[ChristySpirals]

I think I know you people because so and so reminds me of this person in my real life. Then the mind gets busy and I think about deleting my info, I form a judgement against them and won't post on their posts out of fear of being found out. Realistically I know you all aren't my neighbors but the thoughts happen anyways.

[ChristySpirals]

Maybe this isn't a healthy place for me. Or do I just continue to subject myself to my paranoia so my suspicions are proven unfounded??

[Moose72]

This is one of the safest places I know to talk about my bipolar. So many friendly, helpful, loving people.

[cocoabeans]

I have similar thoughts sometimes. Now, tell me it isn't ME you think is your neighbor?!

[ChristySpirals]

Lol if I'm talking to you then it means ur safe haha. God it does sound so stupid now that I put it out there.

[BipolaRNurse]

Originally Posted by Moose72

This is one of the safest places I know to talk about my bipolar. So many friendly, helpful, loving people.

I second that emotion!! This is the only place where people really understand what I go through. Nobody else in my family, besides my oldest son, has bipolar disorder and so they don't get it. Here, everybody does.

[BlueInanna]

Yes I do worry about it too. I'm worried my sister who is also bp will join here and then it wouldn't be my safe haven anymore. I also got paranoid about people recognizing me if I put real pics up, sooo... I made my profile private. Ok, so i got some paranoia issues to work on.

[purpledaisy]

I think the chance of friends or neighbors finding this site and pinpointing who we are would be pretty slim.

There are gazillions of websites.

Even if someone sounded familiar to me, I never say to any friends or family members, "Hey, this person I sort of know on this message forum about bipolar said blah, blah, blah." I feel like this is a group therapy situation and keep things to ourselves about each other. Respect what we all have to share and keep it inside these "walls."

[Faraway tree]

Originally Posted by purpledaisy

I think the chance of friends or neighbors finding this site and pinpointing who we are would be pretty slim.

There are gazillions of websites.

Even if someone sounded familiar to me, I never say to any friends or family members, "Hey, this person I sort of know on this message forum about bipolar said blah, blah, blah." I feel like this is a group therapy situation and keep things to ourselves about each other. Respect what we all have to share and keep it inside these "walls."

Agreed. I think anonymity is what makes it good. Even if your neighbour was on here which is incredibly unlikely, they would want their own privacy too. It's not like people join forums to " out" others. I think you are pretty safe here, sux your feeling paranoid though

[roads]

Initially you want to be careful about putting out any really personal information. This website is a tool--& like any tool, the secret to using it safely is to learn all about it before you get too carried away using it.

Be careful about using names ... place names or people's names. Don't post photographs of your home or business. Assume that everyone here is lying about something ... even if it's nothing more sinister than their weight.

Take it slow, take time to check all of us out before you start confiding anything ...

But when it comes to common symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, or any of the many other numerous mental health issues we share a round here ... it would be very hard to pick someone out based on a symptom alone, IMO.

My opinion, all this of course. I've been around for a year now, and I've been yelled at a couple times for being waaaay too naive ... rightfully yelled at too. I was lucky & learned to be more cautious ... this is a safe emotional home now, when I need somewhere away from Real Life to steady myself. I've worked at it, & taken advice from the Wise Elders who are so generous here with their support.

I hope you discover the same level of safety, nurturing, and companionship that I have here at PsychCentral, ChristySpirals.

Roadie

[Charlie_J]

Originally Posted by Roadie

Be careful about using names ... place names or people's names. Don't post photographs of your home or business. Assume that everyone here is lying about something ... even if it's nothing more sinister than their weight.

*looks around shiftily* Hey... you're not the person who's been buying my all of my broken weighing scales on Gumtree/Craigslist... are you???

/threadhijack

Hey Christie,

sorry about that little aside with RR - I couldn't resist. But I do second what other people have said here. It'd be some sad act of a person that spent their time on a website like this on the offchance that someone they knew was here, just so they could "out" them.

Like others have said, even if someone you knew was here, they'd likely be just as worried as you are if you found out you knew each other.

I don't think you have anything to worry about, and I really hope you get more confident so that you can take full advantage of the support offered here.

Charlie_J xx

[Kristiemarie]

It's not stupid. There is such a stigma against any mental illness. I was dead set against ever even considering I might be bp until recently and I'm one of the most liberal accepting people when it comes to mental health. It seems to be getting better for things like add in kids, anxiety in adults. But the others, including depression, are still hush hush, no no. Which is dumb. It's like diabetes. You can't just makes your sugar lower. And you can't just stop having a mental illness.

