It is just so good to hear when I know that is why someone has dropped off the radar. Just so very encouraging. For them but also those who continue to struggle. Awesome to hear that when we sometimes are surrounded with discussion of how we feel, our symptoms and pain, there IS a light at the end of the tunnel that can be reached with time, hard personal work as well as support.
Of course, it's OK to come back if one needs to. That can happen too.
Sometimes I need to "take a forum break" to process. I had written so much in my trauma diary and I was really feeling down- I felt that the processing break was a good thing. I left for five days, coming on only to check my inbox messages and reassure everyone who said that they were worried through my inbox that I was fine. That's what I think is best to do when you have the "processing break" (that's what I call the thing that Anthony talks about in the Reading Forum Increases Symptoms thread.
By coming just to check my inbox- especially since I had been feeling really down and told a few people before my disappearance- I was able to reassure people that I was okay, that I was safe; but I still got the distance from the forum that I needed.
My suggestion which I just offered to a friend was to not drop off the radar altogether if they felt they needed a processing break. I suggested coming on every few days to check their inboxes, responding, then if they felt up to it read what I like to call "the feel good threads" and participate in them. Threads which I feel are "feel good threads" include:
A Turn Away from Dissociation: The Association Thread
Three Words for a Change
The Wish Game With a Twist (Just a Bit of Fun!)
Free Hugs
List Your Joke to Brighten PTSD.
(These can all be found in the Chit Chat Section.)
That way- there's still participation- but you are essentially taking a forum break, because the theme is lighter on these threads- they make you feel good, and there is less worry for friends on the forum. It's just like an "I'm still here" claim, but not really actively participating for a week. I feel that's better than just dropping off altogether.
That's my opinion.
