i was just reading through a post about the frustrations people are having with this site, and ive heard alot of unhappiness on here lately (thats not intending to be a dig at anyone, just an overall observation). i thought it would be a good idea if i opened a thread asking for peoples success stories linked with PC, it has helped me alot and i dont have frustrations with it, except hearing all the negativity.

so, please, tell me your happiness with PC and say how it helped you in certain situations.

lets pay tribute to PC, and its huge lists of benefits.

Hope to speak soon

[Sabrina]

PC and all the members here have been very real friends to me during times of crisis and terrible loneliness.

My life would not be the same without PC.

[nothemama8]

Since coming to PC I have been able to learn I'm not alone, plus I have friends who won't betray me on the most part, I'm ablre to vent and get my fustrations out, only drawbak is I can't say my favorite saying without getting deleted hahahaha
Angie

[(JD)]

While I came to PC in very dark days, I have used PC to continue to hone my social skills. I had totally isolated myself for a few years, and, with only talking to a T and also a PT mainly, I hadn't bothered with general topic talk.

[Fuzzybear]

I have learnt a lot about all sorts of things during my time on PC. I have also made good friends who I know (for the most part) won't betray me, and where there is true mutual respect. (snap Angie ) I've lurked and posted a bit on several other online sites during my time here, and I still think PC is a great site

[dottie]

PC.... IMO..is such a wonderful place to come..whether u r just observing, venting, or sharing personal observations or experiences. Stay safe all!!

[Rhapsody]

PC - gave me strength that I could not receive in RL for ppl there did not understand where I was coming from or trying to go..... everyone here has helped me to stay alive with their tremendous support & great understanding of my inner wounded feelings, and all without judgement.


Thanks....
LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

The benefits of PC for me is this-
It's not so easy to walk away from this site as it is IRL from people. I don't know the magic this place holds but I've seen lots of other members under it's spell too.
To me, that's a good thing. It's good because IRL when someone blows you off-it's done. It's less likely they'll try to work things out with you.
On PC I find since it's not so easy to blow everyone off-you're going to have to deal with whatever it is that you really would rather walk away from. Whether it be one person or how things are going in general on the site.
It forces us/me to learn and grow.
You may end up being good friends with that person who made you want to never come back to PC again. You learn to adapt and compromise with others so your time here is tolerable. You learn to scream out "somebody help me" or "I'm feeling really sad" instead of whimpering away to hide alone in your room.
I like that I will come to PC even when I don't want to. You can't get me to do that IRL. If I don't want to go someplace-I don't go. PC is different like that somehow. I come in spite of not wanting to and nobody is forcing me to. But it does force me to learn and grow because of it.
PC's definetly got some kind of an addiction factor to it.

[Sabrina]

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Jax2923 said:
It's not so easy to walk away from this site as it is IRL from people. I don't know the magic this place holds but I've seen lots of other members under it's spell too.

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Actually, this entire post holds true for me!

Magic! A good word to describe the power of this place above all the people in my (real) life!

[Sabrina]

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Jax2923 said:
I like that I will come to PC even when I don't want to. You can't get me to do that IRL. If I don't want to go someplace-I don't go. PC is different like that somehow. I come in spite of not wanting to and nobody is forcing me to. But it does force me to learn and grow because of it.
PC's definetly got some kind of an addiction factor to it.

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This has left me speechless!

Well, almost... you have very and adequately worded much of what I feel!

[Sujin]

Simply Simon,

Thanks for starting this positive thread!

Sujin

[Danialla]

I find it ironic that a thread discussing the frustrations at PC, is getting so much attention and a thread discussing benefits is being somewhat ignored.

Oh well ::shrug:: to each his own.........

I have been very happy with my experiences at PC. Although I do not frequent all the different sites on this forum, the ones I do have been informative and supportive.

I appreciate the med site, and reading the personal experiences others have had with a specific med that I may, or may not have tried.....but will probably have to try in the future .

I learn so much in the other mental health sites (ie depression, psychotherapy, etc.) also and appreciate the support and guidance when needed.

