[annie]

i am grateful to docjohn for allowing us to be guests on his forum. i am also grateful to be able to go home.

the description at the bottom of this page says that it is a mental health forum. the description at the bottom of OBT says that it is a patient support group for neurology. radically different philosophies, i think.

my problems are mostly neurological. these are problems that i am stuck with, they cannot be changed by changing my thoughts or my emotions. perhaps i could cope better with my problems with the aid of mental health counseling, but i have to choose how i spend my energy carefully, and i always choose to have fun instead.

on this site i have been scolded for being silly, for talking about hugs and chocolate, for being off topic. i have been required to post icons, which trigger seizures for me. these triggered seizures can be life threatening.

the guidelines here require and forbid things that are difficult for the physically handicapped. many neurology patients are physically handicapped. for example, we have been asked not to post recipe threads in regular forums. cooking with a neurological problem presents interesting challenges, and it is important for us to share solutions.

a great many posters here are more comfortable with the solving mental health problems format than they were with the solving neurology problems format. obviously there is a need for the mental health board, and i am grateful to doc john for providing it.

i never had any problems with the moderators on OBT.

i will continue to read here, to keep up with friends, and probably will still post serious posts.

but i am going home where i can be silly and cheerful and not have to post icons.

thank you for having me as a guest.