[susan888]

Just curious..why am I able to share so honestly here? Does anyone else feel that way?

[onlymedid]

Yeah, I am the same way. I think because it's "anonymous" for the most part. You can't see anyone's face, you can't visualize their reactions, you don't have to formulate an answer right away, you get honest advice from people who are or have been where you are. There is support, hugs and friendship here that may not be out in the world.
At least that is what I get out of it.

[Ygrec23]

Originally Posted by susan888

Just curious..why am I able to share so honestly here? Does anyone else feel that way?

Ummm, I think my family knows my full name, my address and my social security number. Not that they use any of them to contact me, they just have them on file somewhere, I think. So that means that 99.99% of what I post here they haven't the faintest idea about. Nor would they care to. Their idea is that everyone has their own problems and should keep them to themselves. As far as sharing honestly here is concerned, it's a lot more honest than with my family, but not ALL that honest. I'm really a hydrogen bomb on two legs and I don't think that's appreciated here or elsewhere. The great Russian poet Osip Mandelstam back in 1937 said that the only time you could tell the truth to anyone was at 2 A.M. to your wife in bed with the blankets over both your heads. That's true in most of these websites too. There are many other feelings besides the friendly, loving, caring ones that we concentrate on here. I'm not sure it would be possible to have a website where the "other" feelings were freely expressed. As the cold warriors would say, it would be Mutually Assured Destruction. So the best we can do is to be nice to each other and forget the wildly anti-social feelings we ALL harbor.

[ruffy]

I share here because I know those here can understand my suffering as they go through it themselves. My family and healthy friends cannot appreciate or even begin to understand it the same way, nor do I try anymore to get advice from others who dont truly know what Im going through. It doesnt carry the same passion or power. It would be like getting marriage counseling from a single person never married. Great question!!!!!

[Helpmegetbetter]

Before I came to this site and signed in and became part of the community, I resolved to be truthful to everyone here.Normally, I lie constantly.It's a knee-jerk reaction to me and I do it to everyone, no matter how close to me they are. I've even done it to my counselor but I had to because I know she wouldn't understand the way I feel. I just know that everyone here actually does because they may have suffered just as much,maybe even more than I have. Hahahaha Yes I know that lying to my counselor was probably a bad idea but I was sure if I told her ALL of what I feel she wouldn't have been able to handle it and probably would have freaked out.Ummm I'm going to stop right here lol sorry about going on and on.So ya I feel that way too.

This is a self-help support site. The Community Guidelines are an attempt to keep a rein on behavior that is anything other than supportive and informative.

I do not think those here know more than my family does. I do know that my honesty is incomplete since I do not always practice what I preach; nor do I give an honest opinion that would violate the Guidelines (Perhaps more accurately I try not too.).

If the Guidelines were not in place, anarchy would reign.

[Sabrina]

There is actually very much that I don't share here. My family know far more about me than PC does. That is not to say that I don't use support here when I need it. I just don't feel comfortable posting certain things about my life.

[trance]

this site knows more about me than anyone else in the world and that's just the way I like it...

[Skully]

Definitely for me! My family just doesn't understand me or what is wrong with me. They think they just need to get over it.

[sugahorse1]

Regarding my emotional state, PC definitely knows more about me than my family or anyone

[Cthomas]

Originally Posted by sugahorse

Regarding my emotional state, PC definitely knows more about me than my family or anyone

PC DEFINITELY knows more than anybody in my life.....Im going to keep it that way too.

c

[NuckingFutz]

I would say on day to day things PC knows more. About my past and how I tick, my family does.

[thine_self_untrue]

In general, my family does, but there are major things only people on PC know.

[Squirrel1983]

Originally Posted by sugahorse

Regarding my emotional state, PC definitely knows more about me than my family or anyone

I agree with this. I share more about my emotions/mental health here than I do with my family. The only person who know more about my mental health than PC is my pdoc.

[wottesworthgurl]

YES..... what little they know though

Originally Posted by onlymedid

Yeah, I am the same way. I think because it's "anonymous" for the most part. You can't see anyone's face, you can't visualize their reactions, you don't have to formulate an answer right away, you get honest advice from people who are or have been where you are. There is support, hugs and friendship here that may not be out in the world.
At least that is what I get out of it.

This, basically

My family knows more about me, including my mental health. They are very supportive, and I feel that I can share anything with them.

I feel that I can share A LOT with PC, but not quite everything.

[Miss Laura]

Erm... no-one bar my Counsellor knows about me completely. I find it hard to be honest completely. But PC knows more than my family do. I find it easier(ish) to talk on here

[cenus]

it's easier to share with strangers.. Who wants their family and friends to know that they are screwed up mentally.. Can't name one. Can you?

[El-ahrairah]

yea lol people on here know more about me than my own best friend of 8 years!!!

[jbug]

Yes I share things on here that I could never share with my family. My family operates on the don't ask don't tell method of dealing with my illnesses.

Jan

[(JD)]

IDK --good question. I feel that neither knows me very well. Even when I post things here, very few remember or believe me anyway...so?

I think that's my main disconnect with PC, is that after all these years I'd think "it" knew me. Anyone can still come along and misunderstand or just plain attack, and it's "always" my "fault."

As for family, they are too busy with their own lives to know who I am. The operative word there being, "too".

It's a safe place to the extent you make it, on the other hand. Don't post anything you don't want people to know or react to, don't tell family about your posting here (even if you don't give them your screen name...in that family can know you well enough to find out who you are.) The site itself isn't searched by engines, but the public does read.

[la doctora]

I have spilled my guts on this site a couple of times. Probably too much sometimes. I am glad my family doesn't know certain things about me. Some things are too embarassing even to let my family know.

[JayS]

PC knows more about me then everyone I know.... I've spilled my guts here, thank god all the people here are very nice and listen with care.

[isadora]

Yes PC knows more about me and my problems. My fam doesnt know what problems i have in my relationship with my boyfriend. I feel that the people here is going to help me and dont treat me bad or judge me. Im happy i join PC..