Newbie's Social Club - Come make some friends!

[tyme]

Hey @MJG017 ,

I can certainly relate to your post. It's hard to reach out. It takes a lot of courage to get out there and share your vulnerabilities.

I actually used these very forums to support me in my recovery. Because these forums are anonymous, it gave me the chance to share without feeling judged.

This was my safe place.

Adding to that, I'm find I am much better at articulating myself through text rather than over the phone or in person. 

What do you think?

Please know you are not alone @MJG017 . We are so glad you have you here.

[MJG017]

@tyme Thank you for your kind words.  I had a very similar experience for the first time I ever reached out and felt I could be honest with another person about how I felt and the issues I had always experienced.  It was very helpful to me in finding the confidence to make some positive changes in my life.  It was about 14 years ago and I find myself coming back to online forums hoping to get some of that success it brought me back then.  

Apart from the safety the anonymity of forums like this bring, I just find it easier to communicate via text.  I just have time to compose my thoughts and edit it if necessary until it feels "right".  When im happy with it i can send it.  Face to face, I can be a bit like a deer in the headlights.  I hesitate as I think and then the silence feels like it was awkwardly long so I end up saying nothing.  So ive never felt confident talking face to face with anyone.  So I guess online forums like this has always given me both the confidence AND the feeling of safety to open up and be honest with people.

I tried it with a couple of psychologists over the past year but felt either unheard or dismissed.  So thats when I came here... back to the familiar safehaven of online forums.  Now if I can just learn to keep my replies to under a small novel! :face_with_rolling_eyes: 

[Shaz51]

Hello and welcome @Rocky5 , @Missyp , , @MJG017 , @_tired_ 

how are you going today 

@rav3n , @Ru-bee , @tyme , @Jynx , @Teal 

[Ru-bee]

Hello @Shaz51 ! Having a nice sit in the sun once again, trying to live like a lizard at the moment and soak up every bit of winter sun I can find!

Hello and welcome to @Rocky5  @Missyp  @MJG017 @_tired_ @Where2start 

Here might also be a good place to pop this new posting guide designed for new members wanting to make their first thread 😀

[rav3n]

hey @Shaz51 and also welcome to the thread @Rocky5 @Missyp @MJG017 @_tired_ 😊

i'm going well. today i was actually sweating from the heat while driving around - so excited to see more sun, i just wake up in a better mood because of it! 
would love to hear how everyone else is going.

[rav3n]

@jamie_maybe @Indigo_ @RunnerG @1078 

welcome!! feel free to join the convo here to connect with some other members and share a bit about yourself 😊

hope y'all are having a lovely day.

[MJG017]

Hi @Shaz51, it's another day of a tough week or so.  I'm doing okay otherwise... muddling through.  I hope you're doing well and the weather is a bit better today where ever you are than it is here in Adelaide today.

[Jynx]

Ayyy muddling through is the way to go sometimes ay @MJG017 😉 

And just wanted to say I'm stoked that the forums can provide that safe space for you to be able to open up! I think it can also act like 'practice' in a way - basically it's (typically) difficult for us to be open and vulnerable because we've had bad experiences in the past, where we were shamed or made to feel like we'd done the wrong thing by opening up about our emotions and stuff.

So we need to teach our survival system that being open isn't always going to result in us feeling hurt and shut down, by having a repetitive experience of receiving positive responses for it instead. So every time you post and get some nice support in response, it shows your survival system that it's okay to be vulnerable! And you can slowly build yourself up to being able to open up verbally as well 😊

[Indigo_]

Hi. I’m new here. Just popped in to say hello and see what’s up

[rav3n]

hiyaaaaa @Indigo_ welcome!! feel to share anything about yourself (maybe a few fun facts or even what brought you to the forums?) - so glad to have you here 💗