I was an INVALID...Stuck in an apartment with only a hired care giver to talk to .. I was LONELY & DEPRESSED. I felt hopeless... Mentioned to my son in law that I WISHED I had a PC so I could read on the Internet. So he gave me an old one out of his bar.. Had to upgrade the Windows just so I could get Internet.

I read EVERYTHING & went everywhere on the Internet. Had a couple of surgeries and got out of the wheelchair. So then I GOT BRAVE and decided to try computer dating. WORST experience of MY life!! However, what it DID do for me was to embolden me to TRY a chat group. THAT is when I found DS ...

THEN THERE WAS YOU ~ YOU guys have made my life worth living!! Every night or day or EVEN when I can't sleep ~ THERE you are ~ Right at my fingertips!! You come TO my place to visit. WHY I don't even HAVE TO GET DRESSED (I know MORE information then you needed to process right? lol)

I just want to take THIS opportunity to say THANK YOU to all of my DS Friends ~ Past, Present & Future. As I know you will ALWAYS be there for me!!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

NDY

(Now ~ Who's next ~ ?)

I came here 4 years ago when my husband died from injuries in a motorcycle accident. We had been together since I was 14! I was so frightened, sad and angry. Just wanted to give up... to be with him was my goal. One night I was surfing the internet and found DS. I found people who understood my feelings and even shared them. Without DS friends I may not have survived. They sympathized, encouraged and gave me hope when I didn't have any. I am still here hopefully helping others and finding comfort on the days I fall back into the grief. I love the people here.

This is an awesome place. Like anything it struggles to stay afloat sometimes, but like most things, it's the people that make it strong and keep it going. Hugs to you all.

So what DO your DS Friends mean to you? Where would you BE? What would you DO without your DS Friends in all the support/chat groups you belong to?

This is your chance to SHOW your appreciation ... SAY it here.

I found DS when looking up the side effect of Paxil on the web. I came across a thread about it. If I am down, or sick, or in pain, or having a bad panic episode, I can always come here and find someone to talk to. The hugs and message from friends mean so much. This is a terrific website!

I found DS and all of their invaluable help for parents of estranged adult children. Now I have found other, interesting topics just lookin' around.

I was looking for information on estrangement information for parents of adult children. I am so glad to have found DS and all of the supportive and caring people here. I have also found many other groups which are uplifting and relate to every day topics. This is a great place to be.

I just have to give thanks to all of my DS Friends who have kept me in their prayers all this time... As I have previously stated I was an invalid upon coming in to DS. That was a couple of years ago... With God's grace and "a lil help from my (DS) Friends" I have continually improved.. Thanks to YOUR hard working "tax paying dollars" and government programs I have been able to BE alive and getting even better....(6 surgeries in 2 yrs!)

TODAY I went to Golden Ages at my church where I have become the Bingo caller (My new lot in life)! Well today I was able to HELP OUT !! It was AMAZING... Before my recent gastric bypass I was so encumbered by my weight that I was crippled with a quad cane and could barely get up and down the steps to my church's basement to even participate in things let alone be an integral part of helping out!

I set the tables. I passed things out. Put the food out. And I helped those LESS fortunate than me (THAT used to be me!) And then I helped clean up too! This was a FIRST for me today! I walk fully capably w/o any help. IF you didn't know you would NEVER guess in a 'million years' that I was so recently handicapped. Praise God for that!

(To date I have lost 75 lbs. I hope to reach my goal weight of 132 lbs by the Holidays so don't quit praying yet! I am working out 3-4x week now at the Club. W/o you, w/o my Program ~ I couldn't have got THIS far!)

Thanx My DS Friends for supporting me with all of your well wishes, positive energy and, MOST of all, your kindnesses in prayer.

I STILL love you Guys!

NDY

I just love my DS friends SO much.

I have met the most wonderful people on DS.

I was depressed, and anxious (among other things) and found DS through my daughter who came on here about 2008.

D-daily support
S-saved me!

Daily Support brought me friends when I first had to go into isolation and felt life just was not worth it. Who had ever heard of Multi Chemical Sensitivity and why was it such a big deal many said. DS Knew and had a support group waiting. I am caregiver for spouse with Alz. disease. Here is help, understanding and a shoulder to learn on. And not last by any means are the wonderful friends I have made here who are here for entirely different reasons. They are here; we are here. Yea for DS! We have a place to just plain enjoy ourselves and talk and talk and talk. There is always somebody here to listen -- really listen. Thanks, all!!!

I- - like so many other was roaming around looking for something. I really did not have a topic in mind. Then I found DS. First I went to the fibromyalgia group. I learned so much there. Even though I have had fibro for 22 years I read many topics and techniques from the group. Someone in fibro mentioned the Estranged Parents group. I went there. I read the replys and sat and cried. Over and over again. People "out there" going through exactly what I had been experiencing for years on end. Then one night I got an invite from someone named NDY. There I was at OTF. In just a few hours of reading replys to topics I was feeling better and better. I did not realize how spending hours in sad topics just sort of drug me down. Mind you I loved and still treasure all that learned and shared with the members I really needed a happy and interesting place also. I love it here. I truly love it here. Oh I still go back to the other groups as I need the "pick me up" from the other groups I was in. But here- - - I just NEED to be. Thanks NDY. My superhero. Also, thank you to all my wonderful neighbors who are my fast friends. Yrod XXXX