to ask about the net effect Mumsnet has on your mental health/mood?

[ClockWatchingLady]

On a scale of 1-10.

1 = makes me more miserable (e.g., I'm addicted; it takes up time I could spend on RL friends; breeds envy, etc.)

5 = doesn't really have an effect in either direction, or effects are equally balanced positive and negative

10 = massively enhances my experience of life (e.g., alleviates loneliness, broadens my perspective, gives sense of community, etc.).

Obviously the reasons will vary widely. But what's your number?

I'd say 7.

4

My range is 4-6. It takes up far too much of my time. I often find myself thinking "thank god it wasn't around when my children were younger" I was a homebirthing, breastfeeding, bed-sharing SAHM with a husband who was building his career and spending days away from home so spent 10 years out of the workforce. Had MN been around then I think I would have felt obliged to return to work which would have probably adversely affected my mental health and possibly my marriage.

On the plus side it does help me to be less judgy and aware of other people's lives which helps with my current job and many times it does make me laugh.

4

Anything between 1 and 7.

I often feel crap when I read threads including;
"We spend £800 a month on food shopping"
"I spent £500 in January sales"

I get the impression alot of mnetters are very comfortable and sometimes wonder if I 'fit in' with my extremely modest standard of living.

Like another poster on here, I question myself and my lifestyle far too much. I feel inadequate when I read about all the activities/outings some children go on. I wonder if my dd is missing out and will grow up feeling hard done by.

1. It makes me laugh my socks off, is full of good, practical tips, and I love how caring and informed our 'hive mind' can be when it comes to solving problems (including my own!)

Although it is also desperately sad when you read about DV and other awful issues, I think having a female and (mostly) female friendly space where people can raise that stuff and get support from other women is really empowering and progressive. At its best its real 'sisterhood is powerful' stuff.

The stuff that makes me go 'meh'...People being overly precious or too quick to pick holes in each other. But I just ignore - or tell them they are being unkind.

I'm up to a 7 with it today.

Thinking there are worse things to be addicted to than good company, wit, and wisdom

I used to get much more involved (under another name) and it used to really upset me sometimes, but more often enhance my life. These days I make myself avoid the threads that wind me up, which is boring and means I don't come here any more for personal support, which I used to, but means I'd give it a more placid, unstressful 7-8, probably. I have made some really good friends from mumsnet and that's a huge plus. And it's a great source of advice.

9 or so. Thanks to the great advice on the mental health boards, even as a lurker it has helped me a lot and also made my life easier and less stressful (tips on housekeeping and parenting)- and a place to vent or a place to talk to someone when I need to.

it's such a mixed bag on here, I find it banal and profound, annoying and fascinating, stupid and hilarious.
It can be cliquey and I see self styled guru's and sycophants.

It's often interesting to watch the way that threads play out, the influences of and roles taken by various posters.