We want YOUR input!

Here I go being the first again:

1.  I was on PLM the MS site, but they bickered to much, and I am a peaceful person.

2.  This site is very open, and everyone tries to help everybody.  We kinda surround

     each other with a caring and loving attitude, nd I feel that is special.

3.  Improvements, right now, I cannot think of any.

4.  I only fequent MS Central and Depression Central right now.

5.  No I am good

sherry/smomdukes

I believe I was on one of my searches to find an answer to my depression and I came across this site. I think what appealed to me most was the layout of the discussion forum. It was like a step forward seeing the brightness of it(Not your typical style frames and borders forum anyway). I was compelled to join and have enjoyed communicating with everyone. Everyone is very welcoming here. The only thing I would want to see in this site is more discussion on eating healthier foods and how it contributes to a better healthier attitude. Over the last(at least) 6 months I have gone without all the garbage that I was so accustomed to eating. Right now all I generally eat is completely gluten free. I eat smaller portions and fill in with nuts and fruits. I have tried vitamins galore to no end and it only seemed to make a dent. 

I havent been to the doctor in over nine months, no sense in going where there has been no answer so far.

I have struggled with MS type symptoms(6 years) and tinnitus(1.5 years) unfortunately as many know there is no answer for these except what the future holds. I am 48 years old and everyone thinks that I am in my early 30's. Over the last 6 months I have lost close to 30lbs and still going. Maybe I am just shrinking away to nothingnessssssssssssssssss. 

Pat

1.  How did you find this site?

I honestly don't remember.  I was probably just doing some general looking for depression-related information, or maybe some other health info.  My memory isn't what it used to be!

2.  What do you like the most about My Depression Connection?

I like that people are very supportive and compassionate and that they are willing to share their stories to help others.

3.  What do you feel could be improved about this site or Health Central in general?

First, some technology issues.  For instance, I didn't get a notification of this post.  I found it just because I logged in and looked to see if there was one because this happens about 75% of the time.  I've also had people reply to my comments that I don't get notified about, they've maybe asked another question and if I don't keep going back to check, I never know about it.  This has been very frustrating to me.  Second, I think it would be nice if there was some input from a few more of the experts on this site.  I know I respond to a lot of posts and questions, but I'm no authority, only experienced and that's fine, but when you're the only "resident expert" that says anything, I wonder if any of the rest of them really care what's going on here.  There have been a few instances where I've really been concerned about somebody and have tried to help, but don't know if I'm saying the right things.

4.  What other health sites do you visit or participate on?  Or is Health Central your primary health site?

I also participate occasionally on Friends of Quinn and get articles from the Sleep and Migraine sites, otherwise I don't look at too many others - Depression Connection keeps me busy enough!

5.  Are there any mental health topics that you would like to see covered by our writers and contributors?

Maybe some more articles about stage-of-life issues because I think things can be quite different, depending on your age and situation in life.  I think a couple of articles lately have addressed some recent topics that have been asked about - coping with a partner with depression, getting help in a crisis, etc.  I also think it would be good to have some information and/or discussion about types of therapy; i.e., ECT, VNS, EMDR which people have referred to, but I don't think a lot of people know a lot about them.  Not that we have to promote any particular thing, which I know is the policy, but that shouldn't stop us from learning more about them.

Well, Merely Me, there you go!  You asked, I spoke!

1.  I found the site through NAMI.

2.  MM works hard at keeping material available for interesting dialogue. The regular participants are quite

knowledgeable, open, and compassionate.

3.  Is there a way to attach photos ?

4.  I read updates at NAMI, and sometimes dialogue in Depression Spiritual community there.

5.  So far, I am not looking too much for new areas.

Thanks sincerely.

1. Health   Central      2. Candor    3. More Candor & Truth.  Don't remember the last 2 ???     Regards;  Jim Blaha                                                                                         

I googled depression and your site was the first to come up. I 've found it really useful to me. It's so nice to have somewhere to turn, where people know exactly what your going through and you can help each other. The people on this site have been so friendly. I do look at your other anxiety site as I have that too, but to be honest I prefer this site because the community is better. thanks to you Merely Me, all your questions and information really keeps me glued, Dont know how you find the time. and then you answer them as well. I've forotten what the other questions were now. sorry I dont know how to go back and look. I've wiped this off twice already trying to. so sorry If I missed any.

