Don't Be So Hard On Yourself!!!!!

Hey Listeners!

I just wanted to share my exeriences on 7Cups for all the new (and old) listeners on here. I've been here for about a year and a half. First of all, I need you to soak in what you're doin right now. You are helping a stranger to feel better about his/hersituation. That's absolutely incredible and you deserve so much applause for that. You may be helping someone who is wondering whether to live another day, someone who may not have gotten much love in his/her life, or someone who just needs a friend. I've been there before, and I know how much help can really do.

Second of all, the most important thing I've learned is DONT BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF. There will be people who need more help than you can provide. There will be people who lash out at you, who lash out at the world. There will be people who pose uncomfortable questions, and there will be times where you don't know what the heck you are talking about. You are not expected to know how to deal with all of these situations. Ask for help! Worst case, redirect the person back to the waiting list, to another specialized person, or a therapist. Sometimes ending a live chat is hard when you feel like the person cannot be satisfied by you. But you are doing the absolute best you can, and your goal on this site is not to get badges, hearts, or positive reviews. It is to help the person in the best way you can, and in some cases, that may include not personally dealing with the situation yourself.

Third of all, DO NOT OVERWHELM YOURSELF!!!! This is SO key to having a good time here on 7Cups. When I first started, I took on as many as 8 people as a time. Not only is this extremely stressful and pressuring on you (you have to remember everyone's situation and respond fast!), this also hurts the person in need. Not only will your response time be slower, but you may not remember the person's situation or get them mixed up. Every person who seeks help on here deserves self care and equal attention. It may feel like your responsibilty to try and help EVERYONE, but give yourself some time, some focus, and some breaks in between to recover :).

Lastly, take care of yourself. If you ever feel overwhelmed, help yourself first. You deserve as much care and affection as everyone on this site.

-LindsaySupport321

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