Blog therapy
Would you ever consider making your most private experiences public? Particularly if those experiences detailed your severe depression and stays in a psychiatric hospital?
There's a growing number of British people blogging about their mental health and finding support networks online. Earlier this week I spoke to the writer of . He talked frankly about his experiences of writing a blog which intimately details some of the darker periods of his life.
You may hear from him tomorrow on Saturday's programme...
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I think disclosing personal experiences can be therapeutic if used constructively and within a suitable environment/framework.
Doing this online could be problematic particularly if medical treatsment/regimes are discussed with medical staff mentioned.
My concern would be that support provided by anonymous members may not be in the best interest of the person and could be destructive and open to abuse.
I appreciate that it may be beneficial but I would err on the side of caution personally.
Complain about this postI have found, as someone with Manic Depressive Illness (Bipolar Affective Disorder), that sharing with others is essential.
Complain about this postNot only is it theraputic for me, but sharing with others leads to open discussion and therefore further knowledge for everyone.
Yes, I think it's really helpful.
I don't ever talk about my inner self on the internet, but I really appreciate people who can and do, especially if they do it as well, and as consistently well, as Broke.
Complain about this postI discovered Been Broken several months ago and was very glad to have found this blog. It was nice to know that I was not alone and that a perfectly likeable person shared many of the experiences that have left me feeling separate from everyone else. I have also blogged about personal things and there have been times when the network of friends I have found, including Been Broken, has been essential in my ability to maintain hope and connectedness. Of course, each blogger does need to decide for themselves what is in their best interests to share with others on the internet. On the whole, I would say the experience has been helpful.
Complain about this postI've been reading "Broke's" blog for several years now, and he's one of the most unique bloggers you'll ever find. I'd love to hear his interview. Will audio or a podcast be available?
Complain about this postThanks for your comments.
Yes Jon, he's likely to be in the programme at 5.30pm today and the podcast will be up shortly after 6pm.
I'll also put the audio up in this post.
Complain about this postIt was really good to hear Broke making it patently clear that being depressed is nothing to do with feeling miserable. It was a joy to hear him sounding cheerful today.
Complain about this postI totally agree that the internet can be theraputic. I have fibromyalgia and ME/CFS and my web is my life line. I put my heart and sould into it - just the same as i would if i could go out to work. It covers all my interests - loves - hates and how i am coping. Could not be with out it!!
Complain about this postI don't think a blanket endorsement of this kind of blog is wise, for instance someone I knew who sufferred from severe MH problems including eating disorders, they withdrew from any social occasions and made new 'friends' on a pro anorexia group, whenever I talked to this person encouraging them to work with health professionals or to break their very strict eating regime. I know that they were dicouraged from doing these very things by the online pro anorexia 'friends' giving 'thinsperation' to each other.
Complain about this postHello Anna - yes, I know the sort of site you mean, but I would baulk at a comparison between what I and others do and these blogs. To express, and to try and understand, the most baffling experiences of severe distress is a lifeline for many of us. It is also a right. People who don't live with severe and enduring distress would not think twice about expressing to others their thoughts, feelings, aspirations etc. So why on earth shouldn't we able to do this too? I would consider it important that in any way possible the truth of these kinds of human experiences is made widely available so that understanding, or knowledge anyway, can increase. Believe me, you won't find very descriptions that sufferers recognise in psychiatric textbooks! I'm not so vain as to think one small blog can do much in this regard, but there are many blogs and sites like mine. Reading them it is very obvious that their writers are just people struggling to get through, often under extraordinary difficulties.
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