It seems odd to me that someone who is serious depressed and suicidal would post a question on Y!A for advice. I suppose it is possible, but think it is more likely to be someone seeking attention and lots of responses. Especially some of the ones with sensational revelations and circumstances. I'm certainly not saying they all are, but was wondering if how many of them you think are faked by attention getters?
2007-02-28 11:54:19 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
When a person is depressed and unable to speak to someone close to them, it is easy to reach out to strangers. Some may be faked, but I would think that anyone who would fake that really does have problems anyway.
When I went through a Major Depressive Disorder, I didn't think anything could help, so I certainly didn't reach out to anyone.
I try to only answer those questions if I think I may help the person a little. If they are faked, then I have only wasted a few minutes of time. If they are not, maybe we are the only kind words the person "hears" all day.
2007-02-28 13:05:39 · answer #1 · answered by Patti C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
One of the previous answers mentioned how some people who post those questions don't allow contact via email. I don't take that as a sign someone isn't serious, necessarily ... I think, for some, the anonymous nature of this site is what makes it appealing, in a way. As someone who has suffered from depression for many years, i can tell you that my friends and family don't always know what to say. Complete strangers can sometimes give a different perspective especially because they DON'T know all the extenuating circumstances of someone's life and tend to give generally positive answers. That is sometimes all someone wants to hear. I don't like to see postings that merely say "i'm gonna kill myself" and that's it. It seems sensationalist. But if someone has details and is telling a story, unless it is completely incredulous, I tend to take it as a sincere request for responses.
2007-02-28 12:43:11 · answer #2 · answered by Jebbie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have noticed some suspicious activity. Once I called a person a "fake", and I was reported for "insulting" him/her. Yes, I have seen the depressed and suicidal, and I have answered some of their pleas written as questions. There was never any follow up. Many do not offer their email/messenger, so there is no way to establish any further contact with them. It seems suspicious to me. I think some just want the attention - seriously - even to go online and post a plea, and read the replies, but many times they do not pick a best answer.
2007-02-28 12:01:24 · answer #3 · answered by WMD 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think most of the depression related questions are legitimate. I do think the most sensationally written ones are fake, though. It's so hard to know, so you have to assume they are all legitimate questions. My own depression situation (bipolar) is so extremely bad that if this forum were available to me in my teens or twenties, maybe I would have posted such alarming questions as we see on here. What I do is assume the poster is legit, and tell them to go to the ER or call 911, because if they are actively planning suicide, that is what they should do. Then the ones just looking for attention don't get what they want anyhow, and the ones who are legit get the advice I hope they will take.
2007-02-28 12:27:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Some are for attention and some are to see if this forum works.
Remember this forum helps people because you can spill your guts out and tell the worst things about you and never see anybody. You feel sort of safe asking a question that is taboo in our world. Where else can you ask a mental health question with the same problems you have, That priceless!!!!
2007-02-28 12:05:43 · answer #5 · answered by michael m 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man, that's pretty harsh. I hope you do not always represent yourself as being so arrogant. I think people who are these types who present these questions are trapped in there own heads for millions of reasons. I work with suicidal/depressed people all day long and believe me it wears on me. Mostly, they just want to be heard. Chill.
2007-02-28 12:17:38 · answer #6 · answered by peacegypsy@sbcglobal.net 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
some people need attention, like my counselor says all the attention is on everyone else and never on you and sometimes you need the attention on you. I think its very possible that people would post questions like that.
2007-02-28 12:14:04 · answer #7 · answered by christinag1310 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have noticed someone doing this ( Mona L ) so I just reposted her previous question with her new(same question as 1 week ago ) question, when I answered her. So others can see what she is doing.
2007-03-01 03:05:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe they just want general feedback in a quick, easy way. Like when I am feeling upset or confused, I dont ONLY rely on strangers off YA, but it can help to get some range of ideas or thoughts. I dont only listen to them necessarily, but its interesting.
2007-02-28 11:58:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i couldn't say.
i just think that people who are answering these "depressed/suicidal" people should really be careful with what they say/tupe/answer.
there might be someone who is suicidal with no one to turn to and they are just looking for someone to tell them that life is worth all the pain.
2007-02-28 14:23:11 · answer #10 · answered by mylifewithdepression.com 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