I have been in this forum for more than 2 years now, and I am not sure what I am getting from it, honestly. Sometimes I need to tell someone something, but at the same time telling this thing makes me feel bad and sometimes cry because I think of my situation more consciously to put it in words, and haven't changed a bit. People tell you things you already know, but you are just not ready yet to embrace them.

How do you think this forum is helpful?

[Ocean Swimmer]

Well, I suffer bipolar. I understand and try to help others.
When in crisis. They help me.
I also like to stay up to date regarding meds.

We have to start with the realization that the forums are comprised of people with mental disorders, so it would be a mistake to use any advice from the forums in lieu of professional advice (the website has a disclaimer to that effect).

I find it telling that the forums claim 380,000+ members, but the posts-per-day average is less than 2,000. Thus it's fair to say that the vast majority of members get (or don't get) what they're seeking from the forums and move on with their lives.

That said, it is what it is.

Originally Posted by kindness

We have to start with the realization that the forums are comprised of people with mental disorders, so it would be a mistake to use any advice from the forums in lieu of professional advice (the website has a disclaimer to that effect).

I find it telling that the forums claim 380,000+ members, but the posts-per-day average is less than 2,000. Thus it's fair to say that the vast majority of members get (or don't get) what they're seeking from the forums and move on with their lives.

That said, it is what it is.

People with mental disorders or stresses in life don't want preaching, as most people do in this forum: "try this ...", "see a therapist ...". People project their current mental state on others who might be suffering or even suicidal at the very same moment. I even find professional therapy lack the empathy for patients. I tried it, and it was robotic. So, I quit it.

Originally Posted by Ocean Swimmer

Well, I suffer bipolar. I understand and try to help others.
When in crisis. They help me.
I also like to stay up to date regarding meds.

How to do you think you are helping? Don't you think people just hear what they want to hear?

Originally Posted by Le.Monsieur.S

People with mental disorders or stresses in life don't want preaching, as most people do in this forum: "try this ...", "see a therapist ...". People project their current mental state on others who might be suffering or even suicidal at the very same moment. I even find professional therapy lack the empathy for patients. I tried it, and it was robotic. So, I quit it.

What do YOU want?

How this forum helps me.....

I use it for research, the articles and links and some of the threads. Getting a better understanding of MI has helped me a lot because knowledge is "power" - it is less of a mystery and I am not at the mercy of what a healthcare professional chooses to tell me. Or not.

I enjoy the Games and Current Affairs forums. They're interesting and a good distraction when I know I'm vulnerable. As someone living in the UK, it's been fun to learn about the US elections.

I socialise in some of the groups and find out new recipes or books to read or movies to see. And I've made some friends who I message often, so there's a social element to it.

Many of the threads I read but don't respond to, I still find incredibly useful. I have always felt outside of things and that I had a lot wrong with me. I can now see I'm quite fortunate, others have had a far harder life, but equally, where there are similarities, I realise I'm not alone.

During difficult times like Christmas, as someone who is quite isolated, PC has given me company and purpose.

And I like responding to threads where I have something positive to contribute. Even if it's just a thank you or a hug. Sometimes it's about helping someone feel heard.

So this site has been fantastic for me.

I plan to learn how to use chat one day!

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Originally Posted by kindness

What do YOU want?

I am not sure, but not preaching.

Originally Posted by Le.Monsieur.S

I am not sure, but not preaching.

I'm not preaching, but how are you going to receive what you want when you don't know what you want?

I never fooled myself into thinking that the PC forums would be the solution for all my problems.

I'm here to try and learn something useful that will perhaps help me make sense of things or give me a different perspective regarding my own issues.

I read and participate on other people's posts more than I post myself. I read people's stories and can relate to some of them, it makes me feel I am at least not alone. I acquire knowledge through people's accounts on their journeys through depression and other mental illnesses.

That is how I draw help from this forums. And I am grateful to the people who put it together and maintain it, and thankful that the Internet can sometimes be a useful thing because of forums like PC.

But at the end of the day... it's always up to the person who's suffering to find his/her way out.

Originally Posted by kindness

I'm not preaching, but how are you going to receive what you want when you don't know what you want?

