Writing In Paragraphs When Responding to Someone With Depression

[blondguy]

Hello Everyone

Thankyou for taking the time to read my new thread. I am still new on the forums and would like to ask any new or existing members for their thoughts. After having and recovering from depression for many years and recently having a setback I do find it difficult to read lengthy paragraphs as my concentration is somewhat reduced since I signed up in January. I am very proud to be a member of the forums and have done my best to provide my time and help where I am able. I am currently caring for some people on a face to face basis that have acute anxiety and recently diagnosed depression that aren't on the forums. I have also taken a break as per the advice I have received from some very kind people on the forums.

I have nothing but respect and admiration for my peers who provide their heartfelt advice and wisdom to new and existing members. Some of the people I am caring for have difficulty reading lengthy posts/paragraphs and absorbing the valuable advice that is being offered.

There are several health professionals/authors that limit their paragraphs/publications to just a few lines so the readers have a better sense of clarity without expending the mental energy they don't possess whilst healing.

Your thoughts/views are most welcome and appreciated. Thank you so much

My Kind Thoughts

Paul

[geoff]

hi Paul, I do think that our concentration level does diminish, maybe because when we have depression we tend to think a lot and try and rationalise our thoughts which just go around in circles and ending up with nothing, back to square one, so by trying to read long pieces could mean that our comprehension has gone, because in depression all our thoughts never came true, so it's a learnt by-product, if that makes sense.
Also by reading to other people who are suffering from anxiety and depression means that we are virtually reading for two people, them as well as for you, where you are trying to describe to these people what you have actually been through yourself and not getting affected again, so could mean that you want to stop.
Remember that you have been there before which made you more depressed and kept you in depression so it's never easy to talk about this if you don't feel comfortable, but from what I have read with all of your comments you seem to be a caring, lovable chap, who only wants to help as many people as you are capable of doing.
This forum has a 2500 word limit, however I'm sure that when people want to read a post and then open it up and find it to be a long paragraph, cancel it and then go on to another post, which would explain exactly what you have said, it's too long to comprehend what they are saying, unless they read sections of it every now and then.
I'm pleased you have joined the BB site and I hope you keep going as you have done. Geoff.

[White_Rose]

Hello Paul

Your comments are accurate. There is a huge amount of research out there on what makes communication effective on any level. It's more than short paragraphs, although this is big part of the effectiveness of writing. For the reader to be able to read and absorb the information, the writer needs to state ideas accurately, write in a variety of sentence lengths, but rarely more than about 30 words per sentence, and divide the message into manageable blocks.

Those who struggle with reading at any level find this an invaluable help. Those with any illness, physical or mental, that impedes their concentration also appreciate well written prose. When you browse through a book at a bookshop you will be as influenced by the layout as by the content to buy or reject the book. So it pays to write well.

In depression and other illnesses the reader needs as much help as possible. Our ability to take in information is, as you rightly point out, compromised by that illness. Reading through long paragraphs does take a toll on our emotional energy and whether or not the reader finishes reading the comment, they may well not comprehend the message entirely.

It's also useful to repeat your information in different words. This process is called redundancy, which irritates the person who can read and absorb quickly, but in general helps the reader. This is particularly true when writing non-fiction. Fiction relies on fast paced reading, but often the reader needs to refer to previous chapters to make connections. Redundancy helps the comprehension.

Remember the three principles of giving a speech to an audience. Tell them what you are going to say, tell them, tell them what you have said. Do that and your audience will have a far better chance of remembering your speech. It applies to writing as well.

Having said that I am also aware that people writing on BB are often in a distressed state and want to get their words out as quickly as they think. It doesn't leave room for other considerations. Blurting it all out is the aim before the person becomes exhausted by the process.

There are those who need well composed replies but who write one lengthy paragraph to meet their current need of getting it out there. When we reply it is important to understand before replying. And that takes time and energy from those who are also battling their particular difficulties. A bit of a catch 22.

We can only do the best we can. Thanks for initiating this topic.

Mary

[Guest_5218]

Hi Paul, another great topic from you.

I will state the obvious, which is that responses should be as "reader friendly" as possible. People seeking advice are often highly emotional and under great duress at the time they post. They (we) are often not thinking clearly or logically and we dont want a 'novel' to read through and have to pick out the relevant points.

I think, where appropriate, its good to make use of headings, bullet points, and numbering because this makes reply's easier to look at and follow. It's definitely easier to read a reply that's broken up into short paragraphs and bullet points or numbering, than a page full of long paragraphs. Two reply's may contain the same information but sound advice and support can sometimes be lost, unless its broken up into readable sections.

A reply that's easy to scan will get read more often, with a better chance of content digestion, than a reply with long, dense paragraphs. Concentration levels and comprehension of information are both very definitely compromised when we are feeling down. It needs to be easy for us .............

