These social internet sites where you can share your pain with others: Do you think they help or

[Mike 03]

hurt?

I finally joined some site where I can express some of the things I'm going through, but it feels so awkward and strange. I'm not positive this is helpful. But the site seems very sincere, and I could probably get some support there, so I'm very conflicted and ambivalent.

Any suggestions? Are these "ventilation" and share everything sites helpful or will they just take me further away from face-to-face contact with family and friends.

[taterguy]

1. Don't they have bars in your town?

[Lex]

2. Alcohol and grief are a bad combination.

nt

[taterguy]

7. Maybe for you

[Lex]

9. self-delete

[bigwillq]

3. What sites did you join?

:shrug:

[Mike 03]

4. The site is called "Experience Project." Someone in a chatroom about grief

recommended it.

I joined, but I have not posted anything personal yet.

www.experienceproject.com I believe. It does seem pretty cool. I just don't want to fool myself and end up doing more harm than good.

[bigwillq]

6. I would think it would be a good thing.

Even if it's you just getting your feelings out and venting. I am sure there will be some people who have similar experiences, those who can relate and give advice.

Give it a shot and find out!
Good Luck with it! :hi: :hug:

[Mike 03]

10. Thank you. Maybe I'll try it. I appreciate your advice a lot. NT

[emilyg]

18. Looks interesting. You can always stop posting there if you don't like it.

[Shell Beau]

5. I guess anytime you can get your feelings out can be a good thing.

I know that keeping them bottled up isn't good!

[Mike 03]

11. Thank you. You and others here are convincing me to give it a try. It probably can't hurt.

Thank you for your opinion. I'll probably give it a shot.

[Witchy_Dem]

8. New sites and new groups are easier

because you all get to know each other at the same time.

With something like DU, you all have been together for YEARS and it's harder for a newbie to join in and grab a vibe.

Only one site has been good for me to 'discuss' issues with and we're still together 8 years later. All others have been temporary, great for comedic relief, providng a great trainwreck occasionally, or they just keep me in lurkdom indefinitely.

I've been thinking about how the internet, besides being great for information at times, is just a realm for opinions. I am an opinionated asshole with frequent bouts of verbal diarrhea and I realize that joining online groups is a great way to get anyone and everyone's opinion. I dunno about the helpful factor...IYKWIM but I do know that if you put it out there you'll hear what everyone thinks about it.

If you grab a vibe that works, ride it.

[Mike 03]

12. That's interesting. The grief group I joined wasn't all that friendly

I tried to explain my situation--which is a bit complicated--and some of them didn't seem to believe me. But even some people here at DU didn't seem to believe me.

I don't know how to find a "new group," but that's an interesting idea. I wonder if maybe what I've been through would inspire me to do something like start a new group. I know what it would be for; it would be for people with "Disenfranchised Grief," which is term I just learned today.

[Witchy_Dem]

13. Perhaps starting your own group is a good idea.

Especially if after doing some searches and not finding much.

There are bunch of places to start.

Disenfranchised grief?

[Guava Jelly]

14. Sometimes a person just needs someone to talk to

And sometimes a perfect stranger who has no connection to anyone in our real lives is the perfect solution.
So I vote for Help

[hippywife]

15. I would just be very careful

about how much you reveal about your identity. Talking about your problems with others is a good thing but don't confide too deeply in anyone about your personal information.

[easttexaslefty]

16. it's helped me

shortly after my son's suicide 15 months ago, I found the online support group, parents of suicide. i would literally crawl to the computer to talk to the other parents. without that group I would now be dead too

[Mari333]

20. hugs from a mom whose son has also crossed over

:hug:

[harmonicon]

17. wait.... what the hell is DU if not that?!

Umm.... yeah, helpful sometimes, and sometimes a hinderance to actually dealing with shit, because you can just spew about it online with no consequences.

[Mari333]

19. dailystrength.org has helped me a lot

we even meet as a group, ForMomsOnly, women whose kids have crossed over. The site is helpful, I wouldnt have met so many women with the same situation otherwise. I think it depends on the website.
www.dailystrength.org
its a good one.

[femmocrat]

21. Mike 03.... inside >>>

After reading your post, I decided to check out "Experience Project." (I haven't received any replies yet, though.) What are the trophies used for?

Has anyone actually engaged you in conversation over there?

[Jamastiene]

22. It would be better to just send an email to

[e-mail]

Their home page is here:
http://www.samaritans.org/

They are really helpful. I've emailed them before when no one was really talking to me or listening. It's private too.