[sam1111]

Hi everyone hope you are all well. I recently joined this forum and had a few questions for members who have used this website and what they think of it.

I am looking for some advice regarding my health needs especially in regards to mental health, and i thought to myself that maybe i should join an online forum.

When i did i google search for health forums that are literally hundreds?

I am confused which one to join and choose to become a regular poster.

So far i have found a few forums that may suit my needs

They are:

1) Healthboards.com
2) PsychCentral.com
3) DepressionForums.org
4) SocialAnxietySupport.com

These 4 forums have quite a lot of posts and number of members, but healthboards seem to have the most member and posts.

So can people advise me is it better to join and contribute regularly to a more general forum to do with all health matters or is it better to join a forum that is dedicated to specific health issues.... eg. depression?

I am also wondering about the quality of advice given at general health forums ..... will they have regular members that have detailed knowledge of ANY SPECIFIC ISSUE? or will they give you advice that is quite basic unlike specialised health forums such as SocialAnxietySupport.com

What is it about this forum do you think that sets it apart from its competitors in terms of features, member numbers etc?

Thanks for reading this post and i hope you can help so i can decide which forum i should dedicate my time to and which forum is likely to have the most knowledgeable members giving helpful advice

[DocJohn]

Different support groups online offer different pros and cons. The only way to find out if a community is a "good fit" for you is to join it, participate in it, get to know the other members, and see if it is or not.

Things like numbers in a community don't mean a darned thing if those numbers don't equate to caring, supportive members in a place that is safe and open to people with mental health issues.

You might find a condition specific forum more beneficial if you can find one for your specific condition. I think sites like DepressionForums.org are great and encourage our members to always check out and contribute to any site they find helpful in their own recovery.

Best,
DocJohn

[shezbut]

hi sam1111,

I do have different types of troubles ~ medical and psychological issues. A couple of years ago, I thankfully discovered this site. Psych Central has a wide variety of supportive rooms. I started coming to Psych Central more and more often, as my comfort in here grew & now I rarely visit any other sites.

I do sometimes go into the neurological site, that is a cousin of PC, to talk with others who have distinctive experiences with epilepsy and traumatic brain injuries (like myself). Not many people in PC do have a lot of experience with issues like these, but some of us do.

Regarding emotional disorders, people here are very supportive and knowledgeable with a huge variety of issues. I have had the pleasure of making friends here that understand the depth of emotions that I struggle with ~ we share our experiences and support to help each other through what we can understand. Sometimes, we give a because no words can help. PC has been helpful and rewarding to me in many ways.

I hope that has answered your questions. Perhaps you will decide to stick around and I'll see you later. I wish you well either way. Best wishes to you!

[madisgram]

sam, like doc john said one needs to find a "good fit". for myself i've found psych central was it. i had joined other sites and did not find the caring support i find here.