I personally believe that, with regards to the Forums specifically, its useful to pose a (safe) question/s because this will help to keep the person engaged and thus more likely to respond to you.

In saying all of that, I am probably one of the worlds worst at following these guidelines when I am writing emotively in regards to myself. Exactly as Mary says, I tend to get distressed and need to just blurt it all out. Resulting in 'stuff' flowing into my head too quickly for me to get it all down. As a result, my writing during those times can become very garbled, long and clunky, with bad paragraph structure.

Paul, I'm sorry you are having to contend with the care of others in need closer to home. That must be very difficult for you during what is also be a very trying time for yourself. You should be very proud of all the hard work, dedication and support that you offer people in need, both here and in the outside world. I greatly admire who you are, and what you do. I hope things soon become easier for you. You deserve a break. Hugs to you.

Sherie xx

[Starwolf]

Thank you for this most useful thread.

I agree with all of the above and will do my best to take it on board and keep it in mind. These forums are not my only area of writing so I sometimes find it difficult to switch from one to the other.

There is so much need out there that I am sometimes guilty of not proof reading before switching to the next thread, hence typos, omissions etc...I feel that getting carried away with a line of thought may be a common issue. And yes White Rose, trying to get to the bottom of such lines while remaining clear and concise is a Catch 22 type of exercise...but a most useful one on these forums.

Food for thought.

[Lost_Girl]

I don't know why I haven't considered this. Thankyou so much for pointing this out.

Sometimes I feel I need to respond to every point raised but I shall think differently now. Thank you xx

[Mares73]

Dear Paul

This is a bit different than the question you posed but I couldn't find a thread of yours in which to express what I wanted.

i want to sincerely thankyou for all the time & compssion you put into your responses to other members in need. You are clearly a gentle, generous & giving person who I greatly admire. You manage to respond to so many people across all of the forum topics. Your replies are so caring & genuine. You have made an enormous impact on those you respond to. Your heart is full of love, care & compassion. I appreciate & value your inputs every time I read a response from you. Thankyou for all those you reach out to & reply. Your heart is bigger than most.

MLove Mares X

[blondguy]

Hi Geoff....Thankyou for replying with the calm and common sense that I look up too. If I can quote something you said "Also by reading to other people who are suffering from anxiety and
depression means that we are virtually reading for two people, them as
well as for you"

I have never looked at it this way and yet its so true...I always read your advice (posts) and help you offer to others. I am very happy you have been here since I started. I read several of your posts prior to posting as your heart is a special one Geoff. It does shine brightly. You have made my day today Geoff with your sincere words of encouragement and motivation.....Paul

[blondguy]

Dear Mary........You have seen me trip and stumble on the forums and like Geoff you have been there for me since January this year. For you to have taken the time to reply on this thread is a gift and thankyou.

I have actually copied and pasted your entire post into my 'coping' folder on my PC. In recent difficult times I have found your posts reader friendly where I can absorb the help you kindly provide to others. I have gained a great deal of new knowledge and coping skills by reading your posts Mary.

Your whole post is clear and there is no effort required to read your advice that I need. If I may quote one of the great points you made....."It's also useful to repeat your information in different words. This process is called redundancy" This is clarity at its finest and you have helped me clear my own mind using this prior to posting.

I have always known that you are a very intelligent/well educated and articulate person Mary. A bit of a 'Catch 22' is so very correct. Thankyou for your kind and needed advice, I will benefit from your advice and thankyou again

Paul

[blondguy]

Dear Sherie, Thankyou for taking the time to reply, and your kind advice...You have made some very good points including and if I can quote you "we dont want a 'novel' to read through and have to pick out the relevant points" This is so right when responding to a person with a problem...whether a small problem or a highly technical one......They both have one thing in common.......They have written to the forums for help....the degree of the problem at hand is secondary....A cry for help is a cry for help

Thankyou too Sherie for understanding what I do 'off the forums' I really appreciate it..and yes...I need a break!

STARWOLF...You really do have an innate sense of clarity and wisdom combined. After being taught 'speed reading' at school I also miss many points that people make before going onto the next post...You are like many of us and maybe trying to cover many bases to help others..

CAROL......I am the same as you....trying so very hard to help that we may trip and fumble and make a paragraph too long when some people in crisis dont have the mental span to absorb it...Thankyou so much for your reply and the great care you have given to so very many.....Including our friend in the care facility....Bless your heart

MARES.......I dont have any words but my sincere thanks for how you can see what I am trying to achieve. My topic was written at 3:30am last Saturday and I cant really see a question either 🙂 I was making a point about the length of the kind responses where paragraphs are concerned and wrote about how difficult is can be to read a well meaning response when the concentration has vaporised. Thankyou so very much....I hope you have been doing okay! 🙂

Kind Thoughts Everyone ..............Paul