![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 24 to 48 of 48. Go back in thread:
Posted by wendy b. on April 2, 2002, at 9:31:32
In reply to Re: To old-time PB posters YE OL' TIMERS UNITE! » judy1, posted by kazoo on April 1, 2002, at 21:57:37
As usual, Kazoo has taken the conversation to another plane entirely - THANK GOD!! (Even at a stressful time, Kazoo, I hope you are healing...)
I, too, was once referred to by Dr Bob as an old-timer. Wow. If I remember correctly, I lurked for 6 months, starting late in '00, then started participating toward the beginning of '01, and posted a lot during that year, cuz I was having some whopper of a major depressive episode, followed by many months of struggle with alternating depression and hypomanic episodes. I had a lot of issues with meds, asked questions on plain vanilla PB, and settled into a routine with neurontin as a mood-stabilizer, wellbutrin as my happy-pill, xanax for insomnia and bouts of anxiety, etc.
People were sympathetic and helpful, although I felt my role was more of a support to others, and I have issues with asking for others to support me (this is one of my big probelms, working on it in therapy). I hung around here with people who understood, though, and it WAS a fantastic support to me, in that I felt I was not alone, that others had gone through the same mood-disorder things, and many had worse problems, like suicidality... I learned a lot about how people cope with things like cutting, etc., why they do it... Sometimes I felt I was a fly on the wall, almost spying or eavesdropping into the lives of others. (It met my need for High Drama?) Other times I felt very needed, as Judy says, all-night suicide watches, etc. Like the back cover of a book with the reviewer saying "I laughed a lot," or "Riveting!"
I found, however, that I was sitting on the internet and the board a lot. Trying to find work and trying to get certified as a teacher, and all the stuff that goes with single parenting put a brake on my spending time here. I am trying to date (via match.com - check it out, lonelyhearts!) and have met about 5 different men. Nice to even just hang out and drink coffee with new people. So trying to work toward getting my needs met, too, not just caring for my daughter and work.
I am also involved right now with two court cases. One in Family Court, my 10-yr old daughter wants more input on her visitation schedule with her dad. So the court appointed her a law guardian, and the ex and I each have attorneys. Hopefully it won't go to trial. The other case is sueing my former employer, Cornell University, in a federal ADA suit. That one has been difficult, emotionally, going over all the horror of being isolated and hounded by my boss after taking a 2-month disability leave. I was a mess with anxiety and depression, exacerbated by the boss's treatment of me. When I came back, everyone I worked with treated me like a leper, and I was fired after being told I was insubordinate and unable to do my work. So you can imagine how upsetting it is to go over this stuff, which happened almost 2 years ago, making timelines, answering discovery questions from the other side. A miserable job, making me more anxious and depressed. Therapy has helped a lot with this, though... So this has eaten into my time too, thus I have been an infrequent contributor lately.
As usual, Phil is right, the bickering and incivility just go with the territory. We're a bunch of nut-cases trying to work things out. Of course there are going to be people who are breaking down, having trouble with meds, etc., which might make their behavior argumentative, irritable, anxious, unkind. I know anger and irritability have been major symptoms/outcomes of my depression.
Part of learning how to deal with others might just be for people to be uncivil, have that pointed out by Dr Bob, and other members, and then work on appropriate alternate behaviors, and then keep posting. I have seen that happen many times here. There is the possibility for growth in this setting, kind of like group therapy, and I think people should take advantage of that on PSB. Sort of like practice here, before going to the 'outside world' and dealing with the humans in our family and work lives. So there will be difficulties on the board as people sort things out. Encouraging people to ignore certain posters who press their buttons...
Speaking of which, remember 'SalArmy 4Me' ? you old timers? He pressed a lot of people's buttons, we had some real fallout from that time. A lot of people experienced such frustration with him, mostly about religion and and its relation to a public message board, PSB and PB members asked him to refrain from prostletizing, and got very angry at the born-again, Salvation Army stuff. He often recommended medicines, and cited Medline abstracts (impuning that he was a real expert), that may or may not have worked for people, and loads of people got angry at him for that. I did too. The other biggie was that he encouraged people to self-medicate, and to buy meds online without prescriptions, and often cited web sites of foreign providers. Then he switched identities, and Dr Bob got frustrated too (for more, look at Psychobabble Administration, about 8 months, 1 yr back... Fascinating reading, there.) But I had to ignore him, just read his name and avoided whatever he posted. Lots of people couldn't do that, though, and I couldn't for other people who pushed MY buttons. Because we felt the Board was "ours," and rightly so. Once I e-mailed Dr Bob and said as much, and he encouraged me to feel that way, and for us to monitor each other and call each other on uncivil behavior.
