc, which were already guidelines, but you had to have been around for a while (or have broken them by accident) to know they were guidelines.
I see also that multiple accounts are no longer permitted under any circumstances. I think before they were allowed with approval for posts which could be sensitive in nature. If it’s been approved and the community team are aware of it, I don’t see how this has a major impact on safeguarding - if it’s known who’s account it is, surely it’s the same whichever account they’re using?
Second edit (I will stop after this i promise) if you’re not allowed to use the community while impaired by alcohol, i feel a similar statement should be added in the section below on drugs. At least the illegal ones, because they can change your behaviour even more than alcohol can so could be even more of a risk than being drunk.
Third edit (i know I’ve already broken the promise) might also be worth adding some clarification that you can’t directly DM the staff team on here unless they DM you first. At least for new users, they might try to DM before a thread is set up and feel confused as to why they aren’t able to.
Re: Anything new at the cinema?
I'm going to see Fantastic Four this evening @eylah I keep seeing people talk about it so I thought might as well
The Naked Gun has just come out which looks like a silly comedy but I think I'll give it a miss !
The Naked Gun has just come out which looks like a silly comedy but I think I'll give it a miss !
Katie
2
Re: Anybody want to vent or chat about anything? (Triggering stuff edition) w/c 28.07.25
Thank you for sharing this @Lottie5433 , you're doing so well to talk here and via DMs.
What I'm hearing is that tonight your plan is to walk your dog, and then to see your boyfriend till around 11:30pm in the evening.
We take what you're sharing about your plan and keeping your plan close by seriously, and please know you can reach out to the following spaces if you are feeling unable to keep safe:
Thank you for opening up about the arguments you had had with your mum, and the process of supporting your boyfriend too. That really does sound immensely overwhelming, hearing him say he's suicidal and witnessing him breaking down, trying to juggle supporting him, caring for your dog, and looking after your own mental health, and then on top of all of that too, facing anger from your mum and feeling deeply misunderstood there. Any one of those things would be so much to cope with, and it's been everything all at once.
I hear that urge to runaway, and I'll share below some specialized services for these feelings:
On a scale of 1-10, how overwhelming does this feel right now? What would need to shift for this to feel even one point better?
We're all here for you and your peers care for you.
What I'm hearing is that tonight your plan is to walk your dog, and then to see your boyfriend till around 11:30pm in the evening.
We take what you're sharing about your plan and keeping your plan close by seriously, and please know you can reach out to the following spaces if you are feeling unable to keep safe:
Emergency services - 999, visit your local A&E
Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Papyrus - https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
CALM - https://www.thecalmzone.net/
SHOUT 24/7 Text service - https://giveusashout.org/
Please note - The Mix's Boards and DMs cannot be moderated overnight and we can not meaningfully or safely offer crisis support, however, these services can and are here for you.
Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Papyrus - https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
CALM - https://www.thecalmzone.net/
SHOUT 24/7 Text service - https://giveusashout.org/
Please note - The Mix's Boards and DMs cannot be moderated overnight and we can not meaningfully or safely offer crisis support, however, these services can and are here for you.
Thank you for opening up about the arguments you had had with your mum, and the process of supporting your boyfriend too. That really does sound immensely overwhelming, hearing him say he's suicidal and witnessing him breaking down, trying to juggle supporting him, caring for your dog, and looking after your own mental health, and then on top of all of that too, facing anger from your mum and feeling deeply misunderstood there. Any one of those things would be so much to cope with, and it's been everything all at once.
I hear that urge to runaway, and I'll share below some specialized services for these feelings:
https://www.runawayhelpline.org.uk/
https://www.isthisok.org.uk/info-and-advice/running-away/ - for advice and information about the risks of running away
https://www.isthisok.org.uk/info-and-advice/running-away/ - for advice and information about the risks of running away
On a scale of 1-10, how overwhelming does this feel right now? What would need to shift for this to feel even one point better?
We're all here for you and your peers care for you.
Sian321
1
Re: I’m scared
Hi River,
Thank you for sharing how you feel, it takes a lot of courage to open up. It sounds like you're having a tough time at the moment and I hope I can offer some reassurance.
