"RUOK?"; Thanking those who asked

I am thankful that my son is finally beginning to ask RUOK. That he is limiting his demds and hostility in my direction and making positive suggestions ... which is a huge milestone.

He is really the only one apart from the checkout chics and some posters on the forum. I express appreciation for the concern when it is a genuine.

I'm thankful to my mum. Even though I don't want to go into things with her - she asks if I'm okay and rather than bugging me with questions, she makes me a cup of tea. Sometimes I will share what's going on.. and sometimes I don't, but either way she doesn't push it or judge

34 years ago, when I was doing VCE (year12), I was severely depressed. I was at school, my mum was away overseas for a month, I was caring for my 9yo brother, and for my dog who was so ill I had to put him down - and trying to study so I could get into vet science at Melb Uni.

I was walking along a hallway (quite dissociated as I fuzzily recall) thinking about ways to end it. A teacher who had not taught me for a couple of years (and who was never one of my favourites, nor I hers) was walking in the opposite direction. She stopped me by calling my name. She asked me if I was ok. I said "fine" and kept going. She saved my life. Just being seen by another human who cared enough to ask made that much of a difference. It didn't stop me from being depressed, but the suicidal ideation was much less intense after that. And I'm still here today.

So Helen N, wherever you are, I'm incredibly grateful for your care. Thank you!

I had an experience like Kristins when I ran into a teacher on Fitzroy Street as a teen Just having a lovely chatty what have you been doing since you left school was really lovely, even though I was in the thick of it ... but it helped me to distinguish from genuine positive interactions and negative ones.

Actually @PeppiPatty I dont think it was a bad thing to write ... but I needed to process it. Part of my problem with isolation has been living in a vacuum.I crave real connection.

I see it now as my brittleness has cracked open .. also I try not to be long winded and then sometimes stop myself short... and the forum program also blocks a lot of words I have tried to use so I substitute something else etc. so I can see a disjointedness might be present. I am trying to be free and off the cuff myself instead of too guarded or controlled.

I am very aware of the limitations of good manners and politeness so a free honest response is actually more helpful at times for a friendship to proceed.

I dont want you to feel bad about it .. just let us keep being friends and learn to process stuff as it pops up.

I really believe that the biggest value of the forums is in having a variety of people and their responses to each other ... there is never only one way .. your way .. my way .. and heaps of others' ways