KatB, I am friendless up here where I live as well. My best friend judged me as PTSD surfaced, then the only enounters she was willing to have were with an agenda to 'fix' me, no tolerance for the fatigue and refused to listen and try to understand I desperately need 'gentle' right now, as in a 'gentle' life.

It hurts, but I look at the friends I've lost and see how toxic it was to begin with.

Therefore, I'm praying for healthy friends and moving forward. My criteria for 'healthy' has increased manifold - I am STILL walking away from toxic people. I actually benefitted from reading a book about what healthy relationships look like.

Life can be very lonely when I can't pick up a phone and call a friend, but I just keep reminding myself God's got me in this alone place to heal and to really know Him.

Yes. It happens to every time I go out to a restaurant or visit friends or do almost anything. You are different because of your experience, but different can be good. For now, try to remember that their lives are not perfect either... no matter what their status says and that you are special too. Plus the fights you fight every day with the small wins along the way are a lot more important than anything you can put into words and post on a wall.

And, KatB, people I know very well, I see post stuff that's super over the top - and I know there life is not like that at all. One girl admits she makes stuff up just because she's bored - she posts like she lives a soap opera life. Another one, whole life is a mess, yet what she posts is only 'fun' 'going to do something fun for me' 'going boating' going to the beach' etc - yet she's miserable. Her life is out of control - but her fb posts aren't authentic.

Now, mine? I don't hide anything. My hard times and my good times appear on fb when I do post something about me - usually, though I'm sharing introspective and positive, challenging 'shares' from what is hitting my page.

How fitting for the day. I was just thinking today it would be better called "FakeBook", sometimes I feel poorly about myself after I read some of the glamorous lives that some of the people have, I dont do it too often any more. I dont know about a lot of the people that are my friends on there, but the ones I do know and including family have only portray a perfect unrealistic lifestyle. I usually only have it to keep up with my daughters and their lives, they live out of town. I like many am continuing my life away from unhealthy people and fake people, I feel horrible around them, I am happier with the lonliness than the price you have to pay to be around someone that is not taking care of themselves, or being dishonest, or disrespectful.. There are a few people that are Positive and send out Positive messages without begging for attention, this is good. thank you for posting. Peace

KatB, I only have a FB account to be connected with a super super small support group. We all know what our common goal is there and none of us pay attention to what other people outside of that network is doing in terms of how it relates to our small network. This issue just doesn't come up but we have structured our dynamic there for that reason. We also have another social network we use in the same way.

I learn so incredibly much from those gals and they have blessed my life!

A lot of my friends tend to us FB to brag, and extend the truth. If you really get to know those friends, you will find they are insecure, shallow and seeking attention. In short, they have their issues too...maybe not officially diagnosed, but remember 1 in 5 people are affected by mental health issues. Look around, that is alot and most never get help for it.
My guess is that the friends I lost because of my PTSD were more afraid of themselves than me. I figure they know something is wrong with them, but they continue to push it under the carpet rather than get help for it.
FB is what it is. It is a great way to keep in touch, but no one ever will admit on FB that their life stinks.

Dbpalm, i know exactly how that feels. I lost one of my closest friends because of ptsd and she thought i didn't care about her. It's a very lonely place from where I am at, but I realize the same as you- i had more toxic than healthy friendships/relationships. I am glad we are in the same boat. That's why i barely use fb now- a lot of the status ppl put just don't seem real or they just make me feel horrible.

Ravenfish- that's why i barely go out. I guess you are right. Experiences change ppl and maybe that's alright for me. Its good to have others see things from a different perspective.

Rockstargi- funny, i like that term better, fakebook. I am in total agreement with you on that. It is better to be alone than to be with ppl who are fake and unhealthy for you and me. Nothing really seems realistic nowadays. Ppl want to out things to make it seem that they are living a better life and that everything is okay with them, when its not. Some may be living better, but it doesn't mean everything is.

Nickleplated- fb seems to work well for you. Not as much for me. I about 200 friends on it and have some groups that i am in, but I don't have the interest anymore in fb as i used to. This site is much more helpful in connecting others with real people with real life issues.

I definitely relate. :/

Fb is toxic for me.