Hi.

Found a link to this place from another forum I've been at for about 10 years now. I'll be honest: They posted the link to a particular forum and said the posters were "###$ up" and this piqued my interest. Fortunately not only did I find a lot of interesting people, I also found a lot of forums that apply to me.

I'm in my mid 20s, married, have a baby boy, majored in Psychology in college, etc. etc. etc. Pretty boring stuff. The things that apply to this place, however, include a good 10 year bought with trichitillomania (did I even spell that correctly?), four years of drug addiction, an incident involving sexual battery at age 16, and some other stuff here and there over the years.

Fortunately I stopped pulling my hair out and I also stopped doing drugs four years ago. My drug problem and mental issues completely swallowed everyone around me whole and I eventually spent over 11 months in a treatment facility in rural Vermont while in high school. It was a terrible experience and that facility has since been shut down. The incident that occurred at age 16 is the only thing I can come up with to explain my subsequent addiction. Being that young and having to talk to tons of strangers about something so personal was not easy and I sought comfort in various substances, particularly opiates. It eventually got so bad I was using drugs intravenously and I even left school for a while.

I'm now doing well and contribute this to several different things, mostly getting help and moving far away from my home town. I also met an amazing man whose career is currently taking us all across the country every few years. It has been a great ride thus far. My career goals have taken a backseat to his but it's not something I mind for now.

Anyway. That was way too long.

It's not too long when it's interesting too, and you have a story to tell. LOL at us being "###$ up." It's peer support, if that's what they mean. Very few people here are therapists or psych professionals, but most have experience to bring to the table, just like you. Post wherever you feel comfortable, you're welcome here. Or read and lurk if that's right for you.

Hello Palaver and a belated welcome from me.

I think it's interesting that the posters on the other forum described us as "###$ up". I actually think that mostly everyone, probably even "normal" people, have quite a lot of issues going on still... I think the fact that we can be open about it here is actually a strength and shows a healthy attitude that I get the impression the people on the other forum might not understand because to demean another group of people for being open about our issues and seeking help, suggests that they would not be comfortable to be so open. I think that's their loss really...

I hope you find it helpful to be here and to talk more about the things that have been bothering you.