Has anyone ever rung Samaritans?

I have, just once (so far). About three months ago. Never thought I would, until the last couple of years. I’d been carrying round their phone number flyer in my coat pocket for ages to the point it was, and remains, a frayed old reminder of a comforting ‘should you need us…’ I came very close to it again last night, which is why it’s in my mind. Instead I found some silly escapist distraction instead - often I can’t manage that when I’m too down/anxious/overwhelmed with lost causes but I was somehow able to flip that switch for a while - and I suspect I will again in the not to distant future. What an amazing service. When internal looping will no longer ‘help’, to speak it aloud someone, instantly (not waiting for a weekly appointment) and for a fluid duration really helps to no longer be a tree falling in the forest, just for a little while.

This place helps a lot too, of course! 

Anyone else ever called them? If you’re comfortable saying that is. 

Parents
  • I can imagine why that would be the moment. I’m sorry for your loss Desmond. Makes me feel like my own issues don’t deserve making the call, but I know that’s silly as it’s how you’re feeling and not the specific reasons that bring you to that point. There is no norm-referencing objectivity to it, just how lost and anguished you are in that moment. 

  • Do I overshare on here? I think I’m largely an open book by nature, once I start to trust a person or empathetic community. But if I ever cross a line someone please let me know and I will try to calibrate a bit.  

  • Yes, someone told me that too. I do quite like it when people tell me about their own similar experiences and I know that I have a tendency to do that too but I sometimes stop myself as like you say that might not always be what someone wants to hear. What I try to never do is to go "oh but other people have it worse" -I find that extremely unfair and unhelpful but I think sharing your own experiences is not the same. 

  • I don't think you do and I appreciate all your posts and contributions. I think I am guilty of oversharing too.

    I read an article recently about how autistic people empathise with others by sharing their own similar experiences, in order to try and relate and make the other person feel less alone and different. 

    There was another post on here about how someone went to an autistic therapist who talked about their own similar experiences for most of the session. I can see how that might be unhelpful in that situation.

Reply
  • I don't think you do and I appreciate all your posts and contributions. I think I am guilty of oversharing too.

    I read an article recently about how autistic people empathise with others by sharing their own similar experiences, in order to try and relate and make the other person feel less alone and different. 

    There was another post on here about how someone went to an autistic therapist who talked about their own similar experiences for most of the session. I can see how that might be unhelpful in that situation.

Children
  • Yes, someone told me that too. I do quite like it when people tell me about their own similar experiences and I know that I have a tendency to do that too but I sometimes stop myself as like you say that might not always be what someone wants to hear. What I try to never do is to go "oh but other people have it worse" -I find that extremely unfair and unhelpful but I think sharing your own experiences is not the same.