topic Blogging as therapy? in Staying well

Blogging as therapy?

Quercus — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 16:59:53 GMT

Hi everyone,

First off I have to mention sharing addresses for blogs I don't think os permitted (forums being anonymous after all). But blogging is a topic I wanted to talk about.

This week I tried an experiment. I feel very isolated offline lately and not very well. BB has it's limitations being anonymous so although I enjoy writing to new members it wasn't 'enough' when I couldn't sleep and felt like crying again. Part of me wanted more of a connection.

So I paid for a year with a blogging company (no idea what the right term is). $60. And have my very own blog which (even if I do yell at the screen occasionally) hadn't been as hard as I expected.

I haven't told anyone. I don't use social media. Felt like a complete idiot actually. But part of what I miss here is visual. I took photos of my garden to go with my words. It felt good to record it for myself even if noone else knew.

Then something weird happened. Strangers read and replied. So I read and followed their blogs. One was a young man. A suicide survivor who writes the most beautiful poetry. Another a gardener too. A third a transgender man. I began to see there are so many stories out there. Public. With photos too. So brave. I like my anonymity for now.

I started thinking about how on these forums after members have been here a while some conflicts form because people feel restricted by the rules. The rules are here to help us to be safe but I also wondered if when people become frustrated at the limitations here does that mean they are ready for more of a connection than what is achievable here?

Long story short... Do any of you blog too? What do you like about it? Is it different to you than writing here?

And most importantly... Does it help you manage your mental health and why?

Nat

Blogging as therapy?

Peppermintbach — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 21:46:39 GMT

Hi Nat,

While I’m not so happy to hear you have been having a difficult time, I am happy to hear you have found an outlet/way to connection via blogging 🙂

It must feel great to be able to share the photos; I suppose it creates another dimension of connection and understanding.

I’m glad those lovely people replied. I suppose it just goes to show, here or elsewhere, everyone has their own load to carry and individual stories to tell. Anyway, what meaningful connections you have formed...good for you 🙂

To answer your questions:

Do any of you blog too? What do you like about it? Is it different to you than writing here?

And most importantly... Does it help you manage your mental health and why?

Nah, I don’t blog but I have a small number of (offline) friends who do...

They mostly use it as a creative outlet rather than to talk about mental health issues. But I suppose creativity/creative outlets can be a way to help maintain good mental health for some people.

I also know a couple of people who blog about social and world issues...

For them and regardless of the content, I feel it’s about having a public voice and, as you said, to connect plus to share ideas/discuss.

Pepper xoxo

Blogging as therapy?

Peppermintbach — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 22:36:07 GMT

Hi Nat,

Having one of my moments... I think that I wrote a post. Not sure as I may have pressed cancel instead....

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I read your post and feel it’s a good topic in the mean time 🙂 I’ll check again later and hopefully won’t have to re-write it.

Pepper xoxo

Blogging as therapy?

Doolhof — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 22:51:02 GMT

Hi Nat,

I can see where you are going with this. I have never blogged and have no idea how you read someone else's blog.

I feel that these days in our society, it can be hard to connect with people face to face in the real world. I have tried to be a part of various groups, some I feel welcome in and others I don't. Some of that may be the depression and BPD talking to me as well.

It seems like some people don't know how to connect unless they have a gadget to help them do it. So maybe setting up a Blog is the way to connect. It certainly sounds like you are connecting with a few interesting people!

All the best with the Blog!

Cheers from Dools

Blogging as therapy?

james1 — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 03:00:36 GMT

Hi Nat,

I've never tried blogging though I have often wanted to start. I used to read other people's blogs too and wanted to post there.

I used to follow a couple of BPD blogs and I felt really inspired. I guess the blog somehow made it feel more human compared to a forum avatar and post. Like you say, having pictures seems to make such a big difference. Plus it's their blog - the whole website is theirs.

I suppose when you don't ever have anything that you consider yours and yours entirely, even having a blog can feel like maybe you own a little part of this world - and even are responsible for it.

Like a diary, a garden, a drawing book - I have always felt like owning something has given me purpose, and I've read many people talk about blogs the same way.

It's not something you ever really hear from people talking about forum posts.

So I do think blogs fill a different need - you reach far less people, it's much less anonymous, but yet it's also yours.

Anyway, I don't have one and never have. I guess the garden and writing are my ways of expression. But I'm happy that there are blogs out there because they work for so many people.