What you've described sounds like a form of dissociation called depersonalisation and derealisation. Dissociation is when you feel disconnected from yourself and / or your surroundings. During dissociation a person might disconnect from their thoughts, feelings, actions, memories, surroundings, or their sense of identity. Dissociation is a way for the brain to cope with stressful or traumatic events. A dissociative episode can be useful during a traumatic event, as it helps us to distance ourselves from a difficult experience that’s out of our control, so we are still able to function and cope. However, sometimes dissociative episodes may continue after the stressful event, or may not seem to have even been triggered by a specific thing, and this is when it can become a problem and could be a disorder and we feel disconnected constantly.
Depersonalisation is characterised by feeling disconnected from yourself, your body and / or your mind and can cause you to feel as though you're watching yourself from outside, you're not controlling your speech or movements and you may feel generally disconnected from yourself and your past experiences.
Derealisation is characterised by feeling disconnected from your surroundings and can cause you to have a distorted perception of time, feeling like you're in a dream or watching a film and your surroundings to feel foggy or lifeless.
If you’d like to learn more about dissociation, depersonalisation and derealisation you could look at the Unreal UK charity website. ~ Unreal UK is a charity that specialises in depersonalisation and derealisation. They have lots of useful information and resources on their website. Unreal UK also offers online peer support sessions for people suffering with depersonalisation and derealisation, which you may find helpful (but you might want to check if there’s a minimum age for the group).
If you haven’t already, I’d recommend speaking to someone you trust about how you’ve been feeling, as they might be able to offer advice or just a listening ear.
I wanted to finish off by telling you that you are not alone with how you are feeling and there are people who understand and want to help you. I've also experienced dissociation and know that depersonalisation and derealisation can be a really scary and isolating experience, but there is hope and things can get better.
I hope that helps you to feel a bit less alone and maybe understand what you’re going through a bit more.
Sorry that this post was so long, I hope I haven't overwhelmed you with information!
Forest : D
Thank you for sharing how you feel, it takes a lot of courage to open up. It sounds like you're having a tough time at the moment and I hope I can offer some reassurance.
What you've described sounds like a form of dissociation called depersonalisation and derealisation. Dissociation is when you feel disconnected from yourself and / or your surroundings. During dissociation a person might disconnect from their thoughts, feelings, actions, memories, surroundings, or their sense of identity. Dissociation is a way for the brain to cope with stressful or traumatic events. A dissociative episode can be useful during a traumatic event, as it helps us to distance ourselves from a difficult experience that’s out of our control, so we are still able to function and cope. However, sometimes dissociative episodes may continue after the stressful event, or may not seem to have even been triggered by a specific thing, and this is when it can become a problem and could be a disorder and we feel disconnected constantly.
Depersonalisation is characterised by feeling disconnected from yourself, your body and / or your mind and can cause you to feel as though you're watching yourself from outside, you're not controlling your speech or movements and you may feel generally disconnected from yourself and your past experiences.
Derealisation is characterised by feeling disconnected from your surroundings and can cause you to have a distorted perception of time, feeling like you're in a dream or watching a film and your surroundings to feel foggy or lifeless.
If you’d like to learn more about dissociation, depersonalisation and derealisation you could look at the Unreal UK charity website. ~ Unreal UK is a charity that specialises in depersonalisation and derealisation. They have lots of useful information and resources on their website. Unreal UK also offers online peer support sessions for people suffering with depersonalisation and derealisation, which you may find helpful (but you might want to check if there’s a minimum age for the group).
If you haven’t already, I’d recommend speaking to someone you trust about how you’ve been feeling, as they might be able to offer advice or just a listening ear.
I wanted to finish off by telling you that you are not alone with how you are feeling and there are people who understand and want to help you. I've also experienced dissociation and know that depersonalisation and derealisation can be a really scary and isolating experience, but there is hope and things can get better.
I hope that helps you to feel a bit less alone and maybe understand what you’re going through a bit more.
Sorry that this post was so long, I hope I haven't overwhelmed you with information!
Forest : D
Forest
1
Re: I’m scared
Hi @River ,
Thank you for sharing how you feel, it takes a lot of courage to open up. It sounds like you're having a tough time at the moment and I hope I can offer some reassurance.
