Hello. I too was referred to this site by a crisis line about a year ago. Honestly, it helped me so much. Now, I am off my meds and no longer depressed.

you're definitely in the right place. Say anything at all and it will be okay. Respond to other people's posts, write journals. friend people. This is the best place to come to when the chips are down, and we've all either been where you are, or we're still there.

I went through the worst of things alone. There's no way in hell I would ever tell anyone on facebook about what I have been through; I would expect to be disappeared by 75% of the world.

Being alone is, in some ways, wonderful, because you can be crippled in private, fall apart in private. Ruin your life and career in private and then go fix it all up again later when the crisis is past. To me, I separate issues out into 'someone will find out' and 'nobody will find out' and so I would prefer a severe anxiety attack where I lose 5 kg in a week and don't sleep a wink, but which is essentially private, to a minor anxiety attack where I burst into tears in front of everyone at work.

Although to be fair, I had a cry last thursday when it all got too much and nobody was too perturbed. It was like 'oh, she's overworked, give her a day off'. :D

I'm not used to being treated well, and that's another thing about having no support network. Getting through things alone does 2 things for you.

1. you become incredibly strong;
2. you develop very low expectations of anybody else.

This means when anyone does anything nice whatsoever, you're delighted, and relaxed. And when they're horrid you're unperturbed, and relaxed. It's the best possible response to both situations.

And people just get nicer and nicer the more autonomous you try to be.

But that's out there in the world of normies. In here? In here is safe space, where you can practice and it doesn't impact your real life at all except maybe, to help with the stress. In here we can say how we really feel, and get feedback on our problems.

Hello, I am new here too but I do think that it's a good space to get feelings out and I've already gotten some good advice. It's better than any other social media outlets I have tried. I have chronic depression and anxiety so I understand how this can be a life struggle. Having family and friends doesn't necessarily help (for me anyway) because unless they are VERY understanding, it is draining on my family and friends, so most of the time I have to compartmentalize it anyway. Only my poor husband sees my true colors all of the time (not necessarily a good thing). I just want to say that "your not alone" sounds cliche but it is true in these forums. People can be themselves.

Honestly, I have found that the way to start to relationships "in real life (IRL)" is to do things for others. Small things for co-workers. Sometimes I go out of my way that it feel so fake, but I do try to impress that upon people. It can get so draining but I do it anyway. It makes me feel good and sometimes - not always - it will improve my relationship with that person. But it takes time too. Sometimes it surprises people and they have interesting reactions, so I do it as a little social experiment for myself too. :) I try to keep it creative otherwise I would get totally disgusted by having to try to make friendships or improve relationships. Anyway, keep us posted and let me know if you do reach out to someone IRL and they reach back. Take care!

"I've been in crisis for a few weeks now. I'm not sure if I want to end my life. I can't undo what I've done once I go through with it. At the same time I'm invisible. Either nobody likes me or I'm invisible. If this is not ok to write here admin please delete it. I just wanted to get my feelings and frustrations out."

I get it. For me, I fear death and have a wife and 2 kids so that is never something that I would do...The pain inside hurts and while my wife is understanding, she doesn't really get it. I also start to get depressed because how I act when I feel the way I do impacts the family and I feel like I am leaving it all to her anyway. I have trouble creating and maintaining relationships and want to be alone, but sometimes you have to force yourself out of the shell. The more you do it, the more you realize how much better you feel while you are doing. The problem is that a mental illness is always there and it is easy to forget the good things when things seem at their worst. Keeping a journal helps so you can go back and look at what you wrote when you felt or did something good. Nobody is going through exactly what you are going through....but many of us are going through our own personal mental struggles either due to biology, other related illness, or heavy stressors (or a combination). Talking about it on this site definitely helps. Also, responding to other people's posts helps. I find that I give people pretty good advice, that I myself don't follow :-). But it helps that I know the right answers and when I write them to others, it encourages me to follow my own advice. I think it is because mental illness traps you inside your own head. When you write to yourself or to others, the thoughts are now out of your head which allows you to see them differently.

