Forums Offer Great Help
Posted by Sylvia on December 18th, 2006
For the past little while, I’ve been scouring the internet for forums and blogs related to mental health issues. Some excellent blogs are not accepting comments, which is unfortunate when a post only covers one aspect of a topic. Often, there are other viewpoints not covered and it would help if people with that additional insight could add their comments.
I did find a few blogs that allow comments, but my search is far from 1/100% done. If I find any of great value, I will let you know.
I have discovered a couple of very good forums, though. They provide a great place to share your thoughts and experiences and get feedback from others who have had similar experiences. The help provided by fellow-sufferers and those who have recovered can be more beneficial than other methods.
The reason, it seems, is that people on forums can remain anonymous while they discuss sensitive issues of great importance. In therapy sessions and groups, this is not possible, so people who would benefit from such contact are reluctant to reach out.
The biggest precaution about commenting on forums is to be very aware of how much you are revealing, especially if it provides the reader with any possible means to track you.
Here are a few tips that may seem obvious, but sometimes online chats can become so “comfortable” that we are always at risk of revealing too much.
1. Refrain from giving your real address or any clues that will enable anyone to figure it out.
2. Don’t give out financial information, and certainly not anything specific.
3. Keep your status private. Don’t let people know you are single, rich, physically limited as in a wheelchair or bedridden.
4. Keep your distance from anyone who tries to get “too close” by asking to contact you by regular mail.
There are other things to watch for, but these are a few that immediately come to mind.
Apart from that, by all means visit and participate in forums which are, in essence, a type of support group. They provide a non-judgmental environment where your condition is understood and your reaction to it is appreciated not criticized. This is where you can express your struggles, thoughts, ideas and feelings while hearing of other people’s struggles and how they overcame them. You can compare notes, ask questions and benefit from the experiences of those who have been there.
Here are two forums that I recommend for anyone struggling to cope and understand.
Two that I found are:
http://www.uncommonforum.com
(very active environment that covers anxiety-related subjects as well as self esteem building)
http://www.thetalkshop.org
(I just discovered this one but so far it looks promising. It includes a sizeable section on grief and loss.)
You’ll soon learn you are not alone.