Great question, Ruby. I will be checking back to see how people respond. I share your curiosity.

It is part -just a piece- of my daily spiritual maintenance. Just as my physical body needs daily nourishment and care, so, too does my spiritual body (aka mental health). The random nature of the group sharing often provides a healing meditation which I can chew throughout my day which I could not have arrived at by a planned program. The sharing of personal experience helps me remember and reinforce tools and healing which are all to easy to forget in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

When extraordinary circumstances come down on me, it is comforting to have a familiar place I can sort them and perhaps even find a modicum of care.

Thank you for asking, Ruby.

Being as I don't like the new system, I don't visit as much, but DS was a life saver last summer when I really needed help with bipolar and eating disorders, both are better now after a 30 inpatient stay at a local psych hospital earlier this year and major overhaul of my medication.

Thank you for replying, arfie.

I totally echo your sentiments. I have learnt more wisdom here than I ever have in a book. I like sharing, especially when we have good topics, and seeing a conversation up and running. Its happening less here, I think in a big part due to many of the old core members not being around.

But I must have my daily dose here, its an important part of my regime, even have it in some long lost care plan I had

It has been a huge shift, this site compared to the old one. It too, the members, have saved my life. Got to adapt and adjust I suppose

Glad that you are feeling much better than you were

It's a place where my feelings have a home. I don't post much but I do read what others say and reply. A lot of times the benefit for me is seeing what I feel in other people's words. I have a hard time opening up and expressing myself so seeing someone else who feels the same way I do gives me great relief. Its also a place of goodness in this big wide confusing world of ours. The help and support that people provide is inspiring and such a nice break from the mean-ness and cold of offline life.

I agree with Arfie and Debalina it's a place that is a perpetual "Come as you are Party" I come when I'm up and come when I'm down. So often it's the wisdom of everyone around here that gets me through the bad times....It's being able to plug into the collective wisdom of everyone here...and being here means being willing to be here for others!

It's changed over time. First it was help going through the ups and downs of diagnosis and then following the death of my second wife when I really went off the rails I think the board helped me retain some kind of human connection. Since then it's bee n a kind of comradery and support when I've hit difficult patches.

Since the DS remake that's fallen away a fair amount and the nature of the board seems to have changed but I remain

There aren't many things I like about the new board and since so many people have left, I don't feel as much support here and don't feel I have enough energy to respond to threads in the new format, it's left me trying to remain more involved in real life support systems......

....but I'm also not liking technology lately and generally feeling it's kind of cold and mean the way people tend to use it for quick, brief communication. I started a new job where coworkers all text because we all work in 10 different locations. I just want to unplug completely

I guess what I really want out of this is a sense of community...

Yes!!! A sense of community means a lot.

I get a sense of community. And the reassurance that I'm not alone in this

I've never had anyone who really understood exactly what I was going through. This gives me a place to voice things and get help with situations and feelings that no matter how loving, my friends just can't help me with.

I come to Ds for the shared community and a sense of belonging which doesn't exist in RL. the humour, the sadness, the fun, the chats, the playing with words are part and parcel of DS. it is taking people a while to get used to the 'new' DS though i think it is getting better as time goes by and people realise it is pretty much the same as it was. I have come to regard DS as a 'home' where i am welcome and all are welcome at any time good or bad and often both at the same time. i love hearing from people who 'get it' and can share my experiences with theirs and they can do the same. we are one big family and like any family need nurture and commitment to keep going. hugs to all. good post ruby,

Ds was a lifesaver for me when I came here many years ago and the friendships I've made and the sense of family and community have been a blessing I will be forever thankful for....it's still a place I can lean on if I need to and hopefully have a little to give back
I know there have been some big changes and I'm glad people have and are working through them...I hope others will come back ...we have an awesome family that I truly need in my life....xo

I enjoy the friends I have made and I love coming to a site where I know without a doubt everyone here has been where I am whether up or down and they understand. I have received much advice and lots of tips for coping and for learning how to live happily. I am often encouraged and often reminded of the things we seem to forget when in an episode such as take a walk, write in a journal, listen to some music or whatever the advice may be. I feel a real sense of community. I respond to posts more than I write them but I love being here.