Has anyone had a bad experience with helplines?

[Deleted member 45588]

I phoned up a helpline once and they were very rude and condescending, I also called the police number once to report the sexual assault and I just heard laughing in the background. Since then I've steered clear of helplines...

 

[BigBirdsSister]

I have. I have had helplines accuse me of lyying about being suicidal, goading to me "admit it" (that im lying). Telling me they think I am lying about my feet issues (ingrown toenail that left go for years), and not believing me about my trauma. Alls sorts like that. It contributed to not feeling safe talking to anyone, even my therapist at times. So I get the distress it can cause. The can be horrific at times. I am sorry you had to go through that. I do know a really kind understanding helpline online for sexual assault, I would be happy to pass on.

 

[Cyberluddite]

Same here. I was told to "go back on the meds" and "go back to your family".

Homeless shelters are pretty much useless if you're a single male, more so for abuse shelters. We're automatically stereotyped as pedos and rapists, looking for hunting grounds... so yeah, there's much to be improved in helplines.

You have my sincerest empathy and respect, @Kittengirl and @BigBirdsSister . :hug:

 

[EveHarrington]

As with anything, some are good and some are bad.

Just remember that most are staffed by volunteers.

 

[shatter eyes]

....from helplines:

..try to do something you enjoy
...the psych unit cant help you because your symptoms are not organic and cannot be medicated.
...you need to follow up with your doctor
...try visiting a spiritual practitioner
...do you have someone else you can talk too?
... you need to be assessed properly
... do you have guns or access to guns?
...are you planning on hurting yourself or someone other than yourself?

--positive from helpline--

I am glad you called.
I can hear in your voice your are in distress.
I want to thank you for reaching out. It takes alot of strength to do so.

You are always welcomed to call us.
***

From my experience helplines act as a buffer to blowing my head up or chopping off body parts that are painful and stubborn or slowing me down to realise i cant machete my neighbour for being drunken loud.

The emerg lines been a life saver in the past years. However...when i get an idiot on the line it makes things worse where i feel like i dont deserve to get help or an honest ear because i am not messed up enough. Mind drifts to think people will only listen when there is bloodshed.

 

[AliciaEff]

I called a local helpline once because my panic attack was not responding to my efforts to ease it (efforts that had been working for years) I was immediately put on hold so I hung up. There were other options, but I didn’t bother trying. I’m sure there are many good helplines, and I’m sure some people have great experiences on the same helpline that others hate, but they are not something I would try again unless I felt they were a last resort.

 

[Fadeaway]

I find only 1% of of times I call a hotline to be of any value. I find they get angry at me when I don't take their suggestions. Hey, I am a pro at managing my symptoms and wouldn't be calling if I hadn't tried all the normal things. I just needed some compassion. They almost always suggest baths witch is relaxing for many people but I associate them with rape and I have ot work up the guts every time I take a shower and they get so offended by that.