Can listeners still help when they're not mentally well?

Hey @MythologicalMayhem

Not feeling well mentally is something we all can go through, so it

For me, it depends on a couple variables: just how bad I feel, and how much the chat takes out of me. If I only feel slightly bad, I can still take a chat and help someone else feel good, but it's not something I'll do on the regular for fear of something going wrong (for example, me having to give too much of myself to a chat).

If I have to put all that I have into a particular chat in order to make that person feel better, and I didn't have much to begin with (which I need for myself at that time if I'm feeling bad), I may be able to get through the chat, but as soon as it's done and I'm able to disconnect, I'll break down.

At the same time, there's a threshold I'll pass where I know, no matter what, I can't take a chat. Whether it be a new one or a long-term member. I just can't muster up the energy and even if I could then nothing good would come of it because of my mental state.

I ramble :P I was just thinking about this a couple days ago, though.

If distraction is a good coping mechanism for you, you should talk to a member/guest. However, if what the member/guest talks about triggers something in you, it may not be the best idea. Healthier forms of distraction would probably include a hobby that makes you happy, or hanging out with positive people in your life and doing fun things. Also, exercise helps release endorphins in your body, which will put you in a healthier mental state to talk to members/guests

If you haven't already guessed, I'm a listener. I've not been mentally well and have to increase my dose. I've helped some people today and had really good conversations and actually helped them. It was nice and it's surprisingly helped me, I can literally feel the emotional tension has gone.

As a listener you have a responsibility towards others and sometimes it can get hard because you have your own problems and you also have bad days.

If a listener feels unfit because of something that happened then they should rather log in as a member.

If a listener has experience with certain mental problems then they are more than fit to help others. Knowing how someone feels can make it much easier to support them.

As long as a listener doesn't let their problems make them hurt someone or even upset someone, having emotions is what separates a listener from sounding like a robot.

There's nothing wrong with having any sort of problem, as long as you can help someone, then it's all good!

Hey there,

I think just being a good listener and showing the other person that you care about their concerns helps more than people even know. You dont have to do much else if youre not in a good place mentally and emotionally yourself. I think that it does help us to help others, but we have to know and understand our limits and when to not let their issues or problems become ours. When we help others, our problems dont necessarily disappear, but I like taking my mind off of myself for a while and its a good reminder to me that other people are struggling with different things too. Talking with professionals (ie. therapists) helped me overcome my worst anxieties. You just need to find the right balance and remember to take care of yourself too!

Good luck!

It depends on how bad you feel on that particular day.

I have OCD(and generalized anxiety disorder) and during my short time as a Listener, there were times that I didn't feel well enough to connect to anyone, so I didn't. I signed back on when I felt I was okay again. When I am fit enough for chatting and helping others, I think my OCD can be an asset for supporting those who are going through the same thing.