Rearrange your site please!

[blackrainbow]

For one thing there's just too many categories to be writing in!


But my greatest concern is -


I had hoped in coming here that I would have a place where I could feel comfotable amongst people who had the same affliction as I. Find shoulders to cry on, and be shoulders for others - make myself stronger though it.


Instead I found a place where a lot of paranoid people post about how their coworkers neighbor's kid had a stomach virus, or how this person heard that someone threw up after driving too fast, or how shopping carts can mae you sick.


Since I've been on this site (which was not long) I've become more paranoid. I can't stop thinking about all the situations people have described and now I'm afraid to leave the house.


SOLUTION


PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE


Arrange things so that there is one forum for messages that could trigger fear. Any messages that include methods of contraction illnesses, or stories about how a certain trigger lead to vomitting (ie. one women talked about how some girl threw up in the shower from the heat and now the thought worries me whenever I take a shower).


If you want to HELP people stop feeding their psychoses!!!!!!!


Suggestion for new forums


1) discussion forum for things NOT related to emetophobia


2) Innermost thoughts - where one can discuss their fears


3) Treatment - methods, experiences


4) Cured - a forum for those who have been through treament


5) Touchy subjects - a forum where people (if they wish) can discuss things like ways to contract sv's, vomit stories, etc etc. This forum coudl obviously be split in several different subsections. The point is that it's clearly marked that messages within can lead to increased anxiety, etc.

[samara's on tv]

I sort of agree with Blackrainbow. I think that topics should be clearly marked as to what they are. Sometimes I end up reading somethings I wish I didn't...like the top ten foods that can cause food poisoning. Now I'm all phobic about ever having EATEN those foods in the first place! Topics should clearly have what they are about in the title if at all possible, that way someone won't stumble across something they don't want to read!


~Monica

[sheri-baby]

i dunno, maybe i'm the only one who feels this way but, i think people should write about anything they would like to. of course not offending or rude. a lot of us here have no one to share our fears and worries with, except this site, it's like venting that needs to be done, a lot of times i read stuff that makes me all panicky and anxious, but other times helping someone to feel better is all worth it, cuase you try to practice what you preach, i also have the choice of not coming on to this site anymore also, just my feelings[img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[blackrainbow]

I do agree with you in a way. I want a place where I can get support, and vent my fears but this place almost seems more like a posting board to alert the masses about all the ways you can get sick. I'm not saying it shouldn't be allowed, just that there should be a way to keep it seperate so that it's not harming people.


Remember - we are phobics and therefore sensitive to what people say - so sensitive there should be some consideration.


If I simply leave this site I leave what may be my only outlet ofsupport, and that's not fair


Imagine the chaos if I were to post something like - "stomach virus now found to be airborne". Would YOU want to stumble on that in a posting?


Tara

[sheri-baby]

I hear you Tara, I myself do want to know if sv's are airborn, sure it would create major anxiety but i'm the type of person that want's to know every way possible that sv's are transmitted and maybe how to prevent them. Pretty much, just hearing people knowing someone who is sick causes me to panic, like OH NO somethings going around! But you do have a point, I do agree with the anxiety it causes people, but maybe it's just one person's way of venting. We should have warning maybe like, "this post may cause you major anxiety" LOL

[sparky2004]

Most emets suffer form obsessive thinking, as it can go with the territory. It is apart of the catastrophic thinking process. Anything that threatens one's stomach and comfort zone can highten fears. A stomach virus equals a threat, and that threat equals fear, and that fear equals panic/anxiety. A lot of people have not learned to realize this kind of negative/catastrophic thought process. It took me years to realize this.


This is a double edged sword. We all want help from this forum. I believe that this forum shouldbe used as general support and sharing, like a large social gethering of people whoshare this emet in common,and primary treatment should come from your doctor/therapist.


I had no expectations when I joined here. I got more than I bargained for though, knowing that there are so many others out there, and meeting someone who suffers that lives close by, and for me, this is priceless.


I think that we all need to start focusing on more positive aspects. It is difficult though, when one is so completly emeshed in thier fears.


Gee, I hope I'm not way off here, as I am pretty tired! If I am, just ignore me, lol!!! [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]Edited by: sparky2004

[shiva]

I think that crying on each other's shoulders would perpetuate just as much fear as talking about how the neighbor's kid was sick.


If we can't come here to talk about those little nagging thoughts we have throughout our days then where can we go? I don't think that anyone's thoughts or feelings should have to be censored here. I do feel that if people are that easily influenced by what they read here then they should definitely be seeking professional help while visiting this site.


Everyone handles their phobia differently. I love reading the posts about seemingly horrible things happening because 9x out of ten the dreaded evil never happens, we usually manage to avoid it even when it seems inevitable that it will happen. I think that creates a certain sense of courage and strengththat we would not be able to otherwise achieve. For example... Someone starts a thread worrying themselves sick because everyone at work was sick and barfing and they couldn't go home. One week passes, this person never themselves got the virus.. Wow! That's awesome! One, I learn through this story that "Hey.. I don't have to panic everytime someone around me says they were up all night being sick." And 2, I recognize that this person who went through a week of worrying hell has just realized that they are okay despite the vulnerable emet position they were in and I feel very proud of them that they made it through and I think to myself.. "If they handled that then I can handle it when it comes my way as well."


I really think that many of us (myself being guilty of this as well)need to just realize that everytime we are faced with challenges concerning this phobia we make a choice of how we want to interpret the challenge. Sometimes we want to become victims and pretend that we have no control and that our lives may as well be over, but we will get sooo much further if we don't let that happen and slowly fight the emet. We need to just pick up the pieces and move forward. Not let ourselves obsess and live life knowing that this that afflicts us is definitely a challenge at least, but that we are stronger and will get through this. Everytime we do this, we are one step closer to freedom.

[japa]

One board that I frequent has separate sections that are strictly adhered to, and it is a wonderful thing. The problem is that this board has up to seven moderators who read all of the posts and move them to the proper site if someone has mistakenly posted in the wrong section. The moderators are volunteers and have to put a large chunk of their time into reading and moving posts and resolving problems.


Point is: To implement stricter sections, which I don't think would be a bad idea, the board will need more volunteer moderators who are not afraid to read any and every post and move it accordingly and also who want to take on a time consuming job. So, it's really a practicality issue.

[Jenneh]

A practicality issue that can be solved... surely a lot of us here do read every post anyway =S well, i do. so it shouldn't be too hard to find people to volunteer their help.

[hippychick]

Up until a year ago we had no mods! lol I think that while the idea is good, I also believe with just a lil bit of care nothing much needs to change. Posts should be (and usually are) clearly marked for content. As long as you warn in the subject title that it may trigger or that it is graphic then it is entirely up to the person whether they read it. I'd just like to point out that we do have a forum for treatments AND for emet experiences, the problem is everyone seems to post in the general area. What we could do is implement a new rule whereby any "I nearly V*" or "Bad V* day" stories got strictly in the experience area and everything else in the general area. The forums are there already, you just have to use em! Tommorrow (when I'm less tired....its nearly 1am here) I'll see about moving posts or posting a topic to enforce where people should post but like I say...the divides are already there to be used.Edited by: hippychick

[japa]

Yeah, that does seem like how it should be... good idea.

any "I nearly V*" or "Bad V* day" stories got strictly in the experience area and everything else in the general area.