Hang in there (((((((((SongBird)))))))))))))

PC can be a great thing or a bad thing depending on what you put into it here and what you get out of it here but remember pc is not the whole equasion. Its not meant to take the place of doing things that will help you such as using other coping tools and therapy too.

Any on line support group doesn't fix people. All support and therapy groups on line and in real life are considered an "in an addition to" using what you know to help yourself, if you are on medication that and if in therapy that too. Its not set up to do the whole job for you. Just an outlet and resourse for information and support for what you already can and should be doing.

Somewhere around here I remember reading a post by Doc John that states if a person is in crisis thats when they need real face to face help of their treatment professionals not on line. PC is for support and resourses not crisis intervention and the fixing of crisis modes.

each person has to decide if any on line support groups are right for them bassed on where they are at and so on.

If a person is ready to read posts by others and it helps them to feel not so alone. Then those people are ready for on line support group because they gain the benefit of not feeling so alone.

If the person is ready to post about situations but yet not depend on the group to fix them and the problem then those people are ready for on line support groups because they can benefit from being in on line support groups by having an outlet - a place to put down the problem and brainstorm ideas on how to take care of the situation.

If the person is ready to look beyond their problems and help others brainstorm ideas that will help them then those people are ready for on line support groups.

If the person is stuck in fix me mode they are not ready for on line support groups because on line support groups are not face to face therapy and only the person with the problem can solve those problems with or without a therapist and or groups.

If the person only wants to read lite and cheery stuff then on line support groups are not right fo them because regardless of how light and cheery some threads and posts are there is going to me the harder material depending on the topic of the on line support group.

If the person gets upset and into crisis mode very easily and cannot take care of themselves by picking and choosing what they read based on what their individual triggers are then those people are not ready for on line support groups because everyone is expected to take care of themselves and base their on line support group experience on what they can handle.

Bottom line on line support groups don't fix and take the place of real time coping skills, therapy and so on.

But like therapy a person can have a good or bad on line support group experience depending on what they are willing to put into it by way of taking care of themselves and setting their own limits on what they can and cannot handle.