I feel kinda sad today, because I've been advising and listening peoples worries elswhere beside EC as well and the amount of people that are suffering with different things is very big and all I can really do is offering a listening ear. Just today an online friend of mine lost someone who suicided and he told me that he did self harmed. He told me that he is not safe and I've been telling him to call an ambulance or an trusted person, but he refuses and this is where my ability to help ends. All I can do is listen or report if I have some sort of info about where and how to report. Sometimes these things overwhelme me, simply because a lot of people need help. I have got way better at handling myself and others in these situations. In the past I got extremely scared and overwhelmed, even was at the point where I really felt scared that I will loose the ability to help. Not anymore as much. I think it's because I have become more experienced in dealing with people who have eating disorders, who self harm or are suicidal. This is not me dealing with this all, because I'm some sort of mashohist or something, but because I genuinely feel that it's good for my soul. I like helping others. Helping others have helped me too. I don't know if these feelings are selfish. It feels so. I myself am fine currently. Just a bit of a sad feeling that's all, but I just felt like writing it here. I don't know why.
Hey @Ran I’m sorry you are feeling that way but I totally understand the situation you are in. I have felt like that before, it’s easy to wish you could do more. You have to remind yourself that you must be doing a great job because you made your friend feel safe enough to share that information with you.
That is true. We even had a longer conversation than usual. Usually he gives me these one word gliffhangers, but this time he went at it and was apologetic afterwards, because he felt as if he was having a go at me. I was just happy that he talked at all.
@Ran. Thank you for being willing to feel sad to be there for someone. i find the most wonderful people i know or have met are the ones who make it through the sad times and then help others do the same.
Sorry to hear you're feeling that way, Ran. It's good to acknowledge it though. We shouldn't run away from sad feelings - they're just as much a part of our lives as the more positive stuff. Sometimes I just feel sad because of, well, memories and just the ache of time passing. Hugs, Beth x