Blogging as therapy?

Ggrand — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 03:44:39 GMT

Hello Everyone,

I have never blogged, I might be extremely naive because I really have no idea what blogging is or how you do it.. I'm thinking by reading these posts it's sort of like an open diary of where we are at now in our life, where we are heading and our thoughts.

Sorry if I got it wrong, I just totally don't know about blogging..

Can I ask if it's good to do?

warm and kind thoughts,

Grandy

Blogging as therapy?

Quercus — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 13:10:41 GMT

Hi Grandy and James and Mrs D and Pepper 😊

Thank you for all of your input. I appreciate it.

Grandy your post made me realise maybe I should start at the beginning. I'm not very technically minded so I apologise in advance if I mess it up.

A blog is a website. You create a blog to talk about whatever you are interested in and others can reply and discuss it with you. The forums are similar with a few limitations... Anonymity and protection.

It does seem similar to social media in some ways in that you can like posts and people "follow" your blog. That side of it disturbs me a bit. It feels a bit like leaving the safe haven here where responses are moderated and testing out my resilience in the "real world".

Grandy you have the right idea but some blogs are more scientific, others like Pepper mentioned are socially minded, some are selling a product or service but many are trying to do what we do here... To share and spread the word about a topic close to home. They want to share their story to help others.

Sara mentioned once these types of forums are unique to Australia. One of the blog I follow mentions Beyond Blue and how badly a similar network is needed (they are based in the US).

Mrs D you are spot on here..

"It seems like some people don't know how to connect unless they have a gadget to help them do it. So maybe setting up a Blog is the way to connect."

YES. I am trying to work within the restrictions I have in my life to connect in a way that makes me feel good. I tried work and we can't make it work. I am needed to care for the kids. The doc says daily hour of power (one hour every day kid free) the reality of that is I stay up even later to make up for that time out (and less forum time).

So stuff it. I'm documenting the progress of my garden just for me. It forces me to be present. Take photos. Think about what I'm doing. Is it mindful? Who knows. But it is helping.

Thank you for joining in even if you don't feel tech savvy either.

❤Nat

Blogging as therapy?

Quercus — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 13:32:38 GMT

Hi Pepper and thank you,

Most especially for your little extra post making sure I knew you'd written and someone cared. Funny how even us long term posters feel the same anxiety creating a post sometimes as a new member.

I like how you mentioned the various types of blogs. I think what made me smile the most was my experiment not telling anyone I knew. On here we talk about giving support to recieve support so I just started searching and reading and replying to people who's blogs reached out to me (sound familiar?!) and funnily enough nearly all returned to read mine and comment. It proved to me our system works. Not just here where we are safe but other areas of our lives too.

I just had to take the make the effort.

And James... Knowing your background with creative writing I think you'd enjoy blogging.

One blogger (hehe how funny is that term) who began following mine out of the blue is a suicide survivor who writes poetry. I will have to copy one to the quotes section soon.

The thing that I love best is the imagery he posts along side the words. And I found out he has a published book too. So I can see how for a creative person this could be a real opportunity.

Plus you've also hit home with the word ownership. I felt really nervous about trying this. And it could be an epic failure. But part of me is using myself as an experiment.

I mentioned people wanting MORE than these forums are able to give. And I wondered is that because people form friendships and don't want to be anonymous anymore? Unfortunately the system here has a purpose and anonymity is vital otherwise truly vulnerable people may never speak out. But what about the members who feel ready to move on? Who don't want to be anonymous anymore because they still feel isolated offline.

Hence the experiment with blogging. If I can do it and make helpful connections with others maybe others can too. Early days yet.

What do you think?

Blogging as therapy?

PamelaR — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 13:33:43 GMT

Hi Nat

Sorry to hear you've not been so good, but am glad to hear you're working on a way to get better.

Yes I've blogged, but in an official capacity as part of the work I used to do. Whether it helped my mental health at that time, I can't really say. Probably caused me anxiety because it was all new to me and I wasn't really sure what I was doing. Just had to learn as I went along.

I must have done okay though, because they recently asked if I'd do a blog. I've promised to do by mid May.... Haven't even started to get my mind around it yet.

The blog though has nothing to do with mental health, it's about photographs and cataloguing. Something which I'm not really good at, so hence my anxiety at the moment. But I did promise, and it's making me think the lack of catalogue I have for my photos.

