[BrnEyedGrl]

I am not sure if this is the correct area for this but...here goes. I am wondering if someone out there can give me a general description of this site. I guess Im finding things out okay, but am still really confused when it comes to how it is run and what I should be doing. Can someone just briefly tell me how to find pictures to add in my replies/posts, and just what to expect or what to do if you are not technology advanced like me. lol. I understand chatroom pretty well, but have not been on yet. What do all of you do when you sign in everyday? Do you mark posts/replies as a favorite? Do you feel comfortable in the chatroom the first few times you go there? And how do you get to know others so well? Okay....hopefully a few of you will be patient and answer any questions you can, I did try to find out answers on some posts but was still confused.
Thanks everyone, have a good day!

[sabby]

((((((((((( BrnEyedGrl ))))))))))))

It can be a bit overwhelming here as there is so much to see and do. Sorry if you are having some difficulties.

Many folks here log on and read forums that they are interested in. They post supportively to people, or make a thread about something that is either bothering them, or something they want to share with others.

Some folks only visit certain forums while others look at all of them. After newbies have posted for awhile, either asking for support or giving it or both, people see your name and may find they have a connection with you on some level. That's pretty much how relationships start around here. The more visible you are, the more connections you can make.

Many folks here also speak in pm's to each other...off the boards and privately. After being her for awhile you may want to reach out to someone privately or someone may want to reach out to you privately and relationships can form from that too.

Then there are the folks who are researching and reading the other parts of PC....the informative articles have helped many folks in finding answers to their questions.

Unfortunately, I'm not into putting pictures in my signatures so I can't help you with that....sorry!

As far as the chatroom is concerned.....it can be a godsend to some or it can be extremely uncomfortable for others. Since this is a mental health site, at any given time, there are folks in chat who have some real difficult stuff they are going through. Some may lash out because of the space they are in, some may be withdrawn and not talk much but feel the need for company, some may be there in very supportive roles. Since you understand chat pretty well, you probably know that the written word can be difficult for some to understand how some things are said....and feelings get hurt at times. (unintentionally) And then there are times when chatters are in goofy moods and having a blast.

One thing you will find here is that there is an abundance of patience and support. It's a great community and we strive to keep it uplifting.

My advice is to take your time, sit back, read, post, support, ask for help if you need it (like you did here!) and enjoy our community. We are glad you are here and I look forward to seeing you on the forums or in chat! I hope I've helped a bit


sabby

[pachyderm]

Also, there is a Technical Support forum here to get advice on things like including pictures and so on. Take a look there and check out some previous posts on those subjects, or add your own new questions.

[pachyderm]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
BrnEyedGrl said:
I am wondering if someone out there can give me a general description of this site. I guess Im finding things out okay, but am still really confused when it comes to how it is run and what I should be doing.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

To me, this site is arranged by diagnosis or symptoms, a way which is probably familiar to mental health professionals, but which disregards the connections between areas that, as a consequence, get classified as separate. In fact (I think) these areas are connected by being the outcomes of various kinds of "deficiencies" of parenting. I think the details of symptoms should probably matter to professionals, but concentrating on them obscures the common thread which underlies them all. This does not help in the task of healing.

[BrnEyedGrl]

Thanks guys....

[pachyderm]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
pachyderm said:
To me, this site is arranged by diagnosis or symptoms, a way which is probably familiar to mental health professionals, but which disregards the connections between areas that, as a consequence, get classified as separate. In fact (I think) these areas are connected by being the outcomes of various kinds of "deficiencies" of parenting. I think the details of symptoms should probably matter to professionals, but concentrating on them obscures the common thread which underlies them all. This does not help in the task of healing.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I want to amend this. I feel that all of what we normally think of as "mental illnesses" are the consequences of childhood trauma, particularly prolonged trauma, that is severe enough to damage the person's personality or ego structure in a way that does not get subsequently healed. I think the "trauma" can have a number of origins; probably in a large number of cases it is due to what is usually called "abuse."

I wish I could understand in more detail what I mean by "personality structure" as I feel that it is possible to be more detailed about what internal or brain systems are involved. I do feel shortchanged in a major way by the inattention or unwillingness to investigate this understanding of mental illness by most of the profession. Of course, that itself is probably due to related emotional damage that is present within what is called "normal" people which makes them reluctant to contemplate more extreme forms of damage and suffering.