Hi folks,

We are really dealing with this.

I have the 'announcement' issue myself, and it has dogged me through the years. Gosh, the number of letters and notes I have sent to people when I don't feel like coping with them (or anyone) anymore!

IMHO the need to let people know that we are taking a break is a big part of our illnesses. It is a way of saying to people that our barriers are still active.

For me, announcing has always been a way of letting people know that I am not getting along so well, with them or with myself. Some people came to know me so well that they could guess just when I was going to do it! That used to really upset me. It felt so patronising.

I have an issue just at the moment. I am due to MC a poetry event on Thursday night this week and every muscle in my body wants to run. I am having a real struggle not to send out the cancellation emails!

September, I always respect your opinion, although I do see the need to take a break as an unavoidable symptom of our illnesses, and I believe that all the symptoms we have hurt us deeply - we certainly don't choose them! I always remind myself where we are at PC and why we are here.

MP - I wasn't using your post as an example; we all feel the need to break off sometimes, and I was appealing to everyone, not to anyone in particular. Didn't mean to press your buttons on that score.

LMO - 'Burning bridges', LOL, I could do it for a pastime! In fact I have done. Sometimes we do need to get away from a certain situation, but it gets habitual and it's not a good strategy in the long run (as you rightly said, Jen).

And the last thought - we are still here. For some of us (me included) just staying with a support forum is a big victory over the illness.

Good thoughts, M