AIBU to ask where people go for anonymous support and advice?

[Itsa10fromLen]

Can you all tell me who you talk to when you are struggling with an issue a bit please? I have posted on here over the years and it makes me feel so much better, even when I don’t get the answers I want, it’s so therapeutic. I have a close family member who I run everything by but honestly it’s too much to expect that they are a listening ear all the time.

Are there any apps that anyone uses to get opinions or any groups people are in where they can have a bit of a rant anonymously and see what people think? I looked at some therapy apps but they’re £35+ per week. I just feel like I have to get stuff off my chest really and you can’t post on here everyday, it would be incredibly outing and boring for everyone else.

Claude/ chat gpt!

Thank you!

Depending on what it is, reddit can be pretty good

Reddit.

Samaritans; Breathing Space; Mind and Calm (though I think that's aimed at men) all have free confidential helplines. My employer also pays for access to an Employee Assistance Programme for us which includes a free confidential helpline.

Thank you x

ChatGPT here too. Find it very good.

It's really unwise to use AI for human problems. It doesn't have a fucking clue and is an emotional echo chamber.

I was thinking about this recently - I think AI plays into what it thinks you want to hear but maybe that’s what some people need but wouldn’t it be great to have a sort of anonymous penpal that you could be absolutely open and honest with about your life without any connection to your real life!

Why not just write the letters then write a response? That would be pretty therapeutic, free, confidential and a lot less fucked up than chatting to AI.

If you think that you’re not promoting it properly or prepared to be honest with it: yourself

Oh good grief. Read up on a) how it works and b) what happens psychologically to humans who talk to it for therapy.

It's nothing to do with prompts and honesty.

It's just regurgitating words at you, it isn't responding.

keep name changing and post on here

Change exact details to not be outing

True.

Talked me down from a panic attack very effectively though.

I would like a smaller group of women that just post their annoyances and we all give our honest opinion without judging or being nasty and without worrying my family will see me posting about them all the time 😂

I have - quite a few times. I can handle people giving me the truth but some people are relentless in the pursuit of knowing every detail! Or if you change the sex of a family member or age of a family member for anonymity it’s like Agatha Christie has entered the chat if they feel it’s not quite 100%. And I often get lots of ‘stop being a doormat.’ And I’m not sure I believe that these people are out there hurting their family’s feelings and potentially souring relationships because that’s not what I see around me but it’s easy for them to pretend they tell everyone straight John Bull so to speak and then I feel worse but it might not even be the truth.

I’m well read up on It so no need. Very interesting you assumed I wouldn’t be though

To be fair there are a hell of a lot of therapists who make bank by just saying “mmm” “mhmmm” every few seconds while looking interested. So many of them actually don’t help you process/resolve/heal from anything they just sit there making the right noises.

EAP can be excellent for this. I’ve found it particularly good for helping resolve issues that don’t require long term therapy, just one or two appointments to consult on something.

Chatgpt. Direct it "act as a psychotherapist and ask me one probing question, I will answer and you can discuss before asking me another question, then repeat."

Found that to be quite useful and its a very common use for chatgpt to be used in a therapist like way to get some support or guidance about an issue.

How many therapists have you seen who did that?? And why did you continue with a therapist you were unhappy with? What did they say when you asked them how they work? You can find properly trained therapists by using the appropriate registers.

The point of therapy is it is relational. It is not possible to have a relationship with an algorithm.

People using AI for therapy are engaged in make believe.

You could do the same I’d imagine by just writing everything down, over the course of 24 hours maybe. Talking to yourself, untangling your thoughts and moving through them towards a clear spot.

its a very common use for chatgpt to be used in a therapist like way the fact something is common doesn't make it healthy or wise.

It's important to take care before starting a process that could negatively impact your mental health.

People would be advised to thoroughly research the way AI works and the risks of using it for an illusion of 'therapy' before beginning.

I find the very thought of it quite horrible; it’s almost a visceral reaction.
But it is clearly already mainstream, and seems to have attained that status by stealth!

The fact that so many people are recommending AI for this is fucking disturbing.