I have been blogging here at many different websites for about as long as I can remember. Whether it be at Xanga, MySpace, Blogger, or here. I've even read many blogs and they share much inofrmation that the poster has posted. Whether it be as private but public as they want, or whether it just be a "Hi hello! My days are okay. Just wanted to let you know I'm still here..." type post.
I was reading a post that txmomof3 about the perks of Blogging. As reading it she/he said that there are many different reasons that blogging is good for and stuff. I commented on it and this is what I commented on:
"txmomof3, i have to agree with you that blogging is good. and to get it straight, if i feel like i am going to have a bad day or feel a bit of bored or depression get the hold of me, i log on to either this site, myspace, or blogger.com and go blog crazy. in other words for me "blog" is the synomyn of "journal" becaue they both (in my eyes) mean the exact same thing."
So it got me to thinking. Can Blogging Help Depressed People? I mean they can talk about their feelings and thoughts and then they can read any comments that people leave for them. I mean can there be people who want to help the depression people, I mean I sure would. Why? Well, I would because I am a minor depression sufferer where I am at high risk of major depression.
There's other stuff that I've heard that helps the depressed. Such as: music, family/friends, medicine, drugs, prostitution. All the other stuff that can lead to their suicde/homicide or their crime spree (not saying that they could commit murder or kill themselves with any of those choices). I mean if they needed to a therapist could say, "Hey you should start a blog. Go online and find a few nice blog sites and start blogging. You never know you could get more people telling you what I am telling you. That your not worthless or you don't deserve to let go of the world and that you still have a life to live."
So even though there could be many debates, or post on this, I just want to see what other people think. I don't care if you have to tell me to shut up and sit down but I want to know what people think about this issue.
Here's a few questions that I want to ask as well:
- Can blogging help the depressed?
- Does blogging make you feel happy?
- Do you feel that your helping people out my blogging?
- What's your main purpose for blogging?
Let me know please!
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I haven't seen any scientific studies on it (if you see any, please provide links), but I have seen a lot of comments on Progressive U saying things like "blogging is my therapy."
And you definitely can help other people by blogging -- that's what this site is all about.
Good luck, and keep us posted on what you find.
If you want, you can send Reboloke or Shayla2004 ideas for specific poll questions.
Yes, of course I will keep this up because I really would love to know whether or not that many therapist do use blogging as a prescription or such. Thanks for the help.
Writing in general helps me to sort out what I'm thinking and deal with the stresses that I'm feeling. I chat with my boyfriend every day, and that's my therapy. When he's not around, I have to write it out somehow, and in that sense, blogging helps me. However, I like this site more for the different ideas it brings. I blog here so that I can learn and teach others I would normally never have any contact with.
~C
Visit my blog.
I definitely believe that writing is a good form of therapy for depressed persons. I've actually found that when one talks to a therapist, writing/blogging is usually one of the recommended ways of learning to cope, so you're not that far off in your hypothesis!! Love, Laura
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http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/lwelizabeth
I have to ask.... how in the world does prostitution help with depression?! Am I just missing something and reading that wrong?
I don't know about blogging in particular, but journaling is a common activity for those suffering from depression, stress, anxiety, etc. I would imagine that blogging would fall under the journaling category. Journaling allows one to write about what they are experiencing and get it out versus keeping it bottled up.
MedicineNet has a good article on journaling and depression.
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50672
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss
I was just using that as an example. For example, if a person has a loved one (such as a husband or boyfriend) and they don't give them much, they could be depressed because they aren't getting much. So they could be selling themselves for sex to make the depression as much.
When you write a journal, you pour out your deepest secrets to a piece of paper, and hope no one you know ever sees it. But somehow, when you blog online, you write the same things, and hope friends give you advice. Thank God that somebody invented this, so we recognize that everybody has problems, and we can ll help each other out. I remember writing in a journal in Elementary and Middle School, and reading it thinking I was the weirdest person in the world. Now I go on Myspace, and everybody is doing the same thing, so I feel free to complain and rant, and be cheered up by my friends, and I return the favor. It's way better than burying it in a book and slipping it between mattresses.
