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HopeIsAlive
19,973
L Intermediate 8
5 star rating
Rating
Number of ratings139 Number of reviews45 Listens toOver 18 LanguagesEnglish Listener sinceMay 29, 2016 Last activeover 6 months ago GenderFemale PathStep 625 People helped129 Chats495 Group support chats1 Listener group chats38 Forum posts163 Forum upvotes187
Bio

Hi, there, welcome to 7 cups of Tea and I am glad that you are looking up my profile. Thank you. Please allow me to introduce myself.

I am Amy, I joined this site as a  college student in 2014 who was in pursuit of happiness. To be honest, the road seemed to be rougher than a rail track. I had some pretty dark days in my life, some of which I had to bear alone. Looking back, I couldn’t tell if those dark days were aggravated because of my wrong ideology at the time that a problem shared is a problem doubled. Well, now, I wish I had at least shared those problems, if not to people, in the least bit, to the universe.

My experience has made me passionate to help you and be the listening ear you need. This is why I am now a trained active listener who has been trained in areas of depression, anxiety, and the short list goes on. I’d like to put it out there that I am in no way a professional psychologist. Since I am a college student, I am likely to relate more with younger people like myself. However, I am not limited.

Before you go on to click that chat button, I would like you to remember that, “When we tackle obstacles, we find hidden reserves of courage and resilience we did not know we had. And it is only when we are faced with failure do we realize that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives.”

For those who are bullied, do not be discouraged, in fact, here is a quote to give out to the next person who bullies you. “We are all the same; even the queen has to wipe her own ass.” This also goes for those who feel insecure with themselves and their lives.

Lastly, WHERE THERE IS LIFE, THERE IS HOPE. After all, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ( Albert Einstein)

