Finding 7cups

I found 7cups as a member first. A while back, a Tumblr post circulated about the website imalive.org, which is partnered with 7 Cups of Tea. There was a day when I was having a terrible anxiety attack and couldn't get out of bed. My laptop was beside the bed, so I picked it up and opened it. I'd remembered imalive.org's website address, so I went to the website but they were offline and directed me here.

I was able to connect to a listener who talked me through the anxiety attack until I was able to get out of bed and go downstairs. This was so important to me, since talking on phones exacerbates my anxiety. Without that listener, I don't know how much longer it would have taken me to calm down.

After that, I realized that I could become a listener. I've always wanted to work in counseling, but funds/other planshave thus far prevented me from going to college. I wanted to become a trained crisis counselor for a suicide hotline, but the aforementioned issues talking on the phone killed that dream. 7 Cups has allowed me a place where I can help and support people in the way I love without feeling anxious, and it's wonderful.

I joined as a listener in the middle of February 2014, and thus far I've tried to be as involved in the community as possible, talking with listeners and members alike and writing blog posts for the website. It's been a very rewarding experience, and I'm very happy to be here. :)