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Has anyone ever rung Samaritans?

Shardovan

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

  • Do you think there's a maximum frequency of calls that one shouldn't exceed? I'm not sure what standard 'etiquette' would be, which is a silly word to use in the context maybe, but you hopefully see what I mean. I've only rung them once in my life, but if I rang this week and admitted it wasn't that long before that I last did would they be like wtf?  Without saying so I'm sure! There's probably no right number/frequency of calls but sometimes someone else externally validating a hopefully logical conclusion does help me a lot!

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  • Do you think there's a maximum frequency of calls that one shouldn't exceed? I'm not sure what standard 'etiquette' would be, which is a silly word to use in the context maybe, but you hopefully see what I mean. I've only rung them once in my life, but if I rang this week and admitted it wasn't that long before that I last did would they be like wtf?  Without saying so I'm sure! There's probably no right number/frequency of calls but sometimes someone else externally validating a hopefully logical conclusion does help me a lot!

Children
  • in reply to Shardovan

    I've only phoned them a few times, but those times were quite close together, probably about once a week for three or four weeks when I was really struggling.

    From knowing someone who used to be a Samaritan, there are people who phone a lot, I think even weekly. (There are probably people in crisis phoning daily, although the really need to be supported by the NHS). As I understand it, they don't limit the frequency of calls (I'm not sure how they could, when you could get through to different people each time), but if you stay on the line for more than an hour or so at a time, they'll gently try to get you to hang up to let other people get through.