But everyone who has answered has been right....if they recognize you, remember that they are here too!!

[~Christina]

Hey Christy <

I can understand you're concerns. When I first found this lil piece of heaven I was very worried about someone finding me .. Now ? Nope... the chances of someone finding me with all the probably thousands of sites like this ,, well you get the picture .

I put my real picture up months ago.

For me this is a place to find support love and the ability to rant whine ***** cry and as always a place to laugh when you thought it was impossible.

My advice to you ... Share what your comfortable to do so .

[ChristySpirals]

grrr I feel dumb now...like seriously, who of the people I know would actually go searching the internet for my personal stories lmao...Am giving a gentle head shake right now lmao

[emgreen]

Originally Posted by ChristySpirals

grrr I feel dumb now...like seriously, who of the people I know would actually go searching the internet for my personal stories lmao...Am giving a gentle head shake right now lmao

Don't be so quick to relax, Christy! I AM your neighbor! I'll be knocking at your door any moment now!

Sheesh! This forum is entirely anonymous, & there are many of us BP kooks out there. In most ways, our stories read the same. By the way, don't feel badly about projecting your fears onto others...I do the same when I'm in a bad space. I just rely on fellow "beepers" to shake me back to reality in troubled times. I'm glad you're giving yourself a "gentle head shake" now. I'd worry if your head starts spinning around like Linda Blair's in "The Exorcist," though (so what if I date myself with obscure film references from the past!).

Hang tough!

[whyme17]

Hi christy guess who.... Just kiddding I know what you mean how weird would that be if If like I could be talking to my friends right now like wtf

[Victoria'smom]

If my friends/family/neighbor come on here we have a new topic to talk about If people can handle me IRL they can handle me on here. Anyone that knows me would know who I am by my posts and screen name. I doubt anyone would bring it up because they would have to admit they were here. If they hold anything I say against me **** them! Why are they stalking me online anyway ?

[lonegael]

I think we all get so used to hiding that it's a hard habit to break. Here, I sincerely believe, it's okay to let at least some of the masks down. HUGGGS

[ChristySpirals]

Yea you guys are right. From now on when the thoughts come in I will tell them where to go. Honestly I think its good to put your stupid paranoia out there instead of sitting with it in your head. I won't say I am the smartest thing out there but I'm not stoooopid either...I am so smart, SMRT!!!! But this honestly really bothered me, still does a tad. I have a feeling I am repeating myself over and over and over today.

My family member has Major Depression with psychotic features. I always was a lil paranoid but since her theories were thrown down my throat I think I will always be on edge about the government and people spying. Is saying government on here a triggering word? I can sorta see it being one with some ppl. Sorry if I triggered someone.

Tell me if this is weird, I'm in a talkative mood right now sorry. My piranhas have been dying one by one for the past week (down to 5 well 6 still but its gonna die). With the first 3 hubby left them in there to die incase the other ones will eat it (don't know if cannibalism is their thing or not). So I asked him tonight if he would put it out of his misery because they obviously won't eat it and it obviously is going to die. He said, via text, ya I will kill him in the morning when I get home from work. So I said if it was too hard for him to do, he is pretty attached to all his fish, I would do it for him. He asked how and I said scoop it out, put it in a bag (it's dying so no worry about it biting really, except for a last attempt at life) and I will take it outside and bash its head in with a 2X4. I thought this was a good idea. He came back with "Holy, I will do it". Was that a mean thing to say to him? or mean thing to do to the piranha?

Wow its almost 3 and I am wired...must sleep because, well just because lol.

P.s. I am sorry that this is not bipolar related but when I am like this I feel like you guys are my life coaches (well some of you lol). Good night peeps xxoo

Originally Posted by ChristySpirals

I think I know you people because so and so reminds me of this person in my real life. Then the mind gets busy and I think about deleting my info, I form a judgement against them and won't post on their posts out of fear of being found out. Realistically I know you all aren't my neighbors but the thoughts happen anyways.

...I even pretended for 2 minutes to understand you then J!...I wrote down some crap then deleted it...useless it was just crap!! bla bla!

I'm not your neighbour nope just a weirdo on the opposite side of the planet.

paranoia!....now that I get I get that for sure....not the same here cos I don't care much since I came to terms with the fact that behind all these 'other' avatar humans is a real human with skin and bones and hair at least somewhere!...

what I can say is that I get serious thoughts that oppose my reasoning way too often and it's cool you mentioned it...