I am now on the 4th episode of this video series. last night the food for thought was be mindful of what your own posts say about you. Do not include any identify able information, example if you live near the Washington Monument do not discuss, nor mention that famous landmark. if you live on smith street do not discuss that street. if you must designate a location pick a big city, not your little town.

To think about what your chats, video calls, post and posting styles say about you. do you want to be the known strike out at, complainer, fake, wild, happy go lucky, get along with everyone, (paraphrasing).... are your chats video calls and posts informative in a good way or the way you want others to perceive you?

looking back at my history of posts here I see that I have done a good job following the video series advice.

my location is a big major city in the USA, I dont post anything about my street, though I have from time to time posted about my family I dont do so by identifying their actual given names, actual knicknames. and my DID posts do not include the .....actual names of my alters nor is my user name any connection to my real life.

by my history of my posts I see that I am showing exactly how I want others on forums to see me ... All lives and posts matter. I typically do not name call, nor strike out at others or others posts, I have on rare occasion done so and took the time needed to get back on track with my meds and so forth to ensure that I am the kind of person that accepts everyone and their posts unconditionally. I have had to learn to use that ignore button that this site has in every members profiles.

upon rereading my posts here I found Im a very like able person who likes to help others, share what I know about my mental disorders and physical health problems. heres what I wrote last night about the videos food for thought questions....

When I am talking about specific mental disorders that information comes from many places...

first and foremost I have personally been diagnosed with each of these disorders through the years, that I post about.

Unlike many with mental disorders I take time with my treatment providers to ..........Fully..........understand what my mental and physical health problems are.

I literally schedule appointments to sit down with my treatment providers with a list of questions. I ask things like ...

labeling/ diagnostic name
diagnostics criteria
how that label and diagnostics are used on a wide scale
how are they used in terms of pertaining directly to me

I ask about symptoms both the obvious and the "other accompanying symptoms" I need to be aware of,

I ask about treatment options
in terms of treatment I ask about side effects both good and bad.

and much more..

I also have many on my team of treatment providers ... a therapist, psychiatrist and a psychologist, a primary care physician, a neurologist, a rehabilitation specialist, and more...

I also for my own personal use with my mental and physical health problems have my own copies of (and know how to use them correctly)

DSM 5
ICD 10 and the website link for the ICD11
PDR
The Pill Book
Tabors medical encyclopedia

I have also signed up and participate in the DSM / supplemental updating process through the American Psychiatric Associations website. (anyone can participate in their updating process. some things are open to professionals and other things are open to anyone) I receive newsletters, Im a part of the forum and other things too, like submitting proposals or ideas for changes...

I also use my cable, Roku and other avenues (colleges, mental health agencies and so forth to participate free and for fee and pay per view resources like

seminars
workshops
retreats
classes
and more

related directly to my own mental and physical health problems.

Because I like to be fully informed and make fully informed decisions about my mental and physical health I have gained quite an education in the field of mental health and mental disorders.

and yes because of all this knowledge / self educating on my own problems I officially went into the career of mental health services. Just like someone who has undergone domestic violence will sometimes volunteer and then later
become employed by a domestic violence agency, or someone who had an addictions problem may decide to go to work with an agency that helps people with their addictions. Or someone who has undergone abuse may decide to work with abused and at risk children...

I choose to be proactive, go directly to the sources of accurate information and keep on top of this ever changing world of labeling and diagnostics and so forth.

though there are some on the net, once I share what I have learned in this process, that may like the video series Mental illness in a Virtual world stated try and shoot you down, isolate me in a way of making it appear that what I post is untrue, trash, garbage, hog wash, BS, most are accepting and either at that moment or some time later come back to me saying they discovered my information was right on the money.

I am really enjoying this video series. lots of information and reflection going on here.