I was searching for information about self-injury, since I had just had a bad episode with that, and was realizing that it wasn't just me who did that. One of the sites I found had a link to here, and the SI forum was created here right about that time. I really needed to find and be able to talk to other people who did what I did, and they were here. Some of the people I initially felt like I became friends with included Zenobia, Crying_Child, Darkeyes, Mj, and Nowheretorun. I apologize if I forgot to mention someone. Some of the deepest friendships here developed later than right at first. This place felt like a place where I could belong right from the first, and that was something I desperately needed, since I have never felt like I could belong anywhere. It was so good to be understood, and not to be alone. I've learned so much, and also, when I moved last summer, I had some continuity because I had a community that I didn't lose when I relocated. That's the first of many times that I have moved that I was able to keep important connections with people like this. And now, as the community is growing, I'm learning how to cope with being part of a larger community, which has always been a scary thing for me even though I grew up in cities. Online friends, here and other places, have helped me to develop some social skills, and the ability to talk to people and get to know them and let them get to know me. I never had those things before.
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“We should always pray for help, but we should always listen for inspiration and impression to proceed in ways different from those we may have thought of.”
– John H. Groberg
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