Depression Support Group

Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.

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happywannab 06/01/2011

I have not been on DS for about a year. I came back about three weeks ago. Everytime I log on I get "hit up" on IM by dudes from all over the world! My profile clealy says I am 50 years old, fluffy and struggle with depression, yet these guys think I just want to "chat" with them like I am on some dating hotline! I have tried to be nice, as I am a nice person but I quickly get into asking what brought them to DS and I get lame answers like, seems like a nice place to chat! REALLY!!! Makes me so angry that these creeps would try to hit on people that come here with problems and issues and may not be strong enough to deal with the likes of them. I am a strong woman, even with my issues and I quickly let them know how sad and sorry I think they are!
Some people make me sick! They need to get a life, a real life but I guess they are only brave behind a keyboard! Ughhhh!

deleted_user 06/01/2011

Very simple. Go to Accounts and change your Meebo to Friends Only. Then you will never encounter those types who are looking for anyone who is naive enough to allow people to chat with them.

It works great for me. As for the ones who send me Dating Site messages, despite my profile saying "Happily Married" for 30 years, I send them a nice story on how to become a Christian. I am happy to say I never get follow ups from those types once I send them my little tract. LOL

happywannab 06/01/2011

Good Advice Angela. I am a Christian and in a relationship. I just think is it sad and so weak for vultures to pray on people seeking help! Makes me want to reach through the computer and knock them in their heads! I have put a few in their places!

deleted_user 06/01/2011

I came here because it was the first site that had depression as its focus. I looked other places, but, with all its many flaws, ds was the best. And it is far better now than it was three years ago. There are great Community Leaders, and many tools, such as report and ignore that we did not have in 2008. Maybe you are a little rusty. I am sure you will soon sort out the "hitters" "trolls"; others who need to be peddling their wares someplace else. Welcome back, and may you be blessed to find whatever it is that brings you here.

deleted_user 06/01/2011

Ugh, "creeps" is the perfect descriptor (I get this a lot, too, so I'm frequently hitting that *block* button). Imagine what kind of vulture you'd have to be to come to, as you said, a support group site for people who are struggling to IM people as if it were a dating hotline.

To be honest, it unnerves me...I made a post a few weeks ago about a guy who actually made a very thinly veiled show of pretending he had depression so I would talk to him, all the while sprinkling the "conversation" with interspersed requests for my age. Gross/creepy/wrong!!

ThePepperMan 06/02/2011

I always check a person's profile BEFORE responding to them on chat. If I know them then fine. If the profile sounds at all fishy I simply pass on the chat request.

I used to accept all chats, and tried to gracefully exit them when it seemed inappropriate. But each time they acted all upset, like I was committing some internet offense by not chatting with them!

Go with your gut. And the minute a new acquaintance starts asking for personal info, your gut should be doing somersaults!

deleted_user 06/02/2011

Ditto Pepperman. Sounds like you have some wisdom going for you as well as being a nice person. "Happy" it would be a shame if a few jerks drove you from something you felt you really needed. Please keep looking out for yourself. Good luck and best wishes.

deleted_user 06/02/2011

I've been on DS for about 6 weeks. I have met some creeps that immediately asked for my email, that doesn't bother me it's obvious they are creeps. Just hit delete or ignore or block. The same thing happens on facebook, at the grocery store, there are creeps everywhere. What upset me was that I made a friend on DS that was very kind, understanding, and supportive. We messaged frequently and discovered he worked 15 minutes from my home after several weeks of testing we spoke on the phone and decided that we would get together for a walk. We met and it was nice to have a friend to talk to. BUT... WITHIN 2weeks the creep and his sexual agenda appeared. He was sneaky& called me a tease. I prefer a wolf to a wolf wrapped in sheep's clothing.

ZAZAS 06/02/2011

You should take that pretty picture of yourself and put up an avatar. If they don't know what you look like they may leave you alone. 50? that picture makes you look 25.

You can put your DS account on friends only. They way you have control over who you talk to or who you ignore.

Friend19 06/02/2011

I agree with ZAZA ...You look very young in your picture =)

I used to get those and then I changed mine to friends only. Solves the problem pretty quick. I get a lot of friend requests from men who are seeking a date. I don't understand it myself. They probably have some dating site out there for men seeking depressed woman...But this place sure as heck is not that!

HUGS

deleted_user 06/02/2011

It's sad that women cannot log on DS for the support they need. It's bad enought to come to this site for help and to have to deal with trolls.

happywannab 06/02/2011

Thanks to all for your responses. Thank you for the compliments on my looks too. Zaza, it was important to me to show my real self. I spent a lot of my life hiding because I was very fat and my husband made me feel very ugly inside and out. When I got the strength to leave him in 2006 I lost 120 lbs and wanted to be proud of who I am for once in my life. I was 48 in that picture and still quite fluffy but I could see the beauty inside me and some on the outside for a change so I am not going to let stupid creeps make me hide behind an avatar. I understand why you suggested it but I hope I have explained well why I don't want to do that. I can just hit "delete" and poof the creeps are gone.

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