Not all journals or journalers hide the books away and hope no-one ever sees them. Many families pass down diaries and journals from generation to generation. My friends and I always passed our journals back and forth in school so everyone could read and comment. It was always so much fun. I still have many of those journals tucked away. Makes for very interesting reading. We were really odd.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss
I am actually glad that this subject has been brought up. I recently moved out of NY state to Alaska is its kinda a drag. It seems like the only way to make friends is to go out and get wasted everynight! (Well I don't drink I have to daily take medication for my thyroid and alcohol just makes me sick.
Kinda sucks but even one shot will make me sick the next day even 2 days.)
Blogging has helped me keep in touch with friends at home using Myspace and Facebook, and keeps me busy. I have tried volenteering(going to be a teeball coach this summer :O)
I have also signed up for Big Brother Big Sister but I haven't heard back.
I work fulltime and school as much as I can afford(9credits this semester) Blogging really helps me feel like im not alone here. Sounds pathetic but hey you try living in -45 degrees with no friends :O) Im happy I am trying to get into some clubs at school right now, lol as we speak, but staying positive helps. Its been 1 year and 8 months that I have been here.. Maybe it takes that long to find good friends
I think blogging could be beneficial for people who suffer from mild depression or other issues because writing things down helps many people in these kinds of situations. Putting it on the internet where people can comment is helpful because people feel like they can discuss their problems with someone, but not have to worry about how they'll react because they don't know the person in real life. It's also helpful to read the blogs of a person going through similar issues so you don't feel alone.
"They say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol
Well, clinically depressed people need more than just a journal to help them. There have been some recent studies that show that extended periods of online activity lead to depression. Depression is something that goes deeper than just the day to day things that can put someone over the edge - it stems from a psychocologial imbalance. Everyone gets depressed now and then, but if someone is depressed for extended periods of time then they need serious help.
Writing in general helps anyone, whether they're clinically depressed or not, because it's a form of venting. If we don't get our feelings out there then it eats away at us inside, which in turn causes depression. So journals are a great form of expression.
However, I finally want to point out that a blog isn't really a journal. Blogging is still new, and it entails writing entries that deal specifically with current events. It's like writing little essays for each entry, and providing backup sources, links, bibliographies, and factual information and support. Writing about how you're feeling that day doesn't fall under the definition of a blog. So, journaling can help anyone, but not blogging.
I think it can.. Living here in Alaska in the long winters I blog on like 3-4 different sites to keep me busy.. no one wants to go outside when it's -20 or colder.. I like this site.. its more educational and helps me with my writing
Visit my BLOG> http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/jodi41086
It is good to tame the mind, which is difficult to hold in and flighty, rushing wherever it wishes; a tamed mind brings happiness-Buddha
everyone hi, I'm still new here and I wish everyone can accpect me althought I'm twelve not like everyone else did to me, well I'm in the middle of a sticky situation, I need help, well my teacher stops me from every action I do, and stop me even from talking in my class, my so called friends do terrible things to me, they betrayed me, and often I feel useless, and my heart feels hollow, although I know that I only lived only I small portion of my life, but if my early life is like this what am I gonna do in the rest of my life, HELP EVERYONE PLEASE
I No This To Be 100% True And I Agree With You Blogging Dose Help And So Dose Music..I have being fighting With major depression since i have been 7..And not just that i'm also a cutter..And im now 31 years of age and im still cutting..And i have been on every drug to man..But once i started blogging i felt a little better about my self..And i did not feel all alone any more in the world..once i started to see more and more people coming to my blog on the site i hang on..witch is cherrytap.com and i go by the same name there as well..but depression to me is just a word its what you are feeling inside side that matters the most when i see a cry for help in any type of blog im there for my friends.. thanks for doing this blog..
There's other stuff that I've heard that helps the depressed. Such as: music, family/friends, medicine, drugs, prostitution.
...are you actually saying that drugs and prostitution can HELP??
Blogging has certainly helped me, but prostitution nearly destroyed me.