So I guess it goes in cycles, and the Board may have some real incivility going on right now, I do notice it. But the benefits outweigh the inherent difficulties of the structure and the setting of a cyber-group-chat-therapy-help-support type of deal we have here with Dr Bob. He tries to run a tight ship, and people who want another captain have gone elsewhere, and that's probably all to the good. I think it's worth staying and fighting for this place, where we can hash out our 'stuff,' feel safe doing so (i.e., without getting blasted off the screen by others). So I come back often, even just lurking has its merits for me and for my life right now.
But this was one thread I had to respond to. Thanks for listening to me on my soapbox... (I know, I get that way).
All the best to everyone, oldies and newbies, and in-betweenbies...
Wendy
ps: Kazoo - it IS better to be an old-timer than a two-timer...
> Is it better to be an "old timer" than a "two timer"?
>
> I was once referred to as an "old timer" by ... well, I don't want to mention names here, but there's a "Dr." in front of his name ... anyway, I was aghast with such horror that my dentures fell out. It took me weeks to find them since I can hardly see through these coke-bottle glasses, and I can't hear so well either ... what's that?
>
> As people get older, their brains, the center of thought, do, too.
>
> So ... I forgot the question already.
>
> kazoo
Posted by Fi on April 2, 2002, at 10:15:10
In reply to To old-time PB posters, posted by judy1 on March 31, 2002, at 12:19:49
I'm not an old timer, and I never go to PB (and rarely to PBA these days). And I read a much smaller proportion of the PSB posts now, as they have increased but my browsing time hasnt.
So I am only partially qualified for this discussion!
I havent picked up on the 'bickering', but that may be just the posts I have read havent been the ones including it. There are still people who post wanting support, or to share how they are feeling. I've done it occasionally, tho I've been fortunate not to have been having any major problems.
I've tried to stop responding to peoples' posts by suggesting things to *do*, as I have learnt from the supportive posts I have received from others that reading that someone else is sympathetic, and wishes you well, can be plenty. Not that I always manage it, mind (apologies to those I have given irrelevant suggestions to!!)
Personally, the idea of 'all night vigils' with suicidal people scares me witless. Messages of support to suicidal people are very much part of this board, but also not an easy part of it. To be carrying on some sort of real time debate overnight would be too intense for me.
I do miss some of the posters who were around when I first started, but seem to have gone. They were often very wise- as well as sometimes funny!
Fi
Posted by mair on April 2, 2002, at 12:34:22
In reply to Re: ...YE OL' TIMERS UNITE! (long-ish) » kazoo, posted by wendy b. on April 2, 2002, at 9:31:32
I'm pleased that you're doing some good things for yourself and successfully dealing with some legitimate stressors, but your post highlights for me why I miss having you around more as much as I do (alot). I pretty much agree with everything you said and feel that you said it better than anyone else could.
Mair
Posted by Krazy Kat on April 2, 2002, at 13:45:45
In reply to Re: ...YE OL' TIMERS UNITE! (long-ish) » kazoo, posted by wendy b. on April 2, 2002, at 9:31:32
that was a great post. good luck with everything and please do look for support during this hectic time. :)
i do recall Sal's "issues" and he seems to have come back with all the force, but less of the controversy. of course, i could be missing some things.
i have to learn to avoid posts by folks who push my buttons, and graciously so, not bring attention to it.
i like your straightforward approach re: just posting, making mistakes sometimes and being called for it, then continuing to post and try to make it better. i think perhaps some, including myself, need to give dr. bob more room and not question how he is handling every "uncivil" remark.
thanks.