Kind regards

PamelaR

Blogging as therapy?

Peppermintbach — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 21:19:02 GMT

Hi Quercus and all,

All good, no worries at all 🙂 It was easy for me to add that little post. I’m glad to hear it helped validate you a little.

Just a little aside that I would like to add if that’s okay... I feel, with blogging and forum use, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a case of “either/or.” What I mean is it’s possible to use multiple methods and platforms to connect and it’s not necessarily a case of “choosing” one method over and above another.

As in I feel sometimes we can utilise multiple methods to connect as they can complement each other or fill a need that another form of communication doesn’t e.g. a person can write on the forums about mental health and connect, see friends/loved ones face-to-face to talk about other issues and spend time together to bond, use phone calls/etc to keep in touch with people who live far away/overseas, etc.

To use a real example, most of the people that I know who blog are also very well connected socially and personally (i.e. face-to-face) but blogging merely helps them self express in a way that they might not be able to socially or if the company they keep aren’t necessarily interested in those topics/passions.

Granted, I know they obviously don’t “represent” all bloggers but I feel they demonstrate how it’s not necessarily a case of “choosing” one or another approach but choosing complementary approaches to best enhance their human connections (but of course this would be different for each person). I hope this makes sense...

Pepper xoxo

Blogging as therapy?

Tams20 — Tue, 01 May 2018 11:03:24 GMT

Hi Nat,

I like the idea of blogging actually! I’d probably want to be anonymous too, at least initially, but the idea definitely appeals to me. I don’t really mind if nobody follows me - I find it therapeutic writing about things. I used to religiously keep a diary when I was a teenager, in reality it probably helped me get through a very difficult time.

I might look into it. Thanks for the idea 😊

Tams

Blogging as therapy?

Quercus — Tue, 01 May 2018 14:38:53 GMT

Hi Pepper,

Yes that makes perfect sense. I think for a while volunteering and writing here was enough. But as I am becoming more resilient through therapy I need more.

I joined an activity through BlueVoices which gave me purpose and distraction in a creative way on days where I felt crap. Then it finished and it left me feeling a little lost. I'd gotten used to thinking and writing and being creative. The blog fills that need.

I think you're right. We need to use any resources available if they help us to feel good.

And hello again Tams20,

Thanks for joining in the conversation too. I was surprised at how easy it is to create a blog. I used WordPress but there are heaps of platforms out there.

What would you blog about if you decided to take the plunge?

Actually... That's a good question for everyone.

If you created a blog...what would you write about?

Nat

Blogging as therapy?

Just Sara — Tue, 01 May 2018 19:04:33 GMT

Ah Nat; your timing's impeccable!

What do you think I was considering yesterday? Yep; blogging! lol

I've wanted to do it for a while but didn't have the timing right. I feel exactly what you've expressed now...a need to connect on a different level. Creatively for myself I think.

While I get so much from helping others here, my life's changing directions to include 'me' more often and with 'passion'. It's passion that flies the coop when MH hits. When it returns as it has for me, there seems a gap or missing link. The thought of blogging, intuitively came up and the appeal is enticing! 🙂

I'll have to do some research and test the waters me thinks. Fancy me thinking it, and then finding your/this thread. I keep saying it; the Universe is really eerie sometimes eh...

Gr8 M8!

Sez xo

Blogging as therapy?

Peppermintbach — Tue, 01 May 2018 19:39:11 GMT

Hi Nat and all,

Yes, I’m with you on making the most of multiple platforms and resources to connect. I suppose it’s about creating a combo that works for each of us personally. I don’t ever think any one resource can realistically be expected to fulfill all of our needs for connection or self expression.

If you created a blog...what would you write about?

I’m not sure. Maybe politics, social issues and climate change...don’t know, it’s a hypothetical question. I can already see the potential arguments lol...

For me, what I struggle with on the forums is I’m not really intellectually stimulated, and yes, that is a real need for me. I respond mostly on an emotional level and perhaps offer thoughts and suggestions.

That being said, it goes back to my whole point about how I don’t think it’s realistic to expect any one resource or person to fulfill all of our “needs.”

Pepper xoxo

Blogging as therapy?

Just Sara — Tue, 01 May 2018 22:05:25 GMT

Hi Nat; (Shout out to bloggers and co too!)

Well, I did it! I started a new website with WordPress. A bit daunting considering I haven't slept and had to increase the page size to 125% to read/write properly.

