Depression Support Group

you know... we do tery to do that... and everyday there is a thread like this one. Wecannot do much from this side of the screen. Just listen to them and offer our point of view and /or share our experiances. We are ALL fucked up in some way.... if we had the answers to everything we wouldn't be here.

i know but there are ppl who post that get totally ignored and unnoticed. i am more saying just make sure no post goes totally ignored so that each person feels that at least someone has heard them.

we try .... I don't like seeing zero replies either... but I usually get ignored .... they don't like my sense of humor I'd suspect.

i usually think you are funny so i must get you and make others weird out too.

All I can say is that I can't read every single post—it's impossible. I use the fun threads to keep myself sane, but I do try to send answers to the other posts, usually as a hug or pm, not on the boards. But there are times when I simply don't know what to say.

I am somewhat gun shy now in giving advice. I think I have given some really good advice in the past 10 months. Unfortunately, a couple of times, my suggestions and comments were taken way out of context and one thing lead to the next and before you know it, it was a near war. I have a list of 9 thinks which I have compiled and which I send out to many newbies and others looking for advice and suggestions. Sometimes they don't like one of the suggestions because one suggestion speaks to God, and I get roasted. Even though I start off asking people to keep an open mind, some people become offended for whatever reason and I end up the bad guy. I came here 10 months ago for help, after 2 or 3 months, I was feeling much better and I only come here to help others. Thats it. Period. I dont' come to offend, debate, whatever. Just help. And then, when you do, you get lambasted. I have often thought about leaving this board. But then I think if a few dont' like my suggestions, thats ok , the other 80% like my suggestions.

I think it might be a good idea to try and respond to names you don't recognise.

Some newbies or people that aren't here often or don't say much, could be a bit intimidated by the fact that the group is so close.

i think all of it helps. i personally have had a great experience here but for some it could be better. i know that some need to say a little more as well to be noticed at all. just wanting to make sure we are trying to do what we can....if i don't know what to say...i just tell them i can listen but am not sure how to make it better beyond that. and as we all have noticed... religion can be a touchy one. my spirit i am sorry you got blasted but don't let it make you shy on advice. could be something you say that helps the next person.

Another reason why some people don't receive much help is that they may post only once or not at all. If you post at the wrong time, your message may be off the page before more than 1 or 2 people read it. It's trite, but it is the squeaky wheel that gets the oil—the person who joins in in the threads, posts a journal, actively seeks friends, gets much more notice than the person who sits quietly hoping for some to find them.

that is true...and why i try to go back and look for 0 replies myself. but i know not every one does and somedays...i can't be bothered either. all just food for thought guys.