Yes, I agree that the best thing on the forum is when people accept us, understand us, and validate us. However, in my life, I want tips and information very much. Often the person is asking a specific question. With psychiatric doctors that take insurance, and some private doctors offering 15 minute sessions once youre past intake, I think info from peers is VITAL. Bipolar is complex and yay, I have mixed episodes. Most of the therapists I have encountered over my 40 years with this just sit there. I have to press for goal setting over and over. Obviously I like structure and specific help as fast as I can get it. And I have learned more than from 40 years worth of doctors here. I think its possible to validate the person just by giving a specific response--showing that you take them seriously, care about what happens to them, and intend in any way we can.
So I think we can help in two ways: 1. by showing warmth and acceptance and 2. by answering questions in an effective way. Again, I think people can be helped a lot more when we know what we're dealing with. Im going to try to be as specific as possible when I start a thread asking for ideas.
I dont think I should be ashamed of trying to help people by sharing all those years of experience that i got THE HARD WAY with very little support and almost NO information. Acceptance is important too, but I want people to tell me what has worked for them specifically or what they think will work for me. I just want people to get more information than I received and was starved for. It would have changed my life.
So thank God for Psych Central and for all of you. I think a balanced approach is the goal.
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How about we provide a warm accepting tone AND specific information (in the clearest possible way)?