We are for friendships, possibly relationships, a crisis team, counselors, advisers, therapists, etc.. We are a lot of things to a lot of different people. Everything from telling jokes to talking someone down from suicide. It can change within a split second. I think that is the beauty of DS.

if someone comes in and needs support that support should be available who knows which person is one step away from blowing their brains out because life is going so bad for them

Yes... this is a "support" group that tries to help people in crisis. We have little tools than to recognize their crisis and to provide any help, that we can. We try our best to convince someone to "stay on line" and talk it out. Communication is a BIG portion of our help line.
We're friends here... and we try to help them, any way we can. We never give up hope that we can help them get out of the bowels of hell. We try...bottom line!

Yes, I think it is important that we be a crisis center for all who have BP. All "fun" should cease at this point, and we should set up certain posts that are emergency posts and the other posts will be call support posts. If a person cannot find the specific help they need when they are in need each male member of DS will be forced to give up one testicle and each female will have to have one labia surgically removed. That way we will be sure that everyone gets the help they need for fear of retribution. All sarcasm will be punished by one day in a pit of fire. etc.

I am well supported by the friends I have met on this site. Great post CAM...

I think of it as support in the sense of a community of people who've experienced similiar trials with bp.

I see DS as a facet of support, friendship, inspiration, release, relief etc. Primary care should always be through a qualified pdoc and tdoc. I think we are many things for many people and we share what we have learned and experienced through our own lives. Sometimes we share what our own therapists have taught us that others have not learned. Sometimes we learn things from others that we have not yet learned ourselves. It is all relevent given the fact that we all suffer and have needs. Hugs

Support for me would be someone (or people) to try and empathise with what i'm feeling, offer a hug or have the time to have a chat with me and to listen to my worries without judging.

Yes we are a crisis center for those in our need and that does not bother me.

As a student nurse i feel it is my duty to listen to those around me and try my best to help them.

support to me means listening without judgement. It doesnt necessarily mean advice will be given as sometimes the only support that is needed is the opportunity to rant.

I originally came to DS for a diversion from life and her woes. Having been here a while, I now come to interact with my friends and hope that, because the majority of the exchange is public, that others will be supported through the content, the humor, and the identifiable factors of our commonality. I have indeed been put in the position to act as a crisis medium, and though I don't possess "qualifications" that would lend me to the task daily, I find that I can rise to the occassion.

I expect no more from others on DS than I can give. Being human and BP, those expectations vary daily. I take in the good, overlook the bad, and at the end of the day, always find myself feeling two ways: Grateful for having been here, and eager to return! Much Love~

I came to DS to meet women, but I found support instead.

Disclaimer:(please see one of my other disclaimers)

I do what I can and appreciate any help too.
It's like extra lung-space.People are refreshingly open and understanding too.
That's all.I prefer not to think about further labels.

ds, for me, is somewhere to go that reminds me that i am not alone. im not the only one with problems, and here it helps me to put everything into perspective.

I expect friendships and support from other BPers.i have my own pdoc and therapist and i am thankful for the support i get from DS.