Has anyone ever rung Samaritans?

I think it shows that literally my only previous awareness of autism was watching the Rainman film (and that movie was rather misleading, it seems)...and I forgot virtually everything about it anyway; so being useful to the forum members is difficult for me, and makes me feel awful. 

But thank you for your lovely sentiments. :) I can learn from the brilliant examples of members like you and Shard and Sam and Luna and Debbie and Glitter and Number and Juniper and Sparkly and Mariusz and, well, many others. 

Steven said:

I was just feeling terrible because I was unable to help or advise people.

Whilst I feel I can understand what you're saying, I don't think you should feel bad. The thing with this community is that there are always going to be situations when (for whatever reason) it may be impossible to offer help and advice. Rather than dwelling on that, focus on the occasions when you can play to your strengths and brighten someone's day. 

You're right - it's surely a good thing that such avenues of help, counsel and comfort are publicised. 

Of course, there's absolutely no need to apologise - I was just feeling terrible because I was unable to help or advise people.

Sorry for the upset, and for my own part I hope I didn’t give the impression that my life is unending misery. I do get very low and anxious though, and I’m processing a lot that’s happened (and unhappened!) and some days it’s background, other days all consuming. But maybe it’s a positive thing to have started the thread- a reminder that there’s an option we could all too easily overlook in our darkest times. 

I've avoided reading this thread so much because it's too upsetting that people are going through all this. I am so sorry, everyone.

That makes sense. Yes, I did have that sense of things being gently wound up that one time. An hour is nothing to me when I get going! But I can see that they have to balance things as best they can to be fair. Thanks for that information, helps a lot 

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.

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!

I have, found the woman I talked with really caring and understanding. Just having someone listening on the other end of the phone made a huge difference for me.

I first called after my dads heart attack. I then called again when my mum got sick and my mental health began to break down. Each time I called I was given a lot of support and it helped so much.

I haven't called them for a long time now but it's nice knowing they're there in case I ever need someone to talk to.

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.

That must have been very frustrating. I think in the future they will accomodate your situation more, but I appreciate that that doesn’t help you much on a day any time soon when you might be feeling at your wits’ end. I hope that this place can give you some support even in thd worst times. 

I have never contacted the Samaritans. The problem for me is that I struggle with verbal communication at the best of times. When I am in a distressed and overwhelmed state vocalising becomes even more difficult and inaccessible.

I know they also offer support by email or letter. However I always think that by the time they reply my distressing feelings will have passed and it would be wasting their time.

I wish there was a support service that offered real time help on a live chat system. Even when I am not capable of speech I am usually still capable of typing my thoughts.

I did try using the 'Shout' text service once and it was helpful to some extent. However they didn't give me enough time to reply and repeatedly kept closing the conversation, meaning I had to start again with somebody different.

Very good question. There’s a study to be done there!

The fact that you remember Sonia’s name to this day says a lot. 

Yep - I've had a few calls to the Samaritans. They are good at listening.

I wonder if the % of autistic callers is higher than the neurotypical %

I called them when I was 21. I was going through a bad time in life and didn't know who else to call. The woman who answered said she was Sonia, I gave my name and we talked. She was lovely and didn't judge me, just listened and offered support. I feel like Samaritan's have saved my life many times. There a special service and they must help so many people in difficult times. I still call them now, when I need to. They still help me see the light and give me the strength to keep tackling the problems life shoves my way.

Actually one of the saddest things is just how frayed and old that Samaritans flyer in my coat pocket seems. And yet I picked it up after some of the recent-ish (in life course terns) events that cause me the most ongoing distress and confusion. Unmended  bridges, incredible kindness turned to cold exile with inadequate explanation. Other stuff too. Time passes mercilessly quickly, but most hearts seem resilient to benefit from that. Mine stays in tiny jagged pieces 

That is interesting, and consoling!

Shardovan, Having read the comments in response to the question you posed about oversharing, it has not escaped my attention that nobody seems to think you do overshare, but everyone seems to suspect themselves of oversharing. Just thought I would mention that.