Hello. I realize this might be a strange choice of words for someone’s first posting on a message board, but here goes.
I’ve been suffering with severe depression for a few years after a bereavement, and recently I was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Because I have no real friends outside of work (and I am obviously keeping these diagnoses a secret at work, I have no interest in being let go by my employer in a “right to work”, lovely irony there, state) and I don’t have that many other people to talk to, my therapist suggested that I find an internet forum where I could discuss my problems.
Someone I know suggested this messageboard, and I looked around here quite a bit. I can tell that this is a lively and interesting group of people, but I get the sense that this is not the best place to discuss these things, and that I might be better off with a group of people who have been there and back.
So I am humbly asking you–is there a message board out there that could help people like me? I’ve looked for other places, and it’s hard to tell whether one or another forum is full of proselytizers or folks who think prune juice can cure depression or just isn’t very active any more. If anyone out there has any good advice, I would be most grateful.
You could check out Patients Like Me. They are an online mental illness/various other illnesses support site. They have a dedicated mental health message board. They have tools to track your symptoms and meds, and you can make notes as to how you’re feeling for later reference. You can also use the message board to share topics and ask questions.
I am sorry you are having a hard time. I hope you find what you are looking for!
Welcome to the boards. I have had my own issues with mental health issues, a lot of people who post here can relate to having a mental illness and trying to make the best of it.
As far as other boards, I don’t know what all boards are out there that are also relatively fast (meaning if you post something it won’t be 3-4 days before a reply).
You’d assume with so many of us having a mental illness or knowing someone with one, there would be more options. But I really don’t know what else is out there.
For me I contacted my local NAMI office and asked them about any in person groups. I found a group of people who met every week and it was a good experience. I would recommend trying the same thing.
You do NOT diss prune juice here! (Blue, underlined text is a link to an external website. In this case it will take you to YouTube in another tab. If you are unable to view online videos, it is a snippet from Star Trek-The Next Generation where Worf is introduced to prune juice.)
Stick around, stay out of the BBQ Pit with your troubles, and use the nice folks in MPSIMS as your group therapy group. Some advantages to the SDMB over other, therapy-only, boards is that while many of us are as crazy as shithouse rats, we are mostly functional and have been through much that you have. And we talk about other things, too. And we have the Pit in case you need to do some primal screaming.
Oh, and we have people who actually know what they are talking about, so the Woo Crew doesn’t last long. This is a place where you can explain yourself, ask questions, and get opinions and ideas. I’ve been abusing that privilege for months (years?).
Um, yeah. There are a lot of crazy folks on these boards. I’ve had major depressive disorder (etc.) for basically ever, but where it once derailed my life, I now cope with it pretty well. I’d say a lot of us cope pretty well. You’re definitely welcome to join the Depression Support thread. There’s not too much woo around here… speaking for myself I turn to evidence-based treatments like CBT and ACT, meditation, proper nutrition, and exercise.
I’ve found other depression boards lacking, because they turn so easily into a massive pity party where everyone just makes everyone else more depressed. But I feel like here on the Straight Dope, we’re more focused on empathy and problem-solving.
Thanks to all that responded. I will try out some of the other boards suggested–some of them sound interesting.
I will try to post a little bit around here. Having a job that usually runs 50-60 hours a week while taking meds that cause me to sleep 10 hours a night (it would be more if I could get away with it) while trying to keep up a household of people who I wonder are really any better off than myself has cut into my time a lot. So I guess what I’m saying is…when I can pull myself away from things, like during this lunch hour, I can be here. But I am grateful to you for offering support and I hope I can return the favor some how. Thank you.