The Art of Venting...

OK now maybe I am sitting on a pity potty, who the heck knows? But for me I know I have always not only been a good listener but I pride myself in the fact that I keep stuff to myself and don't share private information with others after it has been told to me in confidence. I have on the other hand tried to vent my frustration many times only to have my listeners cut into my sentence by telling me stuff about themselves and issues. So obviously I have many times felt I had no one to talk to. I love myLot.

My friend continually vents to me. It wears me down.

Yup my daughter and I do the same but we dont have to call we are right here together. lol and I like colby cheese

I usually do the listening for people...my mom vents and so do my sisters and my co-worker. I vent to my best friend and she vents to me. It does feel like a therapy session - i feel better when i'm done venting...sometimes have suggestions given on how to make it better!

I tend to be a good listher. when people get mad I tend to let then blow off steam by just listening to them. I do this with the employess that i supervise. sometimes they are upset aobut things that have happen at work so I jsut listen to what they have to say and try to deal with the problem.

I don't really vent, but I do have someone "safe" to discuss things with who is not associated with work, friends or family. My person is an actual therapist and I like it that way because I don't get in trouble for anything I say.

Studies have found both pros and cons to venting. We all (think we) know the pros of venting, but some of the cons are that we may simply just be re-affirming that which is bothering us and re-experiencing the negative emotions unnecessarily. It's worth thinking about, I however, admittingly think it tends to do more good than bad. Again with the food references. Interesting...

I have most always been the one who ends being the listener. I find it funny that so many people want to vent but when others need to do the same they are not there. Maybe one day I will find someone who will really want to listen and offer constructive comments.

It is very important when we are stressed about something to share or vent it to someone else. I have always been told that a problem shared is a problem halved, and have found it to be very true. With the internet rapidly becoming the most common way to keep in touch with loved ones has meant blogging has become very popular. Some people vent in their blogs, which is ok to do. Because there is a visual record of what they have written, once they finish the blog, they are able to read it and find the answers they seek from what they have written. Add in the comments of people who have read the blog, and the venter will always feel better. In the absense of a blog or real person to vent to, then the old fashioned journal keeping (yes, that means pen/pencil and paper- it does still exist LOL), works the same way. I have a few people who I allow to see my ventings. I've never met them in person, but have gotten to know them through a parenting website, and they really do help me to resolve my issues or just make me feel better. I often help other people who are in stressful situations, and I'd like to think I'm actually pretty good at helping them lift the fog and find their way again - actually, I get told I'm good at it all the time. Helping others in turn helps us to see the problems and solutions in our own lives.

Hello Twoey! I have to say that my boyfriend and I vent to each other. He can also go to his mom. I won't however because I barely know her, but I also have my mom too. He and i usually vent to each other about whatever is giving us gray hair at the moment. Sometimes, and i am sure it's the same with him, I don't want to hear certain details and when I voiced that to him, he just responded that he thinks of me as his best friend and since I am not a blabbermouth he trusts that I can keep those details to myself. I feel kinda the same way. I happen to be good friends with his ex wife and sometimes I will vent to her about him. He doesn't like hearing me complain all the time, so I go to someone who has had experience. It does help to just vent, it relieves a lot more stress than needed in your system. Happy Venting and Happy Mylotting!

I vent a little, but not a whole lot, to friends mostly... But I LOVE cheese...

Its great that you and your mom can have a relationship like that and can talk to each other about anything. I have the same relationship with my mom, but the one I vent to most often is my husband, and its usually about my family they can drive me nuts sometimes, he just lets me talk..lol. The one person who vents to me all the time is my sister, she'll call and talk and talk, I usually don't say much, I just let her get it all out, she said it feels good to talk to someone who is impartial. I'm not real good at giving advice either, I'm just a good listener. I like grilled cheese sandwiches..yum.

Yeah I do think sometimes venting can be like a free therapy session as long as you are going to the right people lol. I vent to hubby, my best friend & mom. Sometimes I will vent online but it really depends on if its personal or not. I've always been the one people usually go to for everything & I don't mind since I wanted to go into psychology anyways lol

I used to keep things bottled up inside me but a wonderful man married me and taught me how to vent and how important it was to do so. Now that he is gone I don't have anyone to vent to although my family spends a great deal of time venting to me. I finally talked to my daughter about the problem and made her see how one sided she was being. Although it is not in her nature to be a listener I have to say she has been trying lately.

I agree it is good to vent but you are right, gotta be careful WHO you vent too..I have a friend that vents to me all the time, she seems stressed and she has been through a lot...She will vent about this one & that one but she just wants to blow off steam because she really don't mean what she says..Because she is back talking to the one she vents about..LOL.. we are all a family here in this apt building so i try to just listen & never say anything ...I know she really likes these peple she vents about she just gets irratated at them, some of them are old & can get on your nerves so i understand...

[b]I mostly vent here, when I'm not venting to the walls or God! I like cheddar/mozzerella, melted with garlic, cooked with braised mushrooms in mushroom sauce, stirred in with steamed brocolli, poured over fluffy Indian rice, & served with fresh hot corn bread or toasted restaurant-style corn chips, or some really great bread anyway. Oh, YUUUUM. Worth every calorie. I got that from Carla Bloomberg, of the Seguine Texas Bloombergs, except she'd cover it steam eggs on top of the whole thing at the very last. I can't afford all those eggs, on my salary! It was cooked in a cast-iron pot, & had a fabulous flavor! It was great party food! Dang. Now I'm hungry! Maggiepie "WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"[/b]

My friends & i vent to each other & i'm thankful for every one of them. U need someone, we all do.I like cheese most anyway. i particuly love pimento cheese sandwishes.

I'm an expert at venting & letting others vent!!! I used to vent to my Mom, but now my best friend lets me vent to her. I don't vent often; but, when i do, it's almost a rant!!! I have a few friends who only call when they need to vent. They know I'll listen for hours if necessary saying nothing more than a mere yes or no or an occasional umhmm or nutnooo. Then, if asked, i will put my 2 cents worth in. I don't tell them how to live their life...just voice my opinion on their situation!!! Once they finish, that's the last they'll hear of it!!! That is unless they bring it up to me again. I like cheese ANYWAY I can get it. I adore a good grilled cheese sandwich. I eat a lot of Beefaroni & I love filling it full of cheese!!!

I think venting is a good way to relieve stress. I usually listen other people vent. I don't vent too much because I'd normally write things down to express what I feel and that usually helps. If I need to vent, I bug my boyfriend, and he does the same.

I vent to my mom the most. She always listens, even when she has stress of her own. She vents to me about my idiot father [they are in the process of divorce], about her health problems, or just about all the little stresses that build up over time. I vent to her about my relationship problems, about school issues, and since I stress over little things that build up, about just my random little problems. Mom and I have long talks any time of the day. I still live with her so it's easy to talk with her anytime, however when I move we'll talk via phone, webcam, and whenever I can get to her house. I also stress to my two best friends, one is a guy and one is a girl. The guy always helps me out by distracting me, while the girl always lets me vent and puts her two cents in. I don't think I could manage without venting my stress sometimes. Oh, and I love string cheese, and cream cheese, and cheese on my sandwiches and eggs!