Ideas for the Forum

[cj29]

Are there any new features or ideas that you would like to share with the group that would improve this forum?  Go ahead and post!  

[nursegirl6572]

YES!  I would like a weekly lottery, awarded to those with the wordiest posts.  Now, I'll just have to figure out how to get to JS's keyboard to slow him down a bit.

;0)

Seriously...I have no suggestions...and think this is just a wonderful place.  It's nice that you want to hear to input od the members...maybe someone has a really neat idea.

Thanks, cj.

[MrGreen]

I would love some sticky topics to save people posting the same questions over and over and over. Maybe Ryan could write a piece out about coming off Benzos and all posts about such things could be placed in there alone. Though the initial post should be able to help the person. Maybe an OCD topic too. Just the more popular topics where we keep getting repeated questions about. Xanax is another major topic. If people viewed other topics of the same type they would have the answers they need. Hence the sticky topic suggestion.

[lonewolf07]

What is a sticky topic?

cj29 - haven't "met" you yet.   I am lonewolf and I bid you welcome

[cj29]

Thank you!  

[FMXSMKR]

I don't have a new idea either, just wanted to say....nursegirl, you crack me up!

MrGreen.....your idea about the sticky topics is a good one, but wouldn't the sticky have to sit at the top forever since there's always new people coming on the forum?  Ryan said at one time that he was going to write out the answers to some common med questions before he left, but I don't believe he ever got around to that.  Too bad.

lonewolf......A "sticky" is like the welcome post for cj that stayed at the top of the forum for a few days.  It will stay there until a CL or Medhelp takes it down.  

cj.....just wanted to say, you're doing a really great job!  

[lonewolf07]

cj - somebody deleted what I after "I bid you welcome".  It actually said:  "I bid you welcome" .  Maybe someone thinks Mr. Lugosi is part of MH - he's not - he played Dracula and he's dead.

[nursegirl6572]

I like the idea of a sticky...but I still think you will see a lot of duplicate questions/posts...after all...everyone's own experience is important to them, and they like a customized response, so to speak.

That's why I did the journal entry...it's a good way, for me personally to address a comon topic...and a response that I would likely give a lot of people...without re-posting it a bunch of times.  Just an FYI.

FMX...I'm glad I crack you up....Ilo...I've always been a big believer in laughter and being lighthearted.  After all...we got some serious and emotional posts here...it's just nice to toss in a bit of humor now and then.  Thanks.

[JSGeare]

Project Idea: Where Are They Now?

I count among my freinds' list a great many who no longer appear on the site. The question is, "what happened to them?" A few, I know have "graduated," recovered so much they don't need the anxiety forum anymore. But the others? I dunno.

Does any one else have a subtsnatial component who have dropped off the radaer, and if so, should we attempt to PM them just to see is we get a response and if so -what happened to them?

Our reports need not name names -simply say they "recovered," "have other interests," left the forum on medical advioce to do so," did not respond," "Family issues" or what ever.

The exercise is not entirely acadamic -we may see a profile of what "happens" to people.

Also, we could periodically (Sticky, maybe) ask people how they are doing NOW as compared to, say, 6 months or a year ago. 1-5 scale; 1 being worse, 3 being same, and 5 being much better. Run this poll every 6 months or so.

What do you all think?

By the way: a "sticky" pots is one that stays at the top -always in view.

[MrGreen]

What I find is a person might ask a question and we have no follow up beyond their original post. This sort of posting I dislike. Because other people are going to the trouble of writing out long answers for them. They could at least give us some feedback about if the answers helped them or not. I think, like all forums, we get a bit of kidology at times. Fake posters. Writing ridiculous topics for shock effect.

I agree that it would be nice to for people who maybe have found answers and are doing well to visit the forum and share their experiences with us all. Or with people who still need help. Lord knows the forum was good to me when I was at my worst. Today I am doing fine. But I don't feel the need to quit the forum just because I am doing ok in life now. Nothing wrong with giving that little something back.

[Isaiah4110]

ROFL!! Once again, you managed to crack me up!! And at JS's expense this time!! That was simply hilarious!!