I also appreciate the all the excellent links and information (ie book reviews, newsletters, etc) that help me understand myself and others better.

Overall, Psych Central is an excellent forum and somewhere that I can go to learn, feel that I can help others with my own personal experience and "most of the time" engage in thoughtful, adult dialogue in a number of different areas.

Gotta say though......sometimes the pettiness that goes on is rather juvenile......and it isn't the teens on the site

Take care everyone.

[Rhapsody]

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Danialla said:
I find it ironic that a thread discussing the frustrations at PC, is getting so much attention and a thread discussing benefits is being somewhat ignored.

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I guess we try our hardest to fix that which is broken.....


LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

[desirae]

This thread was a good idea, and even though I was the one that posted Frustrations, I agree with this thread as well. Because where there is cons, there's pros as well, and I personally think PC has more pro's then con's.

Personally what PC has done for me is made me aware that I'm not the only poor soul out in the world feeling the sadness, depression, and loneliness I sometimes feel. It's like all of us crazies have united and said hey, it's okay to be this way, and we can get through it. I've also made good friends here, and have met awesome people that I will never forget. That's what I like about PC.

[Fuzzybear]

Have you ever posted or "lurked" on any other online site? I think you will find the same phenomenon there

Human nature and all,

I actually found it very positive that people were allowed to discuss their frustrations here, and that admin, in the main, validated their frustrations by listening. If enough people participate in thoughtful discussions, that which is broken just might be fixed

Take care,
Fuzzy

[nothemama8]

I have felt semi-ignored but then being the shy person I am , I let ppl know when I need attention, this is what PC has done for me.

[Peanut61]

I can't forget the good friends I've made here, and I think I won't forget some new folks I'm meeting either, so baaack I come like a bad penny!

P.S. I think the 'Frustrations' thread ended in an awesome way, and I felt a 'connection' to PC as a result of the productive dialogue in it that I haven't felt, (but for checking in on my pals), in a long time. I appreciate thatand you ALL VERY much!!

[Fuzzybear]

((((((((( Angie ))))))) and ((((((( Peanut )))))))

Nice to meet ya Peanut!

[Zorah]

It seems to me that if the benefits we get from PC did not outweigh our frustrations with the site, none of us would still be here.

Personally, while I rarely read or post outside DD atm, I have found PC immensely validating. When I came members sent me many informative links, I might never have found.

I have made some good friends here, from other parts of the world.

One of the best things about PC, imo, is the large number of active members, & their huge variety.

((((((((((all members))))))))))

[Danialla]

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Fuzzybear said:
Have you ever posted or "lurked" on any other online site? I think you will find the same phenomenon there

Human nature and all,

I actually found it very positive that people were allowed to discuss their frustrations here, and that admin, in the main, validated their frustrations by listening. If enough people participate in thoughtful discussions, that which is broken just might be fixed

Take care,
Fuzzy

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Guess I was just noticing all the people who have read, reread, posted, and reposted on the "frustrations" thread saying ultimately the same thing over and over and over and over again.......and looking at the number (or lack) of people reading and posting on the "benefits" thread

If I were new.........I would notice the lack of "communication" regarding the benefits thread .....and looked at the communications on the "frustrations" thread and be really scared away at the lack of positives responses...........but that is just me.

Anyway, thanks PC for giving me a safe place to spread my wings and learn about myself and others........and maybe help a few along the way. Great Site!!

[wi_fighter]

It's taught me that I can't shoot my mouth off and then run and hide. If I want to continue to be supported, I need to set my pride aside and come back.

I've made a couple of really good friends.

I came here terrified of losing my children in a custody revision that I initiated, and was given tons of support that that wouldn't be the case.

I've grown enough to realize I AM worthy of being loved and I'm capable of loving someone else, despite the fact that my first marriage was a horrible disaster from the get go. Just because it didn't work with him doesn't mean it can't work with someone else.

There's more, I'm sure, but I just got called to do a stat report for work. Gotta go.

[SeptemberMorn]

Had trouble deciding whether to use the big grin icon or the heart. It could have been either.

