Do you ever find this site a bit draining?

Sometimes i feel like i don't know what to say to people when they ask me for advice or that i'm not being very helpful. It's also hard seeing other people feeling so upset or alone.

Also, when people have made negative comments or said something nasty it's stayed with me and i think about it over and over again. If someone accuses me of being something that i'm not, even though i know i'm not that thing they've accused me of being, i start doubting myself.

I've only been on the site for a short while after a long absence, but I do find it a bit draining to read about the despair and pain of others. However, I don't mind that so much as the negativity some people radiate.

I don't think you need to doubt yourself, WishingICould.

dmsteyn said:

I've only been on the site for a short while after a long absence, but I do find it a bit draining to read about the despair and pain of others. However, I don't mind that so much as the negativity some people radiate.

I don't think you need to doubt yourself, WishingICould.

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Thanks. I agree with what you said about the negative people aspect of it.

its similar to a lot of other messageboards i've read .the unhappiness in some of the threads on mental health forums feels a little overwhelming at times ,because of that I try to limit my exposure to them.

sometimes on forums in general I don't know what to say to reply to someone especially if there is a conversation developing. its like I run out of things to say and I don't really understand how to bring it to a close ,so I say nothing, then I worry about saying nothing. :kickingmyself:

It's not easy being in a place where so many people are struggling and in pain. It's even tougher when you're suffering yourself. We have a great opportunity here to help each other out, to ease the pain, to cast light upon the darkness. It's important, however, to keep in mind that if we don't take care of ourselves first, we'll be no good to anyone else.

Sure, there's a lot of unhappiness here, and unfortunately, while some of us try to express our misery quietly, others choose—perhaps need—to bring out the teeth and claws. I suspect most of us find it overwhelming at times. When we do, it's time to step away and do something else for a while: take a walk, take a nap, read a book, find some way to recharge the batteries. Just don't forget the way back.

It's easy to see SPW as only a place of shadows and despair, but there's joy here, too. We have fun, we laugh, we make friends. Be sure to come back for some of that. We'll even save you some cake.

what kind of cake?

coyote said:

what kind of cake?

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Marble cake.

Suitable for all moods, dark or light.

The cake is a lie.

GraybeardGhost said:

It's easy to see SPW as only a place of shadows and despair, but there's joy here, too. We have fun, we laugh, we make friends. Be sure to come back for some of that. We'll even save you some cake.

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I agree. This forum is not all despair and sadness. Sometimes we have fun too. I personally enjoyed interacting with some of the members here. Some have made me laugh.

I think it's brave that people start threads and share their inner feelings with others. This is supposed to be a support site so people shouldn't go bashing or flaming each other.

dmsteyn said:

The cake is a lie.

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Oh, ye of little faith! Trust in the cake, and the cake will make you full.