Anyway, hope this helps. Feel free to personal message me. It helps to make friends, even if they are digital :-)

sometimes it helps just to be able to honestly talk about stuff.... and we are here to honestly listen. we all have been in times of struggle and sometimes we can offer words of advice.... but sometimes we can just let you know you are not alone in your struggles. i hope we can help you.

Just finished feeling about as low and disappointed with my self and I don't how to pull myself up I been diagnosed but I don't take meds I to scared of what'll it do me but nothing could be worse then this feeling

Hey, I completely understand how you feel. I'm currently going through the exact same thing. I got turned down by a Facebook group as well. If you need to talk, I'm here for you. I want to be able to help you get through this, and I also think you could help me too. We can go through this together!

I'm not sure how to respond to each of you individually but thank you for taking your time to write under my post.

It's been pretty hard for me lately. I don't think I can open myself up and talk about my problems to complete strangers. Whenever I do I feel more disappointed.
Either I get a negative reaction or no reaction at all. Some people might say oh she's an attention seeker.
But who wouldn't go crazy having zero human contact? Before opening an account here I opened an account on the Suicide Forum with no real help at all and no one wanted to engage in conversation with me.
It's a step up from social media I guess where people have gotten fed up to the point where they told me hey maybe life isn't for you or maybe you should kill yourself if you're this miserable in being alive.

I feel so lost. I want affection and people but at the same time I have a hard time opening up and trusting due to all the bad experiences I had. I can't even open up to a therapist or clinic because I think their intention is as everyone else. Trying to be a hero and when they lose patience to help me they'll hurt me or leave me feeling worse about myself.

I also battle anxiety and depression, right now they're overlapping. I have no one to speak to irl as well. The first person commenting said, being alone will make you stronger, true. And 2nd, make your expectations lower power of people, extremely fuxking true!!

Is there one person in your life with whom you'd like a better relationship? I wouldn't set it up as "friendship" - just getting to know that person better. For me, I would try to focus on that one person (or just a few people) and not think about how I want a lot of friends. Maybe you can make small steps to get to know them. Ask people about themselves and their families, esp. if they have kids. Most people love to talk about themselves. Do more listening than talking is my advice, to be honest. If they are exasperated, empathize. If they are happy, be happy for them and exaggerate whatever it is that makes them happy. Then they will feel soooo good after having talked to you ....and then maybe gravitate more towards you. :) Yes, it is a bit one sided. But it is an approach that may be reciprocated down the line and become more genuine. All this is my opinion of course and, again, not sure how appropriate this is to your situation. take care!

"An attention seeker"? Hmmm..., I don't think so. Nice to meet you :) call me J

Padme I have no people in my everyday life. I don't even know where to start.

The only connections I have are people I met online through my hobbies. I still feel alone most of the time due to time difference. I'm located in the US and they're located all over Europe & Asia.

Also I'm in crisis right now. I'm considered a burden and no one wants to talk to me so abandoned all my social media accounts for the time being. I can't really be upset either. I can't expect people to be prepared or know how to handle someone in crisis.

None of my contacts or online friends understands what I'm going through or how much pain I'm in. I can't even talk about it with anybody.

I have to suffer this alone. I have to find some way to pull myself out of this alone. The last thing on my mind is being social or trying to impress a stranger who doesn't even care for my feelings.

Hi J.

I know it is hard, but I think that when you are out of this crisis -and I encourage you to see your dr. if you haven't already - I think that you need to create some connections where you live. I don't know where to start - some people start with churches or volunteer groups or meet ups. But be careful of meet ups - sometimes they are dating events in disguise. Can you volunteer? I know all these things take a lot of effort on your part. Keep us posted.

I'm in the same boat. Actually I'm literally alone on a boat stranded in Seattle. I managed to make acquaintance with some homeless. They don't provide any intellectual stimulation but help provide social contact.