I need someone to talk to

Sometimes we don't need advice or a solution. We just need someone to listen. To say what's weighing on us without being interrupted or judged. If that's what you're looking for right now, this page is for you.

Needing to talk is not a weakness

When we keep what hurts inside, it grows; when we say it to someone, it shrinks. That isn't weakness or complaining; it's what people have always done to ease their burden.

And often we understand our own feelings more clearly the moment we try to explain them to someone else.

Why is it so hard to talk to the people around us?

We may be afraid of being judged, of being a burden, or of what we say getting around. And sometimes the people around us are the very reason we're sad.

That's why many people find relief in talking to a stranger who doesn't know them: no shared past, and no worrying about how they'll look at you tomorrow.

Where to find someone who listens

• A friend you trust: tell them from the start, “I don't need advice, I just need you to listen.”
• A therapist or counselor: what you say stays confidential, and they're trained to listen without judging.
• Emotional support lines in your country: many are free, and some are open around the clock.
• Writing anonymously to people who don't know you, when talking face to face feels too hard.

How to start when you don't know where to begin

Don't look for the perfect words. Start with one honest sentence, like: “I've been exhausted for weeks and I don't know why,” or “Something happened to me that I haven't told anyone.”

The first sentence is the hardest part; the rest comes on its own.

Write now, and someone will hear you

On “i am sad” you write what's on your mind with no name, and people from all over the world read it and reply to you in your language, even if they don't speak it. The reply might come from someone who has been through the same thing, from someone offering emotional support, or perhaps from a doctor.