- kk
Posted by judy1 on April 2, 2002, at 17:02:47
In reply to Re: ...YE OL' TIMERS UNITE! (long-ish) » kazoo, posted by wendy b. on April 2, 2002, at 9:31:32
Even though it sounds as if you're going through an extremely stressful time, I was happy to see you and some of the others are still here. I don't know, maybe a sense of comfort knowing that people who have helped in the past are still out there lurking (just as I do quite often)... take care all-judy
Posted by Shar on April 3, 2002, at 0:22:12
In reply to I'm glad you and some others posted » wendy b., posted by judy1 on April 2, 2002, at 17:02:47
Posted by Greg on April 3, 2002, at 8:02:01
In reply to ooooh, remember boBB ? Woo hoo!!!!! (nm), posted by Shar on April 3, 2002, at 0:22:12
Posted by wendy b. on April 3, 2002, at 13:28:28
In reply to Re: ...YE OL' TIMERS UNITE! (long-ish) » wendy b., posted by mair on April 2, 2002, at 12:34:22
Thanks, Mair. I am in desperate need of a literary agent... What's your percentage of the cut on the advance from my novel???
Seriously, I do appreciate your wonderfully supportive messages - you've been so lovely to me in the past... I do have the goal that I'd like to write full-time, but no one will pay me to do that yet...
This week, I have an assignment to write about anger from my pdoc (the subject of last week's group therp session). I'll perhaps share with you and others? If I look at it as an 'assignment' with a due date, I can generally produce the words on paper. I also have some due dates for the ADA trial stuff that I mentioned. And yet I have been reading PB all day (my daughter is sick, we're in our jammies today).
But my drugs make me so un-motivated, I think. I seem to remember that I felt that way before drugs, but hey, that's a long time ago. Or else I have no self-discipline, but that seems like a harsh self-judgement... I wonder. The therapist says motivation is a type of discipline, and that discipline comes from the root word meaning 'disciple.' As in: being a disciple to oneself, taking care of oneself, etc.
BTW, I have also joined a women's reading group, and a women's artist group which gets together and draws and paints once a month. So I am trying to widen the circle of friends, which may help me feel connected again... At least it's a start...
So thanks again, Mair, for the support and friendliness, it's great to hear from you...
Wendy
> I'm pleased that you're doing some good things for yourself and successfully dealing with some legitimate stressors, but your post highlights for me why I miss having you around more as much as I do (alot). I pretty much agree with everything you said and feel that you said it better than anyone else could.
>
> Mair
Posted by wendy b. on April 3, 2002, at 13:43:59
In reply to thanks, wendy..., posted by Krazy Kat on April 2, 2002, at 13:45:45
Hey Kelly:
Thanks to you! You sound like you're feeling better. Have you been writing? I saw your posts about civility and Dr Bob's interventions, and see you've posted again to PB Admin regarding this...
It is difficult, and when in hypomanic mode, I too could get awfully worked up over these things on the board. And then I just said to myself: hey, aren't there enough stressors in daily life, that I have to go to PB & PSB to get some more??? Argghhh...
BTW, I promised many moons ago to send you some info on teaching in NY state. Here is the url:
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/
Also check with your local BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services), who generally have a resource person to help people with credentials, and actually send them to the state for you...
I have found the system Byzantine, to say the least, but the web site looks like it's been re-vamped, maybe there is more/better info. My problem is that I have a master's degree, but lack any education credits, so I have to take 18 credit hrs. of ed courses, then take the exams... How I pay for the classes is a big question... the state needs teachers, and it does nothing to support people like me in career change mode. So I get frustrated...
Ayway, I asked Dr Bob on the Admin site what Sal's new name was, but he might not answer (what is it??) Would love to see him in action again...
Also: please see my Provigil question on regular PB, an add-on to your exchange with IsoM...
later,
Wendy
> that was a great post. good luck with everything and please do look for support during this hectic time. :)
>
> i do recall Sal's "issues" and he seems to have come back with all the force, but less of the controversy. of course, i could be missing some things.
>
> i have to learn to avoid posts by folks who push my buttons, and graciously so, not bring attention to it.
>
> i like your straightforward approach re: just posting, making mistakes sometimes and being called for it, then continuing to post and try to make it better. i think perhaps some, including myself, need to give dr. bob more room and not question how he is handling every "uncivil" remark.
>
> thanks.