Hi Merely Me,

The reason I like this site is that the people are honest, caring and very smart!  We may be depressed, but we have enough experience (most) of us, to give good information.  In the past,  I joined a depression site where the contributors did not join together in their common purpose.  They were rude and cursed an awful lot.  So I quickly quit and thought that all depression sites must be like that, so I avoided all.

But then I stumbled across HealthCentral on Google, and it had such good and so much information, that I thought I would take a peek at this site.  I was astouned how polite, respectful and informative the contributors were, so I have been here ever since.  I'm sure there are other good sites out there, but there is a lot of trash.  I don't care about them.  I am very happy here.  One time I was so depressed I hardly knew what to express in a post - except how bad my depression was.  My response was from Judy, and she was really supportive, but got me to start to thinking what could I do constructively, and what I could do to help me.  It was so good for me, and she is an example to me of the kind of site that is great, and I so appreciate her comments.

Rose is right, we need to continue to support each other, sometimes to just let someone know that there are people who care about them.  That's so helpful with depression, because it makes you so lonely and isolated when it is real bad.  I can't remember all your questions, Merely Me, but improvents to the site are pretty much covered in all my comments above that are wordy and long!

I am s..l..o..w..l..y coming out of the depression pit but I still stay isolated, my house is a mess, and I sleep a lot.  Not so good, but my psychiatrist is working with me on rearranging meds to help me with more energy.  We'll see.  I check out the chronic pain site, and the multiple sclerosis site, but I feel more caring that comes from this site.  Just my own opinion.

Have the best day that you can every one.

Gina

Dear Memerly Me,

I think that this is still one of the best web sites I have come across in my 10 years of wonderings on the many websites. I think that you have been extremely tolerant with me because I have broken the rules of regulations many times. It is also true that the management has been very tolerant of my very wild ideas, of my arrogance and of my verbal/written tantrums on the site. I understand that I have offended some people including you  and that I was forgiven many times. Your site had bent many rules to accomodate me. I am a very difficult person and require a lot of time time that is not always available on this website. OK I don't want to go on any more this is really upsetting my ego here.

However, on the other side of the coin, I am real, I am original and I am me. I cope without medication with what is a very serious condition. The reason why I cannot take too much criticism is because my Ego was affected by my traumas during childhood. I suppose that many of us have this Ego problem not only me. Because of this it is easy for people here to get into verbal confrontations.

It is also true that many people miss me and write to my personal email address asking me to come back. I must be honest and admit that I am finding it hard to reply to all of these email. Why do people miss me so much? I cannot understand why and I would like to know why?  Perhaps some people can write here rather than  send messages to me personally.I have a feeling that many of you like me because I am not afraid to show my symptoms and even like some of these. These symptoms are the reason why my creativity is so developed.

I am an artist Merely Me an arrogant artist. If we read about Beethoven, Mozart, Van Gough they all had problems with their Ego and all were arrogant, and had no friends. I am a little different because I do have many friends believe it or not. I also suffer from delusion of grandeur only that I do have many talents and this make these delusions of grandeur worse.But I am truly talented. For example Beethoven believed that he was working for God and that he could speak to God. Bach was writing for God as well. It is common amongst artists to have delusions of granduer.

I guess that I am writing here to say that I have nothing against this management and I still believe that this is one of the best sites. I think that you do a wonderful job considering your Depression and MS. I have come to see you as a friend over the months and someone who is very caring and wonderful.

But I do agree with Rose. This is a web site for people who are unwell and show symptoms. The management could try to find ways to help someone like me. Perhaps when something wrong is written take it off the site and contact me and say: Alfredo this is not on because of this, this, and that.

Finally I left from the site. True I was about to be banned from the site but really speaking I left.

Now, because so many people want me back, I have to put my Ego aside and think of the people here who I have let down. I leave it up to the management to decide. I can only say sorry to the management to merely Me and to the people here who miss me and have been let down. If they let me write under this new email and account that I had to make to enter this website (and by the way my name is Alfredo second name John last name Zotti)  then I will continue hoping that all of you help me to follow the regulations and to not upset anyone. However, don't forget that when many people hurt they hit out at any convenient target and I don't want to be a target. If you have to tell me off try to be honest and helpful. I am an easy target because of my talents and my let's say special personality which is arrogant. It is part of being Italian the arrogance comes with being Italian. It is a cultural problem and many of you are Angle Saxon precise and short who use the minimum amount of word to exactly express something. I am flamboyant.

