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Feeling bad for using Samaritans.

NAS95189

I apologize if the threads subject title upsets anyone.

I find now a lot of services signpost to Samaritans, from my experience they do great work, but it troubles me how everything from NHS pamphlets to even vague google searches like "Whats the purpose of life if I'm never going to even be content" (albeit it made me a liar as Google sent me to Reddit instead) bring up their number.

I have issues but I don't feel my need is great enough to use Samaritans yet loads of people say I should call, I'd hate to think I'm wasting time of someone who could need them. Anyone else feel a bit annoyed how freely the service is brought up now? 

I don't really have anyone in real life to vent to though, and online I'm always scared I'll drain the few connections i have if I eternally vent.

Parents

  • I spent a few months as a Samaritian. I probably couldn't have managed it longer than a year, but it means I can tell you that Sams get called by all sorts of people, and not just those who are seriously suicidal. They started off in a church in London (they aren't religious now), when an overworked priest discovered that many people waiting to talk to him left before they saw him, because they had shared their problems with someone else who was waiting to see him.

    You can call at any time of the day or night . Sam volunteers do night shifts. In small towns (I worked in Kings Lynn in Norfolk) there are two, but many more in large towns and cities. There is nothing you can say that they won't already have heard, possibly many times. They offer endless, non-judgemental kindness. Many people call them regularly, even once or twice a week. Some only call once. Some call for 20-30 minutes, while others are on the phone for hours. It's what they volunteer for.

    Don't be afraid to call them. Don't feel you're wasting their time, or depriving someone else. Purple heart

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  • I spent a few months as a Samaritian. I probably couldn't have managed it longer than a year, but it means I can tell you that Sams get called by all sorts of people, and not just those who are seriously suicidal. They started off in a church in London (they aren't religious now), when an overworked priest discovered that many people waiting to talk to him left before they saw him, because they had shared their problems with someone else who was waiting to see him.

    You can call at any time of the day or night . Sam volunteers do night shifts. In small towns (I worked in Kings Lynn in Norfolk) there are two, but many more in large towns and cities. There is nothing you can say that they won't already have heard, possibly many times. They offer endless, non-judgemental kindness. Many people call them regularly, even once or twice a week. Some only call once. Some call for 20-30 minutes, while others are on the phone for hours. It's what they volunteer for.

    Don't be afraid to call them. Don't feel you're wasting their time, or depriving someone else. Purple heart

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