Future Plans For PTSDForum.org

[anthony]

Now that I have got the new look completed, IM updated and the forum functioning faster, categorisation complete and other bits and pieces worked on, I can say I am actually pretty happy with the state of ptsdforum.org now. Actually, really happy with the way it is progressing. Over the past six months it has grown to over 2000 people visiting daily, and still growing. I would expect that to be around the 3000 daily mark by Christmas or soon after. I am progressively finishing the FAQ section before I begin the below aspects.

So... what's next? Well, after a lot of thought and some renewed interest from another in establishing a sexual abuse site, I will be integrating combatptsd.org into this forum at combat.ptsdforum.org. It will be an independent website, though mimic the design of this site, with a unique colour scheme applied. Whilst I can allow one login across x number of sites, the sites really are a unique audience each, so I won't be doing that.

I am going to introduce spouses into the combat forum, so that spouses of soldiers only can collectively get together online to discuss issues.

I am going to establish the sexual abuse forum at sexabuse.ptsdforum.org, which will be only for those who's trauma is of sexual abuse and will be administered by someone who has that experience and relationship to the members.

As you can gather, this is why I am not going to integrate all sites into a single login, as I feel they are unique enough that each site does not want or need just any member posting upon it, especially as the sex abuse site will be quite restrictive, as they usually are, due to the nature of the site. The combat forum doesn't need just anyone upon it, but only those specifically related to combat PTSD as either a veteran or spouse of veteran.

Each site will be identically themed to this design, just customised for colours. This keeps transition between sites nice and easy. There will be some differences, primarily being:

• Sexual abuse forum will have articles, forum and diaries (blogs). Unlike this forum that uses threads as diaries, it will use blogs as diaries, allowing style customisation uniquely as well as permissions and content control uniquely to each member.
• Combat forum will likely have blogs stripped from it, as they serve no real purpose for a combat discussion site.

 

[Jade-]

I am going to establish the sexual abuse forum at sexabuse.ptsdforum.org, which will be only for those who's trauma is of sexual abuse and will be administered by someone who has that experience and relationship to the members.

I think this is a really good idea. It would be nice to have an entire forum devoted to sexual abuse. I've learned alot from this site, but haven't really been able to discuss the things I really should be discussing.

 

[anthony]

I am still undecided yet as to whether or not I may move all carer related aspects off site to its own forum, managed by carers, ie. carer.ptsdforum.org. This then allows greater expansion for my future plans to extend into other forum types that are around PTSD symptoms, though not PTSD, ie. anxiety forum, depression forum, etc. All future though and not rushing into anything just yet.

 

[Nicolette]

From a Carer's viewpoint I learn a lot from reading what Sufferer's write and having their responses to our threads so as long as we are not restricted from the general forum it would be ok. Otherwise, how do we learn about the other side versus a group of us just sharing what we have learned from trial and error? I have learned more by putting the shoe on the other foot and reading what Sufferers go through and their reactions to what we do. I think a Carers' only community would limit our ability to try and grasp some sort of understand of the illness and what is PTSD and what is not and what is supportive behaviour and what is enabling. JMHO.

 

[Deleted member 541]

I too feel it's important to hear and see the carers side of things. Sometimes it gives me a better perspective as to how I might curb my actions or thoughts better if I know how it affects a carer. There is always the other side to consider, and we really need to remember that even if we do have PTSD, we are responsible for our actions, and how they affect the people around us.

 

[Cin]

I wouldn't like to see the carers separated from the sufferers. There is too much valuable information offered from both parties with help in the understanding for each.

 

[anni]

It's awful to say this, but it REALLY only recently hit me as to maybe the true extent this stupid thing has intruded on my husband's life. I'm not sure it would have happened at all, despite having paid appropriate lip-service to the subject, had I not been browsing the Carer forum one day.Something someone said there hit me over the head like a brick and got the point across, finally. It's awful to say I need to be told these things, but apparently do, and having the Carer Forum is very nice by way of being more thoughtful to one's spouse.

 

[ISupportHer]

I'll weigh in.

Just my opinion. I like INclusion rather than EXclusion. My concern for too may separate sites is that some will go to that one site and miss information and support from the other site. I say that knowing that the resources would be there but I mean the forum itself. The interaction that is so valuable.

The second is that, although commendable, and I don't really know you Anthony, It is my hope that you don't overdo it. I mean, I appreciate so much all the work you put into the forum. I can't stress that too munch. There will always be things to change. Ways to make it better. Don't take this the wrong way, please, but it is just my thought that I'd be fine with this current forum, as is, for a little while.

I don't always comment on the updates but my frequent thought is that I just hope you can pause for a bit, step back and admire the art from a little distance for a bit.

Again, hope I'm not upsetting you with my comments.

ISH

 

[justme]

May I suggest not only introducing spouses into the combat forum, but significant others and fiancées as well?

 

[Jawn]

I also think the carers and suffers should stay together. So I agree with Nicolette.

 

[anthony]

I can also confirm this for now, that the software used on the sexual abuse forum won't be this software, it will be a new kid on the block from ex vbulletin developers (http://xenforo.com/community/), which far surpasses this software for use and functionality. It is only in alpha at present, so it has a way to go before being a feature rich software and available for purchase. Because that will be a new site, then I can use that to test user experience within that software. No, this sites software will not be changing.

ISH... I won't be running other sites, hence why I can make them happen. Its about establishing them, but having others manage them. Other sites topics are also not this sites topic, being PTSD. A sexual abuse forum is not about PTSD, but is for anyone who has been sexually abused, PTSD or not. The combat PTSD forum is not just for anyone with PTSD, it is for veterans only (veterans don't mix as a majority well with others, especially a primarily female oriented website, which this is). An anxiety forum, depression forum, etc, they are topic specific and not PTSD. Keeping things in one domain, as sub-domains, has a massive advantage for advertising leverage. This site has a 60k per month visitor throughput, which with the right placement, suddenly exposes that through put to a sexual abuse forum, a combat forum, an anxiety only forum, etc etc.

I would not venture beyond the scope of symptoms surrounding PTSD / trauma itself, as that would put myself and most users here outside the scope of experience, ie. I wouldn't launch an autism forum, or MS forum. A majority of PTSD sufferers though come from two very distinct major groups, being: combat and sexual abuse. These are the two largest distinct groups for PTSD / trauma sufferers in the world. If I added a third, it would be domestic violence as the next largest common group. You could add police, fire and ambulance to the combat group if they pertain to PTSD in the line of work, ie. shooting, being shot at, attacked, death, destruction, mayhem and chaos seen by some of these people on a daily basis.

My focus nowadays is not really upon just this forum, as I do not spend much time directly helping people, as it has to greater impact on me. I do prefer to be trying new projects, learning other aspects outside of PTSD, as my interests expand. This site has all the information, it is well established and really tends to run itself. This forum is merely nowadays about new members getting in and reading the existing articles, and interacting with one another for more support mechanisms and diverse information / experience range and ideas. Existing members tend to guide others and then they disappear to begin supporting themselves and getting back into life. Some return if they need a little more support, then go again.

In nearly 5 years of this site, I can actually say right now I am the happiest I have ever been with the state of the site, its features, ruleset, members, permissions and methods of setup. It is quite refined nowadays due to years of constant feedback and fresh ideas, trial and error.

 

[AdamAnt]

I must say that being able to talk with and read from the sufferers side has helped me at least as much as the carers. I think it's enough that there are exclusive private areas for each to post with their peers.