[wickedwings]

I have been profoundly deaf since birth. I was taught how to speak without being taught any sign language. I grew up in the hearing world and got by with lip-reading. I can only lip-read up to a point. I can't lip-read people who talk too fast, mumble, have accents, are unable to make their lips form the word right, with deformities, or elderlies (that might change as I get older. LOL). And lip-reading takes a LOT of concentration. Too many people talk too fast, even if I remind them to slow down. I get so exhausted from interacting with people in real life. For most of 37 years of my life, I had to work hard to make sure there is no miscommunications due to my deafness.

When I came here, a whole world opened up to me. I've learned so much from chatting with people online. OMG. This is so much better for me, despite not having any human contact. PsychCentral was a godsend with my depression. Now, since I've been doing better, I'm having trouble spending more time in the real world because I like it in here. But things need to be done. I have goals that I haven't gotten to because I spend wayyy too much time in here. Hehe.

What's a deaf girl to do?????

[Shangrala]

Hi, wickedwings~

Internet life is perfectly fine, however, as you've stated yourself, responsibilities begin to get ignored due to time spent on the computer.

I can personally relate to what you mean by discovering an entirely new world through Internet. I, too, have found a "life" there, however, I sought it as a means of escaping my ugly real one (that was 4 years ago). Since, and with much difficulty and deliberate effort, I have been able to overcome much of my reasons for escaping the real one, yet I still find myself more accepted here. I think that is only because of how Internet offers a much more broader reach to people at one time. Everyone has their own personal reason(s) why.

A word of advice (from someone who's already experienced the hardships from allowing Internet to "replace" the real)....Remain constant with your real life responsibilities, and everything else should be perfectly fine.

btw..I'm always open to making new friends on internet. If interested, pm me...maybe we'll hit it off??

Happy netting...lol

Shangrala

[wickedwings]

Nice. Glad this thread didn't disappear like the ones I created 2 days ago. LOL. Sure. I'm not here every day, but I come in at least once a week.

[BlueGuy]

I wish you the best.