What you've described sounds like a form of dissociation called depersonalisation and derealisation. Dissociation is when you feel disconnected from yourself and / or your surroundings. During dissociation a person might disconnect from their thoughts, feelings, actions, memories, surroundings, or their sense of identity. Dissociation is a way for the brain to cope with stressful or traumatic events. A dissociative episode can be useful during a traumatic event, as it helps us to distance ourselves from a difficult experience that’s out of our control, so we are still able to function and cope. However, sometimes dissociative episodes may continue after the stressful event, or may not seem to have even been triggered by a specific thing, and this is when it can become a problem and could be a disorder and we feel disconnected constantly.
Depersonalisation is characterised by feeling disconnected from yourself, your body and / or your mind and can cause you to feel as though you're watching yourself from outside, you're not controlling your speech or movements and you may feel generally disconnected from yourself and your past experiences.
Derealisation is characterised by feeling disconnected from your surroundings and can cause you to have a distorted perception of time, feeling like you're in a dream or watching a film and your surroundings to feel foggy or lifeless.
If you’d like to learn more about dissociation, depersonalisation and derealisation you could look at the Unreal UK charity website. ~ Unreal UK is a charity that specialises in depersonalisation and derealisation. They have lots of useful information and resources on their website. Unreal UK also offers online peer support sessions for people suffering with depersonalisation and derealisation, which you may find helpful (but you might want to check if there’s a minimum age for the group).
If you haven’t already, I’d recommend speaking to someone you trust about how you’ve been feeling, as they might be able to offer advice or just a listening ear.
I wanted to finish off by telling you that you are not alone with how you are feeling and there are people who understand and want to help you. I've also experienced dissociation and know that depersonalisation and derealisation can be a really scary and isolating experience, but there is hope and things can get better.
I hope that helps you to feel a bit less alone and maybe understand what you’re going through a bit more.
Sorry that this post was so long, I hope I haven't overwhelmed you with information!
Forest : D
Thank you for sharing how you feel, it takes a lot of courage to open up. It sounds like you're having a tough time at the moment and I hope I can offer some reassurance.
What you've described sounds like a form of dissociation called depersonalisation and derealisation. Dissociation is when you feel disconnected from yourself and / or your surroundings. During dissociation a person might disconnect from their thoughts, feelings, actions, memories, surroundings, or their sense of identity. Dissociation is a way for the brain to cope with stressful or traumatic events. A dissociative episode can be useful during a traumatic event, as it helps us to distance ourselves from a difficult experience that’s out of our control, so we are still able to function and cope. However, sometimes dissociative episodes may continue after the stressful event, or may not seem to have even been triggered by a specific thing, and this is when it can become a problem and could be a disorder and we feel disconnected constantly.
Depersonalisation is characterised by feeling disconnected from yourself, your body and / or your mind and can cause you to feel as though you're watching yourself from outside, you're not controlling your speech or movements and you may feel generally disconnected from yourself and your past experiences.
Derealisation is characterised by feeling disconnected from your surroundings and can cause you to have a distorted perception of time, feeling like you're in a dream or watching a film and your surroundings to feel foggy or lifeless.
If you’d like to learn more about dissociation, depersonalisation and derealisation you could look at the Unreal UK charity website. ~ Unreal UK is a charity that specialises in depersonalisation and derealisation. They have lots of useful information and resources on their website. Unreal UK also offers online peer support sessions for people suffering with depersonalisation and derealisation, which you may find helpful (but you might want to check if there’s a minimum age for the group).
If you haven’t already, I’d recommend speaking to someone you trust about how you’ve been feeling, as they might be able to offer advice or just a listening ear.
I wanted to finish off by telling you that you are not alone with how you are feeling and there are people who understand and want to help you. I've also experienced dissociation and know that depersonalisation and derealisation can be a really scary and isolating experience, but there is hope and things can get better.
I hope that helps you to feel a bit less alone and maybe understand what you’re going through a bit more.
Sorry that this post was so long, I hope I haven't overwhelmed you with information!
Forest : D
Forest
2