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. :)
I found 7 Cups the same exact way: through IMAlive. I was actually looking to volunteer there and did some more research and realized this was the right place for me instead of IMAlive.
I have used it as a member and a listener and I love it here! :)
Yoooooooooooooooooooo my people.
Im zandy, im a listener here on 7cups, my listener name is zandy28, i found 7 cups on a day that i needed a friend, a friendly shoulder to let some weight off of me, as soon as i ended the chat with my listener i knew that it was this that i wanted to do, im in love with people, i love making the difference in peoples lifes, best business in the world.
But it took some time for me to decide if i was serious about this, it took me 1 day of reflection, because its easy to became a listener everyone can do it, but you have to think about the responsibilitythat comes with it, its not just knowing about other peoples problems, its about being there for a person when no one else is, being that persons ground and not letting them fall, its about showing them that you care, you really do care, and if you ask me that is the most important thing in the word, knowing that someone trusts you with all of there feelings. Becoming a listener is being aware that people rely on you being aware of what it takes to be in this kind of commitment.
Every time i have a chat i honestly want to hug that person and tell them face to face ?i am here for you?, i dont really care how you look, i dont care if your a girl or boy, you can be fat, skinny, tall, short, you can be a lesbian, you can be gay, you can be a transgender i will still love you for who you are, im a loving person, you can be 150 kilos and ill still go up to you hug and look you in the eye and say yourbeautiful just the way you are.
I heard about 7 Cups of Tea through Hackernews. 7 Cups of Tea was a part of the prestigious YCombinator startup incubator 2013 batch. This is also the first and only mental health startup to be funded by well known venture capitalists. This shows that a lot of experienced and wise people believe in the venture and it has tremendous potential to influence the way mental health issues are addressed today.
I was in a tag on Tumblr, and someone had postedthey'd recently became a listener on 7cups. I investigated the site, and now here I am. :P
I was reading the links/numbers that tumblr had listed as resources, and thought that the name of this website was quite interesting so I clicked on it. Now I'm glad I did! :)
It happened exaclty the same to me!
I also learned about 7cupsofteaon tumblr!
Looks like Tumblr is a common thread : )
I found this for my girlfriend to use as a resource when she felt deep loneliness and I was asleep. Now I try to give a little bit back to help out others just like her.