Cheers,
Amy
 
Recent forum posts
7 Signs Of Depression and How To Manage Them
Depression Support / by HopeIsAlive
Last post
 September 4th, 2014
...See more I came across this and hope someone finds it helpful: Depression drains your energy, hope, and drive, making it difficult to do what you need to feel better. But while overcoming depression isn’t quick or easy, it’s far from impossible. You can’t beat it through sheer willpower, but you do have some control—even if your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent. The key is to start small and build from there. Feeling better takes time, but you can get there if you make positive choices for yourself each day. These are the signs that a bout of depression is looming: ♥ Increased negative thoughts. ♥ Increased thoughts of self-doubt and judgment. ♥ Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. ♥ Wanting to scarf carbs and comfort food like they are going out of style. ♥ Uncontrollable and unpredictable crying. ♥ Unable to sleep at night. ♥ Desire to withdraw all social contact. Recovering from depression requires action, but taking action when you’re depressed is hard. In fact, just thinking about the things you should do to feel better, like going for a walk or spending time with friends, can be exhausting. It’s the Catch-22 of depression recovery: The things that help the most are the things that are the most difficult to do. There’s a difference, however, between something that’s difficult and something that’s impossible. Try to keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it. Often when you’re depressed, it feels more comfortable to retreat into your shell, but being around other people will make you feel less depressed. The thought of reaching out to even close family members and friends can seem overwhelming. You may feel ashamed, too exhausted to talk, or guilty for neglecting the relationship. Remind yourself that this is the depression talking. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness and it won’t mean you’re a burden to others. Your loved ones care about you and want to help. And remember, it’s never too late to build new friendships and improve your support network. Join a support group for depression. Being with others dealing with depression can go a long way in reducing your sense of isolation. You can also encourage each other, give and receive advice on how to cope, and share your experiences. In order to overcome depression, you have to take care of yourself. This includes following a healthy lifestyle, learning to manage stress, setting limits on what you’re able to do, adopting healthy habits, and scheduling fun activities into your day. Aim for eight hours of sleep. Depression typically involves sleep problems. Whether you’re sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers. Get on a better sleep schedule by learning healthy sleep habits. Expose yourself to a little sunlight every day. Lack of sunlight can make depression worse. Make sure you’re getting enough. Take a short walk outdoors, have your coffee outside, enjoy an al fresco meal, people-watch on a park bench, or sit out in the garden. Aim for at least 15 minutes of sunlight a day to boost your mood. If you live somewhere with little winter sunshine, try using a light therapy box. Exercise. When you’re depressed, exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing. But exercise is a powerful tool for dealing with depression. In fact, studies show that regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication at increasing energy levels and decreasing feelings of fatigue. Scientists haven’t figured out exactly why exercise is such a potent antidepressant, but evidence suggests that physical activity triggers new cell growth in the brain, increases mood-enhancing neurotransmitters and endorphins, reduces stress, and relieves muscle tension—all things that can have a positive effect on depression. Watch your diet. What you eat has a direct impact on the way you feel. Aim for a balanced diet of low-fat protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. Reduce your intake of foods that can adversely affect your brain and mood, such as caffeine, alcohol, trans fats, saturated fats, and foods with high levels of chemical preservatives or hormones (such as certain meats). Don’t skip meals. Going too long between meals can make you feel irritable and tired, so aim to eat something at least every three to four hours. Minimize sugar and refined carbs. You may crave sugary snacks, baked goods, or comfort foods such as pasta or French fries, but these “feel-good” foods quickly lead to a crash in mood and energy. Focus on complex carbohydrates. Foods such as baked potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, oatmeal, and whole grain breads can boost serotonin levels without a crash. Boost your B vitamins. Deficiencies in B vitamins such as folic acid and B-12 can trigger depression. To get more, take a B-complex vitamin supplement or eat more citrus fruit, leafy greens, beans, chicken, and eggs. Try super-foods rich in nutrients that can boost mood, such as bananas (magnesium to decrease anxiety, vitamin B6 to promote alertness, tryptophan to boost feel-good serotonin levels), brown rice (serotonin, thiamine to support sociability), and spinach (magnesium, folate to reduce agitation and improve sleep). Consider taking a chromium supplement. Some depression studies show that chromium picolinate reduces carbohydrate cravings, eases mood swings, and boosts energy. Supplementing with chromium picolinate is especially effective for people who tend to overeat and oversleep when depressed. If you find your depression getting worse and worse, seek professional help. Needing additional help doesn’t mean you’re weak. Sometimes the negative thinking in depression can make you feel like you’re a lost cause, but depression can be treated and you can feel better! click here [http://theprayingwoman.com/2014/04/15/7-signs-of-depression-and-how-to-manage-them/]for source
Do Not Give Up (A Reminder to Myself)
General Support / by HopeIsAlive
Last post
 July 21st, 2014
...See more Sometimes as listeners, we tend to forget our values and what we are here for. We get lost in the competition between getting a badge, being promoted or simply being popular on here. This is a kind reminder to remind us all that what we do is help others. Top be a crying shoulder to the discouraged, depressed and those in need. Even if you help just one person a day, feel fulfilled. After all, there are 365 days in a year. Remember, it is quality that matters most not quantity. Also, do not let others belittle this selfless act if yours. “Even the smallest act of caring for another person is like a drop of water -it will make ripples throughout the entire pond...” Take life one step at a time.
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Feedback & Reviews
good listener,helpful
She was great
she's great!
Lovely conversation, really great listener. Really cares about what you have to say.
Very kind listener! Gem!
Great listener I would defiantly recommend, patient, available, and understanding thank you very much
Nicest person ive encountered in my life
They are extremely helpful and caring. They really listen to what I have to say.
you are such a truly good person :)
perfect
Great
fun to talk to
She was a good listener. I felt like I was in a safe place, I could share anything. She was encouraging and she provided some great resources that will enable me to cope with my struggles in a healthier way.
Made me feel safe like I could share anything.
Honestly wonderful.
She was a great listener and gave awesome feedback
Great
Very kind and helpful
Well it says it in her name it helped give me some hope in my situation. Very helpful thank you
Good listener.
love her
Great listener and very empathetic.
I saw things from a different angle for the first time in a long while. Very constructive.
:) she was very nice.
thanks
i could find a great friend in her, dat we would like to have forever.
:)
I feel 100 times better after talking to HopeIsAlive. She is a great listener. I'm very thankful to her and the site!!
Thank you for your suggestions to help me deal with my workload, and for your encouragement when it came to my faith issues. You are so easy to talk to, and an asset to this site! I am glad that there are people like you there to listen to people who are going through difficulty. You're a wonderful person!
Kind and encouraging, will chat with again.
Fantastic Listener. Enjoyed Every Minute Taking With Her. 10/10 Would Recommend. Will Definitely Be Talking Again.
Was very helpful and was a very good listener.
Caring, empathetic and willing to listen. Sound advice without being overbearing. Looking forward to talking again!
Great
Very good
Great listener! You feel really safe when you talk to her, at least I did (and I have a serious confidence and communication problem). She is terrific :)
Thanks again!
Made me feel like I could finally get it all out. Great listener! Great person in general.
helped me loads, great to chat to, listens well and has good advice :)
I think we got disconnected earlier than we were supposed to. But thanks Amy for listening!
She is soo sweet and understanding i have never been able to actually feel like someone understood me but she did thanks hun ur amazing
HopeIsAlive really helped me organise my thoughts and feel better about the situation I was in. I came here feeling a bit lost and left with a more positive outlook. I would recommend this listener to anyone. One of the best I've talked to so far
Thank you for the help :) great listner
She was good. Helpful. Got good suggestions.
Understanding and very willing to look for solutions or just be there and listen
Thanks a lot, you really helped :)
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