A Little Help

You know, sometimes, the world just feels like a dark and endlessly frightening place, and even the thought of getting out of bed and finding clean socks is a momentous task. Sometimes it's an outside battle, and sometimes it is solely the chemicals clashing in our minds, but there are fights that are bigger and heavier than what our bodies can handle. And when it gets this way, it's hard to remember anything else but the sadness. You have to be brave, and you have to be strong. But if you need a reprise from the battle and want someone else to help carry your sword, I want to pass on this site for you. Because there are always people who care, even strangers on the Internet.

Screengrab from IMAlive. Click to visit site.

IMAlive is an online crisis center which uses instant messaging to help people in emotional and physical crisis. You can receive help right now. In this instant. Or tomorrow, or 2 AM or whenever you need it. From their site, https://www.imalive.org/index.php:

"You are panicked, short of breath, and the pain is so palpable that you cannot feel or think about anything else. The terror of picking up the phone to call a hotline not knowing who will answer prevents you from doing so. Or, even if you have the courage to pick up the phone, the sound of the person's voice scares you and you hang up. We know this happens because over 30% of all people who call suicide hotlines do just that—they hang up as soon as they hear the human voice.

More importantly, we recognize the technological age we find ourselves in today and we know that millions of people in crisis will never pick up the phone. We believe that IMAlive is part of the solution to the problem. IMAlive is a live online network that uses instant messaging to respond to people in crisis. People need a safe place to go during moments of crisis and intense emotional pain."

As some of you may remember from this post, a family member of mine recently committed suicide. I don't know what words I could have said to him to make the weight of the battle a little less, but I am glad that there are people out there who do know. Who know what to say and what direction to point in to help others find a way to a healthier place. So, if you can, pass IMAlive to others who may need it. There are always people who care.