When I first joined here, I had just come from being hospitalized in a psychiatric ward. It was a good experience for me but having been "turned lose" was scary. I was afraid I'd slip back into the same loneliness and depression. Not so. Having PC helped me turn lose of bad company that had been sapping all the life out of me. PC also saw me through reuniting with my estranged husband and eventually separating again.

Being here has also helped me learn to communicate better, to find more of my own boundaries and respect other's boundaries as well. There was no such thing while I was growing up and going through my first marriage.

Most important of all, PC is "home and family" for me. There is definetely magic here that keeps me coming back even when I think I don't ever want to hear "Psych Central" ever again!

Here, I have received the validation, nurture and appreciation I haven't received in 3D. When my 3D friends and family let me down or I feel unloved, uncared about and worthless, all I have to do is come here and all of that vanishes. I find love, respect and faith in me, here.

There is one so-called best friend in 3D, but I have one special friend here that I trust more, respect more and although I've heard that it's not healthy, I need her more in my every day life than I need my friend in 3D.

One thing I take exception to when someone says "in real life." This IS real life, too! No matter whether an experience is good, bad or otherwise, it leaves a mark on us just the same. The only difference is that you can't see friends here face to face. Sometimes, that's a big plus!

As for the negativity, it's human nature, I think. The whole world, right now, is spinning in a negative whirlpool. Speaking strictly about PC, I've found that more people will gravitate to the negative than to the positive. We probably all wish it wasn't so, but it is. Regardless, here on PC, if you dig deep enough, you can find positivity and beauty. I know I do! Just look at this thread!

As for the phrase "can't we all just get along?" No... this many people just can't always get along. There's just too much diversity. If we all, always got along, how boring it would be! Just like a marriage where there's never a difference of opinion; if it wasn't for the arguments, there would be no "making up." LOL How boring!! You just have to have the lows to appreciate the highs. Without problems, we wouldn't learn to solve them or learn respect for other's opinions.

Here on PC, I've learned a healthy way to accept authority and experience. I've learned that my way isn't always the best or the healthiest. I don't know all there is to know about everything! I've learned to accept and respect differing opinions and that there's a broader picture than the one I see. This I owe in a large part to Doc John. I've accused him of not having "heart" and have found out how wrong I was. I have crossed boundaries and have been given a caring second chance. So if I jump up and loudly come to Doc John's defence, I hope ya'll will understand and forgive my rudeness. Just chalk it up to me being a crotchety old lady. But on the flip side of the same coin, I can be the silly little kid I wasn't allowed to be when I WAS a silly little kid.

Even with the faults PC has, it's STILL the best place to be! I wouldn't trade it for any other place on earth... err... cyber-space.

[Zorah]

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As for the phrase "can't we all just get along?" No... this many people just can't always get along. There's just too much diversity. If we all, always got along, how boring it would be!..... Without problems, we wouldn't learn to solve them or learn respect for other's opinions.

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Even with the faults PC has, it's STILL the best place to be! I wouldn't trade it for any other place on earth... err... cyber-space.

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[darkeyes]

PC has provided me with support,strength and fabulous friends right from the begining,a few years ago when my world was caving in.
I truly appreciate all that has been given to me here.
All the good, I see outweighs the harder times here.
When people do get obsessed with negitivity,it can throw the balance of the benefits off.
But occasionally those things happen,things aren't perfect here,in RL or other websites. We do try our best to "fix" things and work through them.
But on an average,the support,info.fun times the members offer to one another is awesome,sort of like a super huge cyber family.
PC has been my refuge,I can come here,shutting off the RL world for a brief period and be amongst terrific people.
Anyone reading this get the idea, I love PC? LOL!!
I've learned a lot about people and friendships by coming to this awesome place.
I hope all can get the chance to make friends,get and give support, as I have while at PC,it has helped me pull through the most trying times in my RL.
I will always be grateful to those who have been here for me,and even sent good postive vibes to my family and pets in a time of need. I just can't find the right words that can convey what my heart feels.
Many heartfelt thanks to all.
DE