Do you feel comfortable on the forum?

[Doolhof]

Hi Everyone,

I've just been having a look at some of the posts on the forum and have once again been aware that some people make a thread, post once and then we don't seem to hear from them again.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, I am just wondering why that might be the case.

Do any of you have any suggestions?

Can you think of ways people may feel encouraged to continue posting?

o you personally feel welcome on the forum?

Connecting with others on this forum can be so rewarding in many different ways.

I also realise a lot of people just read and don't post and that is okay as well.

Are there ways we can make people feel more welcome here?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and ideas.

Cheers to you all from Dools

[smallwolf]

Hey Paul,

Sorry to hear about the difficult time you are having at the moment. And I don't have to tell you this, that just as you have looked after many of us in our time here, we would all be thinking about you, sending you feeling of comfort, peace and love.

This is the thing that makes this a good space - there can be somewhere where a person can go/come to when they are down and (within limits?) pour out their thoughts and feelings knowing they will not be judged by others in the same space. That many of the people here are connected in what they are go through in their daily lives, and have a understanding of the other. Some might not get what they are looking for here, but if writing on a virtual piece of paper helps...

... well it works for me (mostly). Yet there are times when constraining oneself in what is said is both a hindrance and help - for both myself and who I am replying to.

Tim

[blondguy]

Hi Tim

thank you so much for your super caring post above....you just made my day 🙂

love your clarity....Nice1

my kindest always Tim

Paul

[quirkywords]

Tim

I agree there is balance between askqing for help and giving help and knowing how much to pour out. Constraint can be a good thing for me at times and at other times Not so.

Paul, I echo Tim’s post and kind words, I will never forget how you welcomed me into the forum and the way you can summarise people’s thoughts so well .

I am thinking of you at this difficult time and I hope you know what high esteem you are held in on this forum.

Quirky

[blondguy]

Thankyou so much Quirky

you are an amazing person...Beyond Blue are fortunate to have you and your life experience on the forums

The forums can be a wonderful place to be a part of for people who are experiencing pain/anguish in their lives

Great thread by the way 🙂

my kindest always

Paul

[smallwolf]

Just to continue a Paul's post...

ignoring the little symbols that appear under my name, I would still feel comfortable here and posting as I do. People here with a lived experience know what you mean when you say you feel low. I can be more real here than I might be in the real world - because others in the real world might not necessarily understand - an argument in my head from 30min ago that leaves you mentally drained. And by posting here, we are connecting with other, people in similar positions to ours, and if for a brief moment be content with ourselves?

anything else you might have to follow on my thread.

[Guest5643]

Hi

Do i feel comfortable at the moment on forums NO.

I can read between the lines of some personal replies and personaly feel like im being attacked for having mental illnesses because i havnt cured them as such yet

Lynne

[music_man]

I don't feel very comfortable here. I've been able to reach out and try and offer support to others but I've been unable to post about my own problems which is why I joined in the first place. I see a lot of posts from new users on here from people in tragic circumstances like me that get very little support.

[Doolhof]

Hi Lynne,

It certainly sounds like you are not comfortable with the forum and the lack of understanding you feel has been directed at you.

I have mental health issues and know how much of a struggle life can be. Just recently I didn't know if I was going to last the week out or not.

I don't know if I will ever be cured of my issues. I am hoping that will be the case, but who knows.

There are times when I try to respond with positive reinforcement, at times I think I write things for my own sake as well as for others. It doesn't mean that I think people should be cured, it is for encouragement.

I'm really sorry to read you feel like people have not been listening to you. I know what that is like.

Can you let us know here how we can help you?

Thinking of you, Cheers from Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi music_man,

Sorry to read that you feel as though people are not adequately supported here, and also that you don't feel like you are able to post about your own issues.

One thing with the forum is that everyone here answers and responds to threads where they feel able. It is a fact that some posts are not answered where others seem to attract a lot of attention and assistance. Why that is I don't know.

It doesn't mean that one person is more deserving than someone else. It just happens.

Hopefully there will be a time where you feel comfortable to share more of your issues. It is wonderful you have been able to reach out to others to offer help, care and assistance.

Sometimes it is really hard to know what to write to people that will be of some help to them. Like you wrote, so many people have tragic circumstances.

All people posting here deserve an answer and response. Sometimes that is a hard quest to fill.

Wishing you all the best music_man, regards from Dools

[smallwolf]

Hi music_man, *waves to Dools*

just to add to what Dools said... sometimes reading about what others are going and the replies can be helpful. There may come a time when you will feel ready to write your story here - in another thread you replied to someone working in customer service, and in doing so revealed a little of yourself. Before I came here, I didn't really know that I could have a mental illness. Yet when I spoke to mum about it a couple of years ago, I found out my dad had been on ADs for quite some time. So when I came here I found there were/are people that care, that I was not alone and others wanted to help me. It may not be the same as a support group, but it also does one thing better... no matter what the time of day, I can write a post here, and later one, hopefully someone will have replied and that acknowledgement can be gold. And when you are ready, you might start your own story. Listening to you,

Tim