>
> - kk
Posted by wendy b. on April 3, 2002, at 13:47:34
In reply to I'm glad you and some others posted » wendy b., posted by judy1 on April 2, 2002, at 17:02:47
> Even though it sounds as if you're going through an extremely stressful time, I was happy to see you and some of the others are still here. I don't know, maybe a sense of comfort knowing that people who have helped in the past are still out there lurking (just as I do quite often)... take care all-judy
Thanks Judy. I hope all is well for you right now. Some big changes recently, right? Yeah, we 'old-timers' lurk around, making sure the neighborhood is safe...yours,
Wendy
Posted by Krazy Kat on April 3, 2002, at 14:30:56
In reply to Re: thanks, wendy... » Krazy Kat , posted by wendy b. on April 3, 2002, at 13:43:59
I'm fairly certain sal is posting under TSA West now, but i don't think I actually have seen him confirm that.
i'm "even" :). 2000 mg Depakote - it's a lot. tired. i need energy badly. dishes are piling up in the sink, but i am not suicidal. hubby and mom have been so worried, that i need to be at least stable for a while. my pdoc called the other night to check on me - wasn't that nice? i bet not many do that.
thank you for asking. will look at your other post.
- kk
Posted by mair on April 3, 2002, at 16:40:16
In reply to Re: ...YE OL' TIMERS UNITE! (long-ish) » mair, posted by wendy b. on April 3, 2002, at 13:28:28
Wendy
As soon as you finish you're current projects, could you take up the job of writing the letter that my therapist thinks I should maybe write to my father? Everytime I try to write this one in my head or even put pen to paper, to much under-the-surface anger comes out. I'd even pay you (-:
Seriously, do share with us the stuff you write on anger. It always seems to be a relevant issue with the depressed "we."
Mair
Posted by tinaboo on April 3, 2002, at 20:13:17
In reply to thanks for the info wendy, posted by Krazy Kat on April 3, 2002, at 14:30:56
> I'm fairly certain sal is posting under TSA West now, but i don't think I actually have seen him confirm that.
Actually, some months ago, he signed one of his posts "all the best, Sal"
I think it's safe to say they are one in the same.
Posted by Zo on April 4, 2002, at 16:28:59
In reply to Re: ...YE OL' TIMERS UNITE! (long-ish) » kazoo, posted by wendy b. on April 2, 2002, at 9:31:32
>Part of learning how to deal with others might just be for people to be uncivil, have that pointed out by Dr Bob, and other members, and then work on appropriate alternate behaviors, and then keep posting.
Amen! I know I've gotten HUGE value out of Dr. Bob's form of correction, which never ever shames the correctee--which is really the only learning that "takes."
I have an inkling what--or shall I say who-- sparked recent concern about Negativity and "Attacks." I know I went over the line posting to Andyboy--but you really never know the Why. Why someone posts the things they do. Since I've been back on the board this spring, I don't recall at all seeing *real* attacks such as happened last fall. Maybe someone can point me to a link?
Here's the skinny on my "negative" post. I write a lot on on speaking truth to power as a woman. The night I posted to Andyboy, I was tired. . and without reallizing it, at a certain point went over the line into Writing, which is means to the general reader.
Of course it reads like I was talking to . . .and of course that was not civil. But I thought you might like to know what was actually going on with the "attacker."
I am guilty of and sorry for going off on one of my rants in the wrong venue, of not attending to the rules and honoring the real person, Andyboy. Writing is largely a matter of Going Into The Flow.
A difficult part of my illness is attending Mindfully to that flow. Hard to explain, but I hope my overall record here shows me not to be a "negative" poster!
Zo
Posted by beardedlady on April 4, 2002, at 16:44:39
In reply to The Attacker speaks! ;-), posted by Zo on April 4, 2002, at 16:28:59
Very cool. Glad you're back.
beardy : )>
Posted by Zo on April 4, 2002, at 20:07:12
In reply to You're great, Zo! » Zo, posted by beardedlady on April 4, 2002, at 16:44:39
Posted by JohnX2 on April 4, 2002, at 20:07:24
In reply to Re: thanks for the info wendy » Krazy Kat , posted by tinaboo on April 3, 2002, at 20:13:17
Posted by judy1 on April 5, 2002, at 1:02:51
In reply to The Attacker speaks! ;-), posted by Zo on April 4, 2002, at 16:28:59
I've never considered you negative Zo; quite the contrary I admire your strength. And I also respect your willingness to 'own' going over the line- something a few posters (who recently got blocked) sorely lack. I must be dense because I really can't understand how someone can be blocked repeatedly and still continue the same hurtful behavior when they return. Take care, judy
Posted by Zo on April 6, 2002, at 5:33:52
In reply to Re: The Attacker speaks! ;-) » Zo, posted by judy1 on April 5, 2002, at 1:02:51
Thx, Judy, I appreciate it very much. But you get past a certain point and it's easy. Ofv course I've been blessed with a non-shaming pdoc and a non-shaming therapist for a number of years--after going thru any number of Truly Awful docs. You want to say to them, I thought you were in the business of *helping* people. Anyway, I'm surprised to find actually graceful of spirit--most of the time-just as a result of their active listening, their total acceptance, their love.
