Hi, I'm new too.

If you look at the top of the forum, you'll see "Chat." This is a link to a number of chatrooms where people can visit in "real time." So far, there appear to be people chatting here at PC 24 hours a day.

I've noticed that on most days, people gather in the Coffee House chat room. But it can get really full which can make it hard to follow the conversation there. Because it gets so busy, I think a lot of people in the Coffee House end up using personal messaging to chat with each other one-on-one.

But there are a number of scheduled, "hosted chats" that focus on specific mental illnesses, and other topics. Most of these hosted chats are support groups that meet in a chatroom. For example, there's a Depression Chat and an Anxiety Chat, both hosted by CANDC. (She usually has an article she asks members to read on a specific topic related to the illness, and we discuss this.) There's also chats for PTSD, and Bi-Polar, and other illnesses.

Most of the hosted chats meet at the same time each week. But there is a bi-weekly chat hosted by DocJohn (the PC owner), and a once a month "Newbies" chat for new people.

To find out about all the different hosted chats, click on the "Calendar" link at the top of the forum. If you are interested in one of the chats shown in the calendar squares, click on the link for the specific chat. This will open the page with information on that specific chat. If you have your correct time zone programmed in your Profile here at the forum, the meeting time that shows on the chat information page will be the correct one for your time zone.

You don't have to schedule anything with anyone if you want to participate in a chat, just show up.

If you have any trouble with any of this, feel free to send me a personal message. I'd be glad to help.

--Ceara1010