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There are times in life when we want to talk anonymously with someone about things that are important to us. Technology and the internet have enabled anyone that wants to have an anonymous chatroom session with a stranger to be able to do so with the click of a button. Sometimes we feel the need to express ourselves to someone who will listen, and other users who aren’t in-person friends feel like people we can communicate with in safety. Conversations of this sort can offer some level of mental health support and availability is at an all-time high due to the accessibility of websites offering this type of service.
For those with particular needs and concerns, such as relationship problems or signs of mental illness, seeking helpful information by chatting with a licensed professional could be an even better decision. Having conversations with a therapist or counselor can offer a person far more help than simply talking with users on sites that don’t share identifying information. You can schedule sessions on video chat, on the phone, or even with virtual messages whenever you have a free moment. Building a relationship with a professional that can listen, and offer you advice, coping strategies, and stress management techniques may be just what you need. Below we'll discuss some of the different kinds of options available for this type of online communication.
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Medically reviewed by Andrea Brant, LMHC
Chat has become increasingly prevalent since the internet emerged in the early 1980s. Initially, using AOL Messenger (frequently referred to as AIM or instant messaging) in the 1990s, people could have conversations with another user via text. This basic chat platform was a place people used to talk to and develop relationships and build a community with their peers. Now, millions of people use chat globally as a convenient form of communication.
In the modern age, chat has served another function when it comes to mental health support, providing people with psychological relief and a place to express their feelings. In fact, one of the reasons why online therapy is successful is in part because of this chat option. When a person interacts with a mental health professional using virtual chat, they can communicate their emotions at a time that’s most convenient for them and, once the feedback arrives, read the response on their schedule.
Chat as social support
Chat rooms may be built around a variety of different topics. For example, you may find chat rooms devoted to grief, living with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, a senior chat, or even a hobby you’re interested in, like painting. By simply creating dedicated chat rooms for a particular topic or people who share similar interests, a guest to the chat room might be reassured by the presence of like minded people in the world who are there for the same or similar reasons that they are.
The relatively low social pressure of a faceless chat can be especially helpful for someone who is living with a mental illness or facing transitional life issues. Perhaps a person is getting divorced and does not want to talk to their friends about it because they sense that repeatedly discussing the topic is putting a strain on their friendships. Locating the best internet chat rooms for other people who are also separating from their spouses creates a space in which to correspond with people who will understand what that person might be going through and offer first hand advice or comfort during a real conversation. It can be difficult to reach out for support for such topics as divorce and mental illness, and chat rooms can provide comfort in a nonjudgmental virtual environment.
Safety
In the right environment, developing virtual friendships is appropriate and can be helpful. But like any relationship in life, it is important to remain vigilant as one reveals information about their personal life that anyone can access. Online chat rooms are no different. Keep identifying information private when chatting with strangers worldwide online until safety is assured. The same can be said for establishing a relationship with a therapist or counselor. Taking the time to get to know a therapist is safe is important in developing any trusting relationship.
Counseling
For those who are hesitant to engage in a face-to-face discussion with a therapist, online chat can be beneficial to therapeutic treatments for various mental health issues. Using online service providers such as BetterHelp, a credentialed therapist can work with you via in-app messaging, phone calls, or video calls, depending on a person’s preference and availability. In-app messaging may be preferred for some who find phone calls or in-person discussions distressing. When you register on the site, you can also message your therapist when a situation arises that you want to discuss. This way, they can record their thoughts or emotions as precisely as possible in the moment instead of waiting for a scheduled session. They can rest assured that their therapist will receive the message and reply as soon as they become available.
Takeaway
An online chat room is an effective way to create peer-to-peer interaction and the opportunity to talk with people online who are experiencing similar issues, be they mental or otherwise. You might make new friends and meet new people, but it is important to remember that regular online chat rooms are not always an adequate substitute for trained therapists or counselors offering professional support. If you are living with a mental illness, or if you realize that you need more guidance regarding life challenges, consider seeking a therapist. Therapists and counselors with online service providers such as BetterHelp are credentialed mental health professionals who are available to support you when you join a chat via video call, phone call, or in-app messaging.