Funny, tho, this is how I raised my kids--but one just cannot do it to oneself.
Haven't seen you for a while; hope everything's going well. Oh! The baby! Right? How exciting!
Zo
Posted by tinaboo on April 6, 2002, at 9:02:51
In reply to Re: ...YE OL' TIMERS UNITE! (long-ish) » wendy b., posted by mair on April 2, 2002, at 12:34:22
Posted by dove on April 8, 2002, at 9:47:10
In reply to Re: To old-time PB posters » judy1, posted by Shar on April 1, 2002, at 20:31:43
I feel like I've been here forever, although Big Bertha and St. James seem to come to mind as two old-timers even older than me. The board has gone through so many changes, so many cycles, as has each individual that helped create the board and weave its personality. So, yes, it is a much different bird than it was just two years ago.
The number of people in need has increased, and the knowledge and wisdom required to be of assistance to the needy is much more complex and wide.
With each new med arrives a new chemical, biological, neurological, emotional, and physical territory to explore, explain, and ponder.
With each new member, one finds a new and unique conglomeration of struggles, victories, life-history, life-story, opinions, biases, eccentricities, personalities, habits, moods, commonalities, and distinctions. That's a whole lot to deal with on a one-to-one basis, much less on an active large group-feedback situation.
For me, P-Babble's split into P-Babble & Social Babble shook-up my method of receiving support, giving support; for searching for medical answers and the holistic answers which often accompany them but didn't/don't fall under the more restrictive med-only P-Babble Board.
That said, I am adjusting and am finding the support I need. However, I don't think I am able to give out the same kind of support I was able to before. Whether this inability is due to my own time restraints, all the new faces, or all the new meds and their combinations, it has decreased.
I still find comfort reading all the posts, *a lot* of comfort; especially when I see those old-timer's tag-lines up on the boards! And wow, don't I feel great when Phil is doing better, and Scott has some new theories, and Greg let's out a grinning holler :o) and then there's Noa - always so kind and circumspect in her replies, and when JohnL had a real break-through in his treatment, and when I had to apologize to DJ for being a total self-centered prat, and St. James began to spend more time feeling good and less time on the board - same story with Adam. And I haven't seen Janice in forever, and she was a real boon to me because we had so many symptoms in common :o)
We lose people due to good health, and that's hard on some of us, but true love and friendship rejoices anyway. In the meantime, we gather some more broken-spirits, angry-spirits, frustrated, hopeless, demoralized spirits; and it begins again.
We just gotta' keep truckin', and play like a deadhead who ain't aware of Jerry's demise and still believes in his spirit, who still believes in the spirit of the *whole* and the *singular*.
dove
Posted by tinaboo on April 8, 2002, at 14:17:21
In reply to Re: To old-time PB posters, posted by dove on April 8, 2002, at 9:47:10
Posted by Shawn. T. on July 14, 2002, at 5:21:05
In reply to Re: To old-time PB posters, posted by mair on April 1, 2002, at 11:54:29
See Stephen L. Carter's Civility: Manners, Morals and the Etiquette of Democracy for an excellent discussion of the meaning of civility. Please note that it is impossible to offend me in any way. I'm very laid back in person.
Shawn
Posted by betrayed on March 10, 2009, at 19:41:04
In reply to i think greg has it..., posted by Krazy Kat on March 31, 2002, at 20:59:09
Hi, I am new to this post. I read a few posts before joining and could'nt believe there is actually a site like this. I would love to share my experience and any help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated. Betrayed
Posted by Kath on March 12, 2009, at 10:18:42
In reply to Re: i think greg has it..., posted by betrayed on March 10, 2009, at 19:41:04
> Hi, I am new to this post. I read a few posts before joining and could'nt believe there is actually a site like this. I would love to share my experience and any help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated. Betrayed
Hi B. You're most welcome here! Please feel welcome to comment or add your 2 cents worth to any of the ongoing 'threads'. You can also start a new 'thread' by going to the bottom of the page & clicking New Thread (I think that's what it says).
Anyhow, welcome :-) Kath
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.