Hi Patsie!
I can really understand your sentiment! It's hard when you have made special friends and they fad away. I have made tons of really great friends and I am sad when any of them just disappear, but as much as we want them here, there is something in there life that has taken them elsewhere. Like others said, they may be doing better and have moved on...who knows.
One think to think about
is why any of us came here to begin with. We need and want help, security, compassion or maybe we are terrified. Some of the forums in HealingWell are about
diseases that do shorten lives. Luckily fibromyalgia isn't a threat to our longevity. But when any of us come we are hurting in one way or another. Where were all of us before that time? Maybe the pain wasn't quite bad enough yet? Possibly our lives were empty and we felt lost? Or did we come to get the facts?
Once our needs are met, then what? If you got the information you needed then you go. If you find out you aren't the only person on the planet with these symptoms then you feel more secure and might not stick around. In general, people don't come to forums like this when life it good. I think it's human nature at work here.
But for some reason there are a small percentage of those who stick around. The friendships and a desire to help is often what does it. For me I love to help others. Also when I'm helping others I tend to forget about
my own misery. I stay because I can't imagine leaving!
I'm someone who goes into things for the long haul. And this is one of the reasons us 'old timers' work hard to make this such a warm and family like environment. It helps people relax, be more calm and realize that there are people who do care about
them. I believe of all of the forums on HealingWell, the fibro forum has the largest stable population of any. That's a tribute to each and every one of us who come whether it's for a day, a year or for the duration.
Now don't YOU go leaving us again young lady..OK?...lol
Chutzie