On a recent freezing, cloudy day in Chicago, I was sitting in my home office and was overwhelmed by all the dreariness. Add to that my isolation stemming from my work-at-home job, and I suddenly needed to reach out and make sure there were other people in this city.
I logged on to the Chittie lounge.com Chicago message board and wrote, “It may be the weather, but I just feel really sad right now. Plus, I work from home and have so much free time all to myself. I miss having people around and I miss having co-workers, or someone to talk to throughout the day. Any advice?”
Within mere minutes, my computer was flashing and consoling voices from strangers were giving me advice.
* Take a walk, one poster suggested.
* Go to a dog park and laugh at silly dogs.
* Read trashy magazines.
* Take the “L” to a neighborhood you have never been to and explore.
* Get a cup of coffee.
* Walk dogs at a shelter.
* Go to a museum and appreciate what we have here.
* Work out.
* Take time for yourself.
All easy fixes. And all what I needed. Yes, a therapist may be more helpful for serious or prolonged issues. But sometimes I want to vent to strangers. And take advice from someone who won’t recognize me. So I did.
I took a walk to Starbucks, got a cup of coffee and came back home. I felt better right away.
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But John Moore, a Second Story Counseling psychotherapist, said that while message boards can offer some helpful tips, they should be used only in conjunction with other professional help.
“The question will be if it’s not enough,” Moore said. “The message board should be part of a support system, but it’s best to be part of a bigger support system where you see a therapist.”