Please don't shy away from the idea of online support--read on and I'll provide you with the reasons why you really will miss the boat if you don't jump right in and participate in one of these (IRC, E-Mail & MOO) online support communities.Cyber-friends don't care if you're still in bed with your laptop at 3:00 in the afternoon, they don't care if you haven't brushed your teeth or gotten dressed. Not a one will care if you speak their language fluently, are physically challenged, or are gay. None will ask what kind of car you drive, where your kids go to school, or if you earn any money at all. So you see, we care only about you and what's in your head--there are precious few places where you will ever experience such "unconditional positive regard" as you can here in cyberbia.
Not convinced yet? Well then just take my hand here and I'll take you to visit some of my friends so you can hear firsthand what they think about their respective homes on the net. Come on now; don't hang back--you'll love these folks as much as I once you hear what they have to say. Ready? Ok then, Let's Go!
One problem with being bipolar is that there is often no one rattling the rafters in the wee hours when you are dying to talk to someone who understands what you're going through. Online communities are open 24 hours a day, and much less expensive than a bar--safer too ;) When you've questions needinganswers, agonizing personal traumas to deal with, or just want friendly banter amongst your own kind, the online community offers it in abundance. Because of their anonymity, some very privacy-oriented individuals find these lists allow them the freedom to open up without fear of reprisal or rejection. So please, oh please, do give them a chance. Just follow the fairy fire lizard.
WARNING!! Newsgroups are not great support groups for the most part. They are rather loose organisations and there's little continuity among participants. I mention them as they can be good forums for posting questions for which you'd like a wide audience. I recommend you join an email group if you're going the asynchronous route. I highly recommend a MOO or IRC for synchronous (real time) conversation.
There are a number of IRC channels on the net, too many for me to list given the fact that they come and they go at their owner's will so to speak. However, I will list a few of the sources for some of the better established channels and some additional sites for pertinent information as I find it. I've no experience with IRC myself, since I prefer the richer environment of MOOs for live chat, but many folks seem to like them so I include them here.
I'm Fractal, I'm probably online now, and you might find me if you visit the MOO or have ICQ! My ICQ UID# is 9215347.