Hello, It was suggested that I try the chat, and I'm interested in setting up a time. I've looked over the times the chat is open, and I am free during the Monday 10-12 and Friday 2-5 times. I do have a little concern about being able to respond immediately because I do have some trouble with readin...

I'm still on hiatus, but I just needed to say this. I found out from my most recent paycheck means that I'll be making less than $2000 per month even with a degree and certification. A big part of it is that my dad pushed me into a higher savings bracket that I can afford, and I think it's too late ...

Yes, I can do that next time. I don't mind the lack of consistency and delay and privacy because of the anonymity, and I do worry about my abilities to chat because I'm dyslexic which makes my reading and ability to process slow haha. But if I can text, I can probably chat. My apologizes. I recogniz...

It’s frustrating because I understand that I need mental health care in the form of therapy, but I can’t do it because of previous experiences in therapy. I’m not really sure how to move forward right now, hence my general sense of despair. It’s hard to feel like things will get better when you can’...

Just a small update: I decided to cancel my appointment. It felt very unprofessional of me to use work hours to take a personal call, especially as a recurring event. This is not to shame Heather for doing that at all; it is just simply my feelings on doing it for me. I also have a lack of privacy a...

No worries, thank you for listening to my reaction. I didn't mean to sound angry, it was just that I started a thread about one topic that was resolved and then it started to get into more personal questions about my mental health and relationships that I didn't want to talk about. And that does see...

I really don't feel comfortable receiving support from friends, and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the direction this conversation is heading. I can say that judging by the reactions people have had, I don't think they were worried about saying the wrong thing. Regarding the point about accommoda...

I don't really want to get in to it, but I can give a short summary. I don't talk about my anything with my friends due to poor past experiences (oversharing/undersharing, overreaction/underreaction). I worry that those will happen again. I also don't feel close enough to anyone (read: trust anyone)...

It makes sense, but definitely easier said than done for me. Letting people in and then asking for help on top of that is A Lot, but it does make sense as an access issue.

Hearing that your friends still had a nice time is comforting to me. I think I'll probably just go for it and make the plan. I don't mind texting and calling, but I really like to try to see them in person because it's rare (or has been rare) that I am in the same place at the same time.

Hello! Anyone have tips on how to keep up friendships when you have a mental illness? I want to get in touch with a friend, but I can't predict when I'm going to have a good day and a bad day. Last time we went out to lunch, I lost energy about 15 minutes in and was really quiet and had a hard time ...

Hello. It’s no problem at all, I understand that things come up. I’d be interested in hearing about your experiences with telehelth during work hours. I’m really stressed because of my previous experiences with mental healthcare and the likelihood that I’ll have to find someone new soon (moving/loca...

I've got a big gap between my morning and afternoon classes, so I will try to schedule it then. It's not perfect. I'm still on the clock. Someone could walk in or call at any time, and it would be my contractual obligation to do that. I don't love the idea of mixing my personal life with my professi...

I'm moving back after school, so all of my friends have moved away otherwise. There are a few people looking, but I don't know them very well. They are more than three times my age and not looking to live with a 20-something which is another problem. I could go with a random roommate from the intern...

Hello. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound demanding. I completely understand that things come up and schedules are schedules. Yes, I am fine to continue chatting. However, it's only fair that I let you know that things have changed. It's looking like my parents won't let me live with my friend, at le...

Hey, I’ve been thinking, and I feel like the universe is telling me to stop. It’s happened a few times this year that I’ve opened up, and something has happened to prevent a response, like a sudden health crisis or family emergency. If it’s easier for staff/volunteers to call it quits on this thread...

Hello Rachel! No worries. Take the time that’s needed, and I hope Heather is okay. It’s really okay if this is where the conversation ends. It is not urgent or pressing. If someone else feels okay stepping in or Heather would prefer that, that’s fine too. I really don’t want this to be a stressful t...

Sure. There really is no pressure to respond to it now or ever. It’s just a preference, not an urgent need. I won’t be able to respond for a few hours, and I’m okay with it being a slow back and forth. I’m not sure if this links to the post, but here’s a link: https://www.scarleteen.com/bb/viewtopic...

It’s okay. I really don’t feel like the public space is a problem; it’s more the content of what I shared and then was left without a response. I don’t have a strong preference where or when this conversation happens or even if it does.

Huge post incoming. I agree that I need some space, but I feel like I can’t leave until I’ve said this. I feel weird about how this thread unfolded. I first posted to vent about two co-occurring situations in my life. I hoped, but did not expect that someone might be able to empathize. Fortunately i...

I'm glad that I didn't sound too argumentative. I spend a lot of time thinking before I write so that I don't type something impulsive, but even so it can often be hard to get the right tone across in an online written format. It is good to hear that I haven't disappointed people and that I can retu...

Hello, Val. I'm not sure we've ever interacted, so hello! It's good to "meet" you. I think my recent posts came off as way more negative and dire than things actually are, and I apologize for that. Things are hard, but I'll figure it out. What I meant to say is that I feel a lot of my ener...

Either way. I feel like I’m a little too messed up on the inside and stressed about the outside world to make any positive changes in my life, but it can’t hurt to hear what I should be doing. I know I need to work on finding a support system outside of the boards, but people tend to either be nice ...

I think there are two problems. The first is that I know what it’s like to feel completely alone and not have anyone to turn to. I’m lucky that I’ve found message boards, but I know not everyone can do that. The other problem is that I don’t know what it means to have a limit. I feel like if I’m sti...

I'm really not sure. Boundary conversations haven't traditionally gone well for me. I don't want her to feel like she can't talk to anyone, especially now that her insurance is changed and she can't speak to her actual therapist.