[hamster-bamster]

I was at my ex+children's place yesterday and I was looking up Prozac and tremor (the new idea is that perhaps the remaining slight tremor is due to Prozac). What came up in Google was a depression forum's thread (not from this site). So he wondered how a depression forum is possible. "If you are clinically depressed, you are not supposed to have the energy for online socializing. With mania, too, if you are truly clinically manic, so many things are happening in your life RIGHT NOW that you do not have time for taking notes. Your p-doc is supposed to take notes!" So I guess what he is saying is that a person who is self-reflective enough to post is neither clinically depressed nor manic. Yet, I have seen the opposite. Some people even show the ability to reflect on their psychosis.

[hamster-bamster]

Although it is true that manic people do not post a whole lot. They are busy .

[Anika.]

I post tons when I am manic, not always the most coherant, but you can have bipolar and insight, and free time, making a post doesnt really require much effort, you dont even need to get dressed or out of bed actually.

We also have the ability to reach out for help, I think he might have got this one wrong.

[Clinte89]

I agree I post alot either way myself just because when I'm depressed don feel like much else and when the other (I hat that word) I post a lot cause I can't get organized to do much else.

[BlueInanna]

it's a lot easier to reach out anonymously via internet when depressed or manic, or when we are recovering, or sliding into one or the other, than to do this in real life situations.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

it's a lot easier to reach out anonymously via internet when depressed or manic, or when we are recovering, or sliding into one or the other, than to do this in real life situations.

that is SO true! When I was depressed, I logged on, but I did not go to the groups my doctor recommended because of having to take a shower (gasp) and waiting forever in public transit. Also the scenarios he is describing are too textbook. In reality, you do not have all the symptoms listed in the DSM. I do not get racing thoughts when manic, for instance, and racing thoughts are supposed to be so common. I can also write coherently, almost too coherently, when manic. Go figure. It is rare that a person has a textbook picture complete with promiscuity and non-stop spending. Usually it is just some symptoms, not all.

[Victoria'smom]

You know what's the best thing about on-line forums? You can spend hours trying to figure out a coherent way to say what your feeling, you can get distracted and come back later or not be coherent but the forum will understand and accept you.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

You know what's the best thing about on-line forums? You can spend hours trying to figure out a coherent way to say what your feeling, you can get distracted and come back later or not be coherent but the forum will understand and accept you.

That's very well said!

[hamster-bamster]

Well also a psychotherapy group is limited to a strictly defined timeframe, whereas an online environment is always available, and someone - perhaps, someone from the Southern Hemisphere - would be there for you

[Anika.]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

Well also a psychotherapy group is limited to a strictly defined timeframe, whereas an online environment is always available, and someone - perhaps, someone from the Southern Hemisphere - would be there for you

Plus the whole peer thing vs Dr. thing. I have always had a hard time not seeing doctors as sort of an authority figure, making it hard to open up.
Here tho I can open up and not fear judgement. No one is gonna send me away here.

oop Blue already kinda said that

[Trippin2.0]

Simply put, its becoz people aren't a list of symptoms and nobody who dont got it, gets it. No matter how long they stared at a text book, or how many patients they've seen... They just cant understand without the actual experience.

[manic most days]

Originally Posted by Anika.

I post tons when I am manic, not always the most coherant, but you can have bipolar and insight, and free time, making a post doesnt really require much effort, you dont even need to get dressed or out of bed actually.

We also have the ability to reach out for help, I think he might have got this one wrong.

Ditto and even if I'm laying in bed my mind might be a million miles an hour!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Anika.

Plus the whole peer thing vs Dr. thing. I have always had a hard time not seeing doctors as sort of an authority figure, making it hard to open up.
Here tho I can open up and not fear judgement. No one is gonna send me away here.

oop Blue already kinda said that

I see. Well, it is also the absence of a time limit. You are very limited in what you can disclose at a visit.

[treehugger727]

I haven't been super manic since I started posting, I don't think. But I look back on the past and notice that many of my best blogs were written at 3:00 am and I can tell know looking at them that they were manic.

I also appreciate the feeling that no matter my condition, I am going to find love somewhere here...that's why I keep coming back.

[faerie_moon_x]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Simply put, its becoz people aren't a list of symptoms and nobody who dont got it, gets it. No matter how long they stared at a text book, or how many patients they've seen... They just cant understand without the actual experience.

^^^ This.

Also, when people are in crisis whether depressed or manic their posts are these giant, long posts to get it all out. Catharsis, if you will.

I notice manic people tend to forget about paragraphs. It's just a wall of words often. Or you get the person who has to comment on everything, and tends to be an "expert" (I think I'm guilty of this one. )

I notice people when they are depressed might disappear or just post little posts.

Your ex's statement reminds me of the lady who lost all her benefits because she posted a picture of herself smiling at her birthday party on Facebook, so that proved she wasn't depressed. Depression isn't always 24 hours 7 days a week!

[BlueInanna]

Gawd! That's horrible!! The state was looking at her facebook page??? wtf... that is a disgusting invasion of privacy and really pisses me off!!