CHAT ROOM RULES The following are the current rules for the Panic/Anxiety Disorders Chat Room. These rules are subject to change at any time. You are responsible for knowing these rules if you participate in the chat room. Failure to follow these rules can result in temporary or permanent removal from the chat room. The chat room is for people recovering from panic/anxiety disorders and their support people. It is not a place for the research of panic/anxiety disorders. The room's first priority is support. Although the atmosphere may be casual, the discussion of anxiety, recovery and treatment, is the main purpose of the room. This room is NOT a place for professional diagnosis and advice. There are no authorized health professionals in the room. If you are having a crisis or are suicidal, please find appropriate professional help for your situation. Cybersex, inappropriate language, and inappropriate discussion are prohibited in the room. These are vague terms, and we reserve the right to decide what is and isn't appropriate. Use common sense. If you think someone may be offended (even if you don't agree that they should be), then just don't do it or say it. Diagnosis and medical advice are prohibited. You may discuss your personal experiences. You may not tell someone else what they should or should not be doing (other than they should be getting professional diagnosis and care). Information about medication, treatment and symptoms must be backed up by references, unless they are based on your personal experience (and you must say so). Do not make frightening statements about medication and other treatments without some good resources to back up your comments (and they had better be good). While friendship and support is strongly encouraged (and is the purpose of the room), the room is not a singles bar. There are many many chat rooms online for finding romantic connections. This is not one of them. Stay safe. Do not give out personal information (e-mail, phone number, location) to people you do not know very very well. If you are being bothered in the chat room, use Ignore User. This is your best defense against troublemakers in the room. Even if I ban one troublemaker, others will come. There is no reason for you to engage in conversation with people who are being mean to or harassing you. Just ignore them. If new people come in and you want to warn them about troublemakers, do so via Private Chat rather than creating a scene. When you engage in conversation with troublemakers, they are more likely to stay and create further problems. Nothing you say will make them leave. You are responsible for your own behavior and for keeping yourself safe. Chat hosts are here to help guide discussion and encourage support. Triggering topics may be discussed only in private chat (with someone who has consented to talk with you) or in scheduled chats for that topic (if applicable). Triggering topics include suicide, self-injury, rape, sexual abuse, drug or alcohol abuse, and domestic violence. The chat rooms are provided as a free service. As such, there are no guarantees given or implied. Use of the chat rooms is at your own risk. Your use of the chat rooms constitutes an agreement that you will not hold this site or anyone associated with it, liable for anything said or done in the service to anyone at anytime, even when chatting is in progress. Again, by using this FREE chat room, you agree that we will not be held liable in any case and for any reason. You also agree, that if you do for any reason attempt to take legal action against this site, or anyone connected with it, to pay any lawyer fees and other costs to us regardless of outcome. Use of the chat room signifies that you are in total agreement to the terms contained here within. If you disagree with any of these terms, then please do not use the chat rooms. If you use the chat room and do not agree to these terms, we can and will not be held responsible. We reserve the right to ban anyone from using the chat rooms at any time and for any reason we deem necessary to include, but not limited to: Abusive language Disrespect of others Causing a disturbance Purposely annoying others We do not discriminate due to race, color, or religious background. All are welcomed from any walk of life to our chat room. The chat rooms are provided as a free service. As such, there are no guarantees given or implied. Use of the chat rooms is at your own risk. Your use of the chat rooms constitutes an agreement that you will not hold this site liable for anything said or done in the service to anyone at anytime, even when chatting is in progress. Please remember, this site is intended for education and support and is never meant as a substitute for a professional doctor's diagnoses nor replacement for any therapy or treatment. Please read the Chat room rules before entering! Do not private chat with someone including hosts without asking first. Do not use background colors they cause headaches and blurs vision. Do not use trigger topic's such as suicide, self harm, rape, abuse etc. If you are not sure then stay off the subject. The subject's of alcohol , and street drugs is limted to only what it has to do with your anxiety recovery. This is not a bar, or a street corner. You maybe asked to change the subject from a host or another member this is telling you it has gone too far or is a possible trigger at this point not changing the subject can and will cause your removal from the room. Staying in the room over 1 hour without speaking is rude and you will be warned to speak or move on. No answer from you will cause you to be removed. RULES OF CHATROOM Dear Visitors, Chats are moderated when possible, and ALL transcripts are reviewed on a regular basis. This chat is our home, when you enter, you are expected to treat it as such. We have supportive, caring and very kind guests here. This is a chat, we are volunteers, giving of our time to make sure everyone's visit is a pleasant one. Do not cop an attitude if you are not the center of attention, we do not get paid to give some people the attention they may feel they deserve. This is just a group of people getting together to discuss disorders, information, and make friends. If you feel you need more attention than you are offered, please seek that in your doctor's office or another area of the net, our moderators, guests, and administration will not put up with attitude. We are volunteers and also have problems ourselves, just like you...we are NOT professionals, nor are we verbal punching bags. When you enter this chat, treat it as you would someone's home you are visiting. A lot of time is invested in the safety of our chat, forum, and site by administration. If you do not appreciate the safety our chat provides, move on, there are plenty of places on the net, find one that suits you. Sincerely, Administration