Hello

It is pretty lonely here in the early hours of the morning sometimes @Leglessfrog078 - I hadn't been on for a few days either - so you got lucky lol

@Faith-and-Hope GO TO BED........love ya

Good evening @Catcakes. I recall a similar discussion elsewhere on the Forums here about the exact same thing.

Personally, my psych encouraged me to join a Forum, which is the reason I joined in the first place. She thought I would benefit from talking about my issues in an anonymous setting. I am a very private person with little to no support outside of the forums, which she is well aware of. No doubt she took all this into account when she suggested I would benefit from the interaction of a Forum. Of course everyone is different and everyone's situation differs enormously. So its highly likely that psychologists personal views will vary dramatically from psych to psych and for client to client.

I think what it ultimately comes down to is "how do you feel"? Do you think it is of benefit to you to have the support of fellow sufferers of MH issues here to talk to. People who understand what you are going through? The important thing however, is to not let it become 'your life'. You need to continue to interact with the 'real world'.

Sherry xx

Hi @Catcakes,

Like @Former-Member, I remember this topic coming up in conversation recently. I will try to remember where it was. I have a vague memory that @Sans911 may have brought it up.

During that conversation, some people shared how their psychologist had encouraged them to connect on the forum and other people shared how they had been warned away from the forum by their psychologist. Thus it seems there are really mixed views out there.

For me, Forum Land is my absolute lifeline. I simply have no other social connections. I wonder if perhaps those mental health professionals who caution against forums are concerned about one person's big feelings triggering big feelings in other people. I can certainly understand that concern - Forum Land can be a tricky place to navigate sometimes as you yourself have discovered.

Alternatively, perhaps they are concerned that somehow interactions in Forum Land aren't as "real" as face-to-face interactions. I can understand this concern too. The reason Forum Land works well for me is BECAUSE the interactions aren't quite as real. That is, the bigness of my muddle overwhelms people when they engage with me face-to-face (or even over the phone!!!), whereas it is kind-of dampened in Forum Land.

On another note, the situation with your mum sounds really tough.