Got a question and don't know who to ask? Why not try one of the million new friends waiting to meet you on iVillage's message boards.

Last week I made a confession.

I had been working up to it for about a month, practising the lines, and carefully debating whom to share this particularly embarrassing piece of personal information with. I chose Lavinia, my best friend.

So I called her, and got her voicemail; I popped over, but her boyfriend was there, I emailed her at work, but she was too busy to answer. After a few tormented days I finally cornered her and made my big confession, waiting with bated breath for her response.

'Oh I wouldn't worry about it, these things happen,' she said, stirring a coffee and flicking through a magazine. I was dumbfounded - my big moment, and 'these things happen?' I wanted advice, I wanted reassurance, and maybe I even wanted her to tell me that I'd been a bit of a fool, not a lousy 'these things happen'.

Sound familiar? Perhaps what I should have done was bypassed my friend and posted my problem onto one of iVillage's message boards. With more than 100 boards to choose from, covering everything from sex to spirituality, the iVillage message boards have got a bit of something for everyone - even a Confession Corner for me.

On the boards people can express themselves freely, vent their opinions, swap ideas and get feedback on issues and discussions. 'The boards are like the modern fast food of personal interaction,' explains ivillager thoughtymind from the How to do Dating board. 'You can be munching on your breakfast and have a philosophical discussion at the same time.'

More than a million people have already discovered the therapeutic power of sharing their highs and lows on iVillage's message boards. Between them they post around 55,000 messages a month.

The people who post are single, married, have partners, jobs, children, family and friends. So, what is it that brings them to an anonymous forum to talk with a group of virtual strangers, often about extremely personal issues or problems?

'Written therapy, often known as quiet or silent therapy, is used everyday by everyday people, whether it involves writing in a diary, or rejuvenating a relationship with a love letter,' says Dr Phillip Hodson of the British Association of Councillors and Psychologists. 'Written therapy works because the author is trying to turn difficult feelings into simple ones. As with any narrative there needs to be a beginning, middle and end, this therefore gives the problem a plot, and makes it easier to deal with.'

The beauty of the boards is that the people you are talking to are not in your day-to-day life so they are less likely to tell you what they think you want to hear. 'The board I post on is full of people who are outside my problem and say what they truly think,' says g_dennis from the Families In The Forces board. 'Sometimes that can be hard for friends because they may not want to hurt you.'

sylver1975 from the How To Do Dating board agrees, but warns, 'you won't always get the reply you wanted, but that's the point of the boards, to get a varied selection of opinions, take them on board and make your own decision. Most times when I post, I know what the answer is - I just need it reaffirmed, and some encouragement to follow through with it.'

Even if a member's first reason for posting is to ask for support, it isn't long before they find themselves giving it too.

'The boards have helped me to help others, to find friends, to share problems, and to feel like we are all part of the solution,' says cl-amber2003, co-host of the Exploring Abuse board. 'Violence and other forms of abuse leave people isolated and alone. iVillage has shown how it is possible to break that silence, and to bring information and support into the homes of people throughout the UK and further afield.'

But it's not just dangerous situations that breed isolation. Happy events can have the same effect. Discovering you are pregnant for the first time, for example.

'The boards gave me confidence about my pregnancy,' says cl-kvj123, a host on Babies Born April-June 2003. 'They provided me with all the information I needed in early pregnancy, before the NHS really starts taking notice of you. That's when I had the most questions and worries.

'They put me in contact with people going thorough the same thing as me; people to share the excitement and worries of pregnancy with.'

So, whether you are looking for advice on a good recipe for a dinner party, reassurance that your emotions are 'normal' or want to chat about the latest news events, there is always someone to listen, share and help.

'It's been like having a friend holding my hand as I walk through a minefield,' says cl-hansmic, a host of the Adoption and Fostering board. 'A friend who maybe knows not where the mines are placed, but at least knows the nature of the minefield and why it is important to me that I get across it.'

For a full list of iVillage message boards go to www.ivillage.co.uk/boards.

Have a look at what is going on LIVE in the Confession Corner message board!