Well I think that I have done my best to apologise and now it is up to the management.

Love to all of you (yes this is a reply to Merely Me and to all the people who want me back)

Alfredo

I attach here some of your emails. This is one of the reasons why I amd asking to come back here because people come first and my Ego second...

1) Alfredo...I too miss you dreadfully from the Depression Site. You were giving, innovative, creative, not afraid of truth, always trying new ways to heal old traumas. Sometimes those who shine too brightly scare others.

2) Your approach reminds me a bit of a book by Fawn Fitter and Beth Gulas, "Working in the Dark: Keeping your job while Dealing with Depression." Some people do just keep on truckin. This is what people love about you Alfredo and why they miss you dreadfully. You just keep on trucking no matter how much you suffer. We cal all see it. We know what is going on we are not stupid.'

3) Yes please keep writing. I understand it all and use it to explain to my sister because i'm an educated person, but my communication skills lately are poor.

4) You are obviously very bright and we are fortunate to have someone such as you share with us. I lear something everytime I read a post of yours. Your painting are so beautiful  never stop reaching out to us. You are very kind and generous and posses a rare gift: Thank you my dear Bipolar friend.

5) Don't stop sharing your insights because a few don't get it. But many of us do! There are a few influential and highly professional people here as well!

6) Greeting from Dallas Texas Alfredo. Your paintings are astounding. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself you make us all proud. Many blessings to you.

And I have recived hundreds of email from this site and from Bipolar Connect where I will try to come back as well. Thank you all for your support I don't know what to say. I guess that people do come first before my Ego or anyone elses Ego. Thank you for accepting me as I am. The many emails tell me that many people have indeed accepted me and my symptoms. We cannot all be perfect.

Alfredo

During my wonderings on other websites on Depression I have found that some of the rules are a source of problems for some people. For example I suffer from synaesthesia which is the overlapping of the senses. Even when I write using black and white letters I see coloured letters. Every letter has its own unique colour which can change according to the word and some times the sound of the word. For this reason, my eyes can get very tired sometimes and my vision can become blurred. When my vision is blurred I need to either use Capital letters or Double Spacing to see what I am doing otherwise I cannot write. This can sometimes happen for an entire day.

On some websites for Depression the rule of conduct and regulations states that it is offensive to use capital letters or double spacing. On these websites I have had to discontinue to write because I really did not want to get into written emails to try to get people to change the rules and regulations. Fortunately this site is not  so strict. I guess that many people who may have similar problems give up rather than get help or contact someone on that site. Many sufferers have written to me expressing their dislike of web sites who declared capital letters or double spacing to be offensive full stop. Offensive they may be, but for some people it is the only way they can write.

What I am trying to say is that rules of conduct and regulation, when studied carefully, can be a source of much stigma for some people. Perhaps it would be helpful if some experts where to occasionally post and discuss the rule of conduct giving some real life examples.  They could ask sufferers here if any of these conducts are  a barrier to a good experience on the site.

Many sufferers here have often written to me personally but it is not up to me to create any problems either here or on other sites. In my position, I have to be careful about what I write. But I hope that more people, who are often affected by rules and regulations, speak out because this is the way we can bring about change.

Rules and regulations, when studied carefully, and when put into practice, can be a source of problems. In my opinion regulations affect the life of sufferers and their time on this or other sites.

By the way synaesthesia is a great gift to an artist. It is the source of much creativity and unique inspiration. It is said that only a very minute percentage (less than 2%) of the world's population experiences synaesthesia.  I have a very developed form of it. I can hear sounds and see colours that most people cannot see or experience. Every artist would give anything to have synaesthesia and I guess I am lucky.

Alfredo

1.  I was surfing for information on depression when I found this site.

2.  I find a lot of information from people who are "in the know" about depression.  The best information comes from those who have "been there and done that".

3.  I can't think of any improvements.  I love my depression connection!

4.  I visit depression connection and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) connection,...thats it.

5.  Just keep doing what you are doing.  It helps me greatly, as I am sure it helps a lot of others as well.  It is nice to have a place to "vent" and ask questions of those who are in the same situation.  Our family and friends really can't relate.  The members here are so caring and helpful.  That, in itself, helps me a lot!