Overlap

Community guidelines

Overlap exists so people living with more than one condition, and the people around them, feel less alone. These guidelines keep it safe and useful.

Last updated October 13, 2026

What to share

  • Your own experience, in your own words: what it's like when these conditions occur together, what was hard, and what has helped.
  • Honest is better than polished. Short is fine.
  • Family, partners, and friends: your side of supporting someone. Write so they couldn't be recognized, and consider asking them first.
  • Clinicians: general patterns you see in your work. Never include anything that could identify a patient.

Please leave out

  • Names, places, workplaces, schools, or contact details, yours or anyone else's.
  • Specific methods of self-harm or suicide.
  • Weights, calorie numbers, or specific eating or compensating behaviors.
  • Medication names with doses, or advice telling others what to take or stop taking.
  • Attacks on other people or groups, and anything sexual or graphic.
  • Advertising, links, or promotion of services.

How stories are reviewed

  • Every story is read by a person before it appears. This can take a few days.
  • Moderators may add content notes (for example “trauma” or “substance use”) so readers can choose whether to open a story.
  • Moderators don't edit your words. If a story can't be published as written, it's declined with a short note on your account page, and you can edit and resend it.
  • Writing about hard times, including past thoughts of suicide or self-harm, is welcome. It will get a content note.

Reading here

  • Stories are personal experiences, not medical advice. What helped one person may not suit another.
  • Recognizing yourself in a story doesn't mean you have a condition. A clinician who knows you can help you figure that out.
  • Clinician credentials aren't verified, so their stories are labeled “self-described”.
  • If a published story breaks these guidelines, use the “Report” link on it and a moderator will look again.

If you're in crisis

Overlap isn't a crisis service, and stories aren't monitored in real time. If you're in danger now, in the US you can call or text 988 or text HOME to 741741. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.