It's only part done, but what a great way to get the creative juices flowing. What did I write about? Life...

Thankyou so much!!!

Sez xo

Blogging as therapy?

quirkywords — Tue, 01 May 2018 23:08:30 GMT

Nat

That's a great thread just as I was starting a thread on writing as therapy- Words:friend or foe.

I write a blog on an health site , as there is a new blog each day. I would have maybe 3 a month on, and it is always a different topic under the general area of mental health and being well.

So not a blog like you are talking about, but people comment and I find it helps me with my writing. Someone said I write about the obvious but others often miss the obvious!!, not sure if that is a good comment!.

Anyway, I have been writing for over 2 years so maybe over a 100 plus blogs of 300 to 500 words. It has given me confidence and there is no pressure to write very day, which there maybe with a regular blog not sure about that. Also there is a regular audience too .

Sez, well done.

quirky

Blogging as therapy?

Quercus — Wed, 02 May 2018 15:09:45 GMT

Hi Sara and Pepper and Quirky 😊

Sara (sorry I just can't 'click' with Sez... You'll always be Sara Connor kick ass woman like your old avatar to me 😊). Fellow blogger welcome and kudos to you! So what do you feel? Did it help you to have a space of your own with a wider reach to the world?

Pepper have you thought about joining blueVoices? I need to really THINK sometimes (only so many renditions of the Paw Patrol theme song until my brain goes to mush). BV has heaps of activities to join. Surveys. Giving feedback. Joining committees and studies.

I used to think there was the forums and BB who publish education material and fundraise. But there is more to it than that. There are a lot of activities through blueVoices that are to do with making change via politics. After all government needs solid data about the need and value of services or they wont invest any money.

End of sermon. Not trying to push or sell. I'm just saying if you need intellectual stimulation have a chat to BB about blueVoices.

And Quirky 😊... Your thread is such a perfect compliment. I'm writing about online publishing and you are writing for people who need a way to express and communicate themselves. Love it.

What a shame addresses are a no go. I would love to read your blog posts. I do subscribe to a lot of mental health blogs so who knows maybe I've read your stuff without even knowing it 😊.

What about how blogging makes you feel? Can anyone pinpoint why or how it helps them other than the feeling of connection?

Blogging as therapy?

Just Sara — Thu, 03 May 2018 06:09:13 GMT

Thanks so much Nat;

I'm on the free version atm trialling my approach and direction; it's a process of elimination and guess work. My sis called in today and we spoke about an idea for a business, or at least something that could turn into one. Got the passion and excitement juices flowing.

Free association with people who listen, (thank God one exists in my world) can rev up the creative brain into something quite magnificent. 🙂

The Blog page will definitely come in handy.

There's only one company who provides this service so Oz isn't flooded with competition. I gateway appears to be there.

So happy you wrote this..

Sara xo

Blogging as therapy?

Peppermintbach — Thu, 03 May 2018 07:41:23 GMT

Hi Nat and all,

Thank you for the thoughtful suggestion 🙂 I’m glad blueVoices was a great way to stimulate the mind. It sounds like it was a refreshing change from your usual routine to have that. Fantastic to hear.

I’ll keep it in mind but I’m considering other options too. I don’t want to steer this thread too far of course so I won’t go into detail here. Thanks again 🙂

I hope your new business venture goes well, Sez 🙂

Also, good on you for spreading your writing Wings on multiple platforms, Quirky 🙂

Pepper xoxo

Blogging as therapy?

Tams20 — Thu, 03 May 2018 23:41:29 GMT

Hi everyone 👋,

You’ve all inspired me to give blogging a try. I used to be such a good writer when I was a teen, creative writing was my favourite, I loved writing stories and I used to keep a diary of my thoughts and feelings (something I should really be doing now!). I have always fantasised about writing a book... I used to be quite creative once upon a time, was also a talented musician (so I’ve been told) particularly on the guitar...

Somewhere along the way I have lost all of that creativity... I blame my career as a civil engineer in the construction industry, creativity is certainly not encouraged - it’s all about standards and processes and procedures, following the rules - any writing has to be viewed through the lense of potential future finger-pointing if things go wrong... I have to ask myself how my writing might be viewed in an investigation... it’s pretty restrictive!

So it’s time for me to try to get it back. And a blog might be a good way to start. Thanks for the idea Quercus!

Tams