I must say I blog literally to reach myself. I’ve been blogging a little over a year and during that entire time was quite depressed. Sometimes I couldn’t reach myself with the words of speaking or explain what was going on inside of me or with me, so I took to blogging. My blogging is very random, but it’s what I need at that time and it helps me to at a later dat go back and reflect on what I was feeling, my expereince. And if it helps someone else in the process…great!

I took a look at the big five traits and I have to say my neuroticism appears to be mostly a “symptom” of my depression/and or anxiety disorder. When I feel well I am much more open, agreeable, extraverted and contientious and much less neurotic. Although at sporadically, even when I am depressed high levels of the first 4.

I blog for a few reasons:
1) To be involved in something where I feel either a sense of shared experience, or at least a shared understanding.
2) I love to write
3) Like your blog post said it helps me reach out when I am lonely and feel less alone
4) I (mostly) replaced my diary with a blog so no one in my family will find my diaries if I pass away.
5) I love feeling a sesnse of connection with people from all love the world
6) I love that a “diary” can contain photos and that I get feedback…something a diary doesn’t provide
7) It helps me work out al my “neurotic” problems…so yes,I think I am one of those neurotic women
I think I am a bit of an exhibitionist, while at the same time being coy and shy…a blog allows me to share myself without having to share who I really am. I guess I perceive less risk in posting a blog vs. sharing with people I know.
9) (The most important reason): I really wanted to show how a strong therapeutic alliance with one’s psychiatrist can help someone with Chronic MDD survive, and sometimes thrive, despite medications not always working opimally. I wanted others to see how hrd it can be (maybe like they are experiencing)…but that it is possible to hang on and live through this illness.