I believe eventually everyone will change when they are ready to change. Most people come here for emotional support I guess. For example, I am very socially anxious guy, whenever I open my loneliness problem I get responses like "see a therapist ...", "join a group .... ". For me, I would rather to hear some understanding more than guidance. I know I need to socialize, but guess what? I cannot. People with mental disorders have very narrow perception. May be with some compassion this perception is widened, which allows the person to change. This is my thought.

[IrisBloom]

I have dealt with depression and related issues my entire adult life and rarely ever had anyone to talk with who really understood me. I have had friends and relatives to talk with but they could mostly show support/comfort rather than true understanding. It is so nice to have a whole community (more or less) of people who really understand what I have and am going through. The many ages, life-styles, locations, experiences make PC a place rich in diversity and you never know who you might make a connection with. Just like other experiences in life, you largely get out of it what you put in.

And it is normal for any online forum to have more readers than posters. I read many but only post in a few. That does not say anything negative about PC, rather it says a lot positive about PC! Not everyone feels comfortable posting on a public forum. If anything I've posted here has helped even ONE person in the world, I feel it has been well worth my time here.

I agree that we need more compassion in this world.

I didn't tell you to do this or do that and you'll get better. No, I simply made you think: What do YOU want?

And you told me.

What about getting a sense of validation when posting/participating on the forum? I am sure I am not the only one that gets a sense of normallcy here - that there are people just like ourselves facing situations just like ourselves. In a way I find it soothing.

[marmaduke]

I find it helpful. It's a place were I can talk about things I would not discuss with anyone else.
I cannot talk about how my mother was (NPD) with people I know, they just would not 'get it'.

I mean, I have tried in the past but found it just upset me.
Like when I was a young teen and desparately needed support I talked to my co-workers.

I told them for instance that mother didn't love me, she hated me, but I just got the
'Awww course she loves you, we all have the odd bad day'
And then I overheard them discussing me saying that
'My parents were fine, I was exaggerating and making a big fuss over nothing'

They didn't even know my freaking parents!

After l'd confided in them all I got basically was called a liar and invalidated. Never again.

Here I can be understood and believed.
I find writing down my difficulies and past problems quite cathartic.
It's a bit like I've released the thoughts so they don't stay stuck in my head so much.

A problem shared is a problem halved so they say!

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

[avlady]

i think i needed some validation in some of my thoughts and actions good or bad, which i see in posts, people post what i'm thinking about certain subjects. i get insight into my own problems, and try to help and be there for others who may be sufferring.

[cakeladie]

I have met a lot of nice people on this forum. But you get out of it what you put into it. Meaning if you read post and respond and kinda get to know certain people you will get more out of it

Just a thought

[sabby]

Yes, everyone has their own personal reason for joining Psych Central. I know when I joined, I was looking for information regarding some mental illnesses that I was dealing with in the work place at the time. I used to care for developmentally disabled individuals and along with the development issues sometimes came mental illness. I wanted to learn and be the best support I could be for them.

Once I had a chance to look around, do some supporting of others etc., I began to feel a bit more safe to post about my own issues. And as they say, the rest is history.

One thing I would like to comment on as well is the following:

I find it telling that the forums claim 380,000+ members, but the posts-per-day average is less than 2,000. Thus it's fair to say that the vast majority of members get (or don't get) what they're seeking from the forums and move on with their lives.

That said, it is what it is.

Not all of the PC members partake in the forums. A great many of these folks join to take the quizzes that are offered or even to present something to Ask the Therapist. Psych Central is a huge site that offers a whole slew of information, not just forums. We also have a lot of members who may have been active at one time or another on the forums and for whatever reason are no longer active, (so yes you are in part right!) but they are still members of this site and can come back at any given time. As a matter of fact, there have been a number of folks who have done just that over the past few months.

As most say here, you get out of PC what you put into PC (strictly speaking of the forums here). I learned that in my early days as a member. Sometimes folks just want a place to land and feel safe while others are looking to connect with others who share similar issues. Everyone is different and I hope that we all get what we need!

sabby,

Is there data for how many members join simply to take quizzes or simply to Ask the Therapist?

