Any ruinyourlifers?
 

Hey everyone!

Was anyone on here from ruin your life days? I'm bad with names but Jackthelad was one I remembered, there was also someone with a partner called Sam, but I had so many friends on here.

You guys really helped me a lot so thank you if you are still here.

I remember that forum name from somewhere! I don't know if I was here when it was called that though. Why did it use to be called that?

Guessing because selfharm can be seen as ruining your life! Harley had a big shift aswell and went from support to recovery.

I heard it was originally not self-harm specific and more about risky activities? But now I'm wondering if I've dreamt an entire conversation about ruin.

You're right Jenna. It was more a place to discuss any sort of self destructive activities. Not limited to self harm in particular. Harley made the Forum for a client so it wasn't his own project in the beginning.

Anyways, some of us old farts are still around. Though many have changed their username so they can be a bit tricky to spot around here.
I joined around the end of 2003. Can't believe it has been almost 20 years…..

I joined here in 2003. Had to make a new account in 2004 because of stalker reasons not because of anything I did.

I lurked on ruin and I remember when here was on ezboards does anyone else remember ezboards days?

I first found this site back when it was ruinyourlife. I was 14 at the time and remember vividly thinking ‘I’m not the only one’ when I first discovered it. I can’t even remember how I did, but I’m pretty sure it was the the first time I didn’t feel alone. It was the first time I was saved.

I’ve come back to this site on and off since then. I’m 32 now and definitely not the same person I was. what I struggle with is different now, or maybe not maybe it’s the same issues just packaged differently I don’t know, I think I’ll always struggle but….. it does get better. And if I could tell 14 year old me who stumbled onto this website scared and confused, about all the things I have in my life now that are worth the struggle, I probably won’t have believed me.

Life is hard, and I’ll probably always come back to this site at the low points, but I think I’m ok with that.

I was on ruin, I think my username was Porcelain (but I can’t remember!!)

I feel pretty heartbroken I’m still s/h’ing all these years later. Bummer.

You and me both Freddie. I'm not sure that's any comfort but some of us haven't managed to move on from the self harm. I'm not sure if that is solely on ourselves or on a system that has failed to deliver appropiate help. Maybe a combo.

Anyways, even though it's a depressing thought it isn't always just bad. The self harm means you're still here which in my book is a huge positive. And you're still fighting. And one day, who knows, we might both look 10+ years back and not be able to understand how we kept ourselves clean for so long. Hope is still here. Xx

I don't remember that site at all, as I only found site a few years ago and was introduced to it and others.

I was on ruin!

I was on ruin but I was too scared to post anything, I just lurked. It amazes me that so many of us have been here for that long.

Was anyone on here from ruin your life days? I'm bad with names but Jackthelad was one I remembered, there was also someone with a partner called Sam, but I had so many friends on here.

You guys really helped me a lot so thank you if you are still here.[/quote]

Hi yes I was here then x

I wasn't a member back then, just a browser. But I remember it.
I miss those days. Tbh I miss the "busy" days of RYL in general. I walked away from RYL a few years back, and when I can back it was almost a desolate wasteland in a manner of speaking (picture desert town with tumbleweed)

I truly miss the hustle and bustle! (And the meets!)

People who weren't there couldn't imagine the way the place moved.
A post would emerge on the top of the forum, and be off the page in 20 minutes or so if nobody replied.

Being in NY, I liked how the UKers were on during my midday and early evening. Then the US/Canada people came on. Then it was Hawaii, Australia, Singapore in the late night. It was Ruin around the globe without a break

Of course there was no MySpace yet nevermind Facebook, Instagram etc. Web 1.0 (forums) was better than web 2.0 (socials)

Web 1.0 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I was on Ruin for around 6 months before it became Recover. My name used to be Lost My Smile.

It's a very different place around here now!

I was a lurker under a different profile

I was on ruin. I think I was fitface and then became Mrs rum on v2. Subsequently various things but I switched my username and my user title around because I use flemfatale for loads of stuff now and don't want this to pop up tbh.

I was on Ruin for a short while - I think just before it switched to Recover. Can't remember what usernames I used though.. Gosh.. that's nearly 20 years ago now!