I Feel Like An Ass For Saying This:

[Okarok]

Yes, that's true. Good suggestions.

 

[Usirap]

JMHO There is no need for you to read others diaries. There may come a day where this changes. Your journey is the most important and finding what benefits you is where you should focus.

:DThis no way makes you an arse!

 

[Sejiz]

I cannot read everyones diarys. I stay away from the ones that are too graphic. It is too hard. I have some diarys that I keep up with. I find it is a good way to get to know someone. But you should not do it if you do not feel like it. It is ok not to read at all.

 

[Uhali]

But I just can't read other people's diaries. I just CAN'T. It's depressing and I feel like I have enough of my own issues to deal with. I can't deal with other's as well.

And yet I want other people to read mine. To share and understand the pain I've been living in. I feel the need to be understood.

Sometimes I can't read other people's trauma diaries either, Sejiz, so I don't read them.

Very occasionally I can read them and I do.

I think it is really good that you have worked out that reading other people's trauma diaries is not good for you. That is great awareness.

Some people will be able to read your diary and some people, like you, won't be able to - I think you are not an arse but a brave and honest person.

 

[Arob]

I tried reading other people's diary's, but it's too hard for me too.

I write and if others read, then that's good, if not, then that's good too. I guess that's how it's supposed to work. Feels strange sometimes, but I try not to worry about it.

 

[Ikisef]

I wish I could support better, but reading other people's diaries just triggers an anxiety attack. If I read more than one post I feel my heart begin to race and the panic sets in. I want to be there for so many of the good people here(especially those who read mine!) but I just can't.

 

[Gulis]

The fact that you are hurt and looking for help, doesn't mean you have to read everyone's horrible experiences. Don't take it as a punishment you have to pay for being understood. When people helps you, they do it because they think they can, it doesn't mean you have to pay for that in any way. Just take the advice.

It's not the same that if someone goes to yourhouse to look for your help specificaly you say NO!, it would be different and even you would be entitled to say you can't listen in that moment... We can help others and listen to others once we feel good, so first worry for yourself and then you will help others. Don't feel bad, you are not selfish or anything, it's a normal response of our mind... it's hard to listen to other people when we feel so hurt,so we don't have to.

 

[Uboro]

ust want support- an "I'm here for you." message, and that can be done without looking into trauma diaries.

I like these suggestions. I guess we could always post and say we havent read but are offering support too.

It is totally Ok to judge how able you are to cope before reading diaries. Its all about judging what we can and cant do - just like in the rest of life.

One of the reasons I haven't done a diary is that for me personally not having feedback would mess me up but that is my own problem and noone elses responsibility.

If you care about other people then you are not an ass.

 

[Dafego]

I admire people who can read and respond to diaries. I can't read them. There's nothing wrong with it being too much. You can give support on the general forums instead.

 

[Epeb]

I haven't tried reading any of them yet. I can't even write my own yet. My T has been encouraging me to do it for months.

 

[Imag]

I can't read other people's either.

I find it too stressful and induces all sorts awful emotions in me when I read them.

 

[Nolavuk]

I read diary's but not if there is to much details about abuse I zoom out, sort of.. I don't read stuff like that. I talked to my therapist about it and he have told me not to read stuff like that. It might trigger me and I have to deal with the other stuff already triggering me from time to time. But I do read the more "normal" stuff, about emotions and stuff like that.