Also, why does one have to be a member to take a quiz or Ask the Therapist?

I cannot think of a compelling reason unless it's simply a way of collecting personal information.

Am I correct?

[x123]

Originally Posted by Le.Monsieur.S

I believe eventually everyone will change when they are ready to change. Most people come here for emotional support I guess. For example, I am very socially anxious guy, whenever I open my loneliness problem I get responses like "see a therapist ...", "join a group .... ". For me, I would rather to hear some understanding more than guidance. I know I need to socialize, but guess what? I cannot. People with mental disorders have very narrow perception. May be with some compassion this perception is widened, which allows the person to change. This is my thought.

I'm that way too sometimes - I just want somebody to understand or listen. In real life I can't share certain things, because they might hurt other people or embarrass me or whatever.

Forums in general have helped me overcome some delusional beliefs, but mostly I just get so lonely and I want to talk - especially when I'm depressed.

[Mr.Arch-Vile]

See I came to these forums in hopes of research and understanding what I have.

I also wanted to get validated in some of my crazy experiences, I just needed a place to get a construct going so I could present my ideas to professionals in a coherent manner.


I've now reached a road block in what I can get from this site.

No longer do I know what to post or how to react to certain situations on this forum. Why? I feel completely normal,(and no it's not one of those "YEAH SURE JUST KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT") I don't have my delusions anymore. I guess in part to me feeling normal is I owe to this forum because I've gained perspective for myself.

Take for example this post, I don't know what quiet to say but I want to say something that makes the impact. Then I realize a problem, I'm coming into this expecting something out of this post.

[vonmoxie]

I wish I could recall what first drew my attention to this site, or what I originally envisioned getting from it. Perhaps it wasn't that specific, what I envisioned; as is the blank canvas to a painter.

There isn't always something for me to get out of it.. sometimes I have hopes and expectations that aren't a match for my experience either. But I try to look at it as the simple opportunity to interact with a wider spectrum of people, and to become progressively better at doing so, both for my own benefit and for that of all those with whom I come into contact.

Not that this isn't the same spectrum of people one would meet anywhere else. But I think that here, we're able to put ourselves out there a bit more, with each other. Wearing hearts on sleeves and such. Real talk.

Because in real life, for instance, people don't as often express to you if they've misunderstood or failed to understand something you've said, or that they take issue with something you've said, and not finding these things out we don't get the same opportunity to improve on our methods as we do here, where people are much more apt to let you know, to request clarification.

It helps me to better know myself through the prism of communication with others. What I get out of it continues to evolve, as hopefully I do also.

[Trippin2.0]

I get what I ask for...


If I want to rant and rave, and I'm not looking for feedback, I say so.


If I just want some hugs and validation, instead of advice, I say so.


If I want to commiserate, I say so.


If I want advice and guidance, I say so...


People can't smell what I want or need, its up to me to be responsible and make sure my needs are met.


PS. I came here to Ask a Therapist and take the quizzes, discovered I had plenty in common with the folks on the bipolar board, and have logged in every day since. I don't always post and even more rarely create threads these days, but if even just one person finds my perspective or my experience helpful, that's more than good enough for me.

I agree that we get some validation from these forums that we are not alone in our suffering, but for me, even though I seek some understanding and someone to relate to my experiences, I feel bad about what I write. So, I have these two contradictory things: I need to vent because I feel bad, so bad, but at the same time, if I vent I feel bad, too, that I wrote what I wrote. Basically because it reminds me of my issues more consciously, and partly because of exposing my personal emotions and life to others, even though no one knows me, and I know no one personally. Others' posts might make it worse. It is my experience with every single thread I've opened about my personal issues.

[TishaBuv]

I found this forum while trying to figure out more about the mental issues I may have. I have had unsuccessful experiences with professional therapy. I figured I need to help myself. I have compassion for others on here and try to help if I can. I like connecting with others on here. I don't tell my stuff to people who know me in person. My family doesn't want to hear me whine and not get better anymore. I figure the people who care enough to read and comment on my posts want to, so I feel OK about posting, even though I also feel bad and embarrassed about how I sound and am so critical of myself. Getting it out feels good.