But you do know that he will win that lottery hands down right?? Unless of course he gets penalised BIG TIME for his atrocious spelling! Heh.. ;-)

JS - Hope you're not offended..? You're such a sweetheart, you know that..and I'm still giggling away to myself recalling back that hospital story of yours..heh.. ;-)

[barfer]

I'm going to be completely honest with you, I probably would never have come on this forum but I couldn't get on the Expert Forum for a question I had because they had their quota for the day.  I was switched over to this forum.  I was very fortunate to get a response from Ryan and was able to use his information and now I am on a medication that seems to be right for me.  From that experience, I started to respond to other posts and created others.  You will notice that if you look at my profile, you will only see the explanation for my user name.  That is because I wasn't comfortable with too much disclosure nor had I planned on staying very long.  I have experienced another forum in the past and although it was very helpful at the time, it got somewhat away from what we or I needed from it.  It is nice to form friendships with people who have something in common, but my concern with forums that get too familiar is that the people should get help and encouragement and not spend all their time on this forum otherwise it defeats the purpose.  People should get to the point where they can move on.  If they form friendships through this then that is the icing on the cake.  Friendships can be formed on this forum in a natural way by exchange of email when a person feels comfortable with the other person.  Otherwise, games etc., while somewhat amusing get away from what my feeling a forum should be about.  Now I may sound like Scrooge, but I really believe that if a relationship is to form, it will by the excellent way you have for sending notes or emails.  Let nature take its course.  I still have friendships with some people I met a few years ago in a forum and you can be sure it isn't because we played games together.  People come here because they need help and support.  Once they get it, it should be considered a compliment that they leave because they don't need the forum anymore.  That doesn't mean that they have to give up friendships they have made on here.  

So, to make a long story even longer, I'm not one to encourage methods to keep this forum fresh by introducing game play BUT by suggesting topics that encourage education of therapies and medication...that would be interesting to me.  Plus, I feel there should be an etiquette to how people relate to the many different medications that we talk about on this forum.  One needs to be mindful that just because a medication that you took turned out horribly for you doesn't mean it will be the same for someone else.  Especially on this forum, EVERYONE should be careful about what they say regarding meds.  Of course, relay your experience, but don't do it in a way that will make others feel that they have to get off of it because it did this horrible thing to you.  We have to be mindful of other's feelings and anxieties.  I know for myself, I had been very hesitant of the medication that I am currently on, just because there were so many people either trying to get off it or just plain badmouthing it.  You have to take into consideration the other meds you are on and or if this is the only med you are taking before bad-mouthing the new medication.  I know from first-hand experience that when coming off of one or two meds and trying something new, that the transition, besides being difficult, can seem convoluted with what the medication or combination of medications are actually doing.  Sometimes it is just the transition process that is giving you problems and not the new meds at all, but for people like us, we get scared and are more inclined to blame it on the new meds before the old is completely out of our system or the withdrawal period is over.   I certainly have realized that sometimes I have been utterly wrong with what I thought was absolute...Now, there is a discussion for you...If you are truly looking for something to talk about...how about etiquette when discussing medications.

I've just read this posting back and I hope it doesn't sound too strong, but if nothing else, it is honest.  

[nursegirl6572]

I LOVED your post...especially about the part where we need to be very cautious in our wording....because people are already anxious and very suggestive.  To be sure that when we share our experiences....like you said...that we temper our words with a disclaimer of sort that this was *our* unique experience...and that whatever works for us may be different for someone else.

Also...I don't like seeing posts where people will say..."Those meds simply do not treat anxiety" (in regards to SSRI's)....or "CBT is a waste of time"....those kinds of things....just reiterating what you said...but basically I'm not comfy with the terms "always" or "never" when it comes to meds.

Lastly...I'm sorry...but I don't get what you mean by "game playing"?  Sorry...I re-read it and couldn't figure it out...could you clarify?

Again....very great post...I think it is helpful to have a reminder for us ALL to be careful how we express ourselves...and above all...to remember that the people that come here need our support...and learning from other's personal experiences can be a GREAT way to get that support.

While I have an extensive personal history with anxiety/panic/depression...I can honestly say that I continue to learn....and WILL continue to learn from others.  I have personally gotten a lot out of this forum.

[barfer]

Game play

On other sites they sometimes introduce a game for members to get to know one another.  Example:  What's your favourite colour?  
                              What were you wearing when you got up this morning?
                              Are you a dog person or a cat person?
                              Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera,.

It's amusing once in a while but gets old really fast when you feel you have to participate just to be a part of the group.  That's just my feeling.

P.S.  I'm a great believer in CBT and I'm not fond of the terms "always" and "never" either.  There are too many grey areas with anxiety and panic to be that definitive.

[nursegirl6572]

Okay, gotcha...thanks for clarifying!!!!

:0)