7 Cups Of Tea (7cups.com) is an affordable online mental health resource that helps people with their mental health and wellness through the use of forums, therapists, and enthusiastic listeners. You are able to access many of the features without signing up but I did anyway so that I could give a more valuable review.
Forums
Signing up for the app or website will give you greater access to the many forums that are available. There are forums for a plethora of mental illnesses. An example is the Depression forum. In this forum, people who are experiencing depression would start a new thread, or comment on topics that affect them. For example, there are threads that delve into negative self-talk and feelings of guilt. This provides a supportive base for people who otherwise would not have it.
People who have experienced or are currently struggling with mental illness will often say that other people just don’t get it. This is a good place to go if this is your complaint because they are just like you and there are many people there that DO get it. Not all of these discussions are led by fellow supporters; some guided discussions are done with certified therapists. Once signed up, you may be alerted by the app or website about these kinds of discussions.
Therapists
The website offers an online therapist for free. The therapist is free for three days after your account information has been entered, after which you will be charged a fee for using the service. You will be able to pick and choose from a variety of therapists based on their rate and reviews, giving you the opportunity to make the best choice for you.
Listeners
7cups.com also offers visitors the option to talk to trained listeners, a testament to the original structure of the platform. The listeners are there to do just that, listen, even if you just need a listening ear to listen to you talk about your day. You have the ability to refine search filters when choosing a listener, often taking gender, age, and listening specialty into consideration. Additionally, I think it is important to clarify that you talk to the listeners via chat, so you simply type what you want to say when you are paired with your listener.
The first time I tried this, I wasn’t able to connect with a listener that I searched for using very specific filters, however, there are always people online. The second time around I ended up being successful and was directed to a part of the site I wasn’t even aware of, so I would agree that listeners can be helpful. There are even group chats which you have access to where you can speak to a supportive group of people without even signing up.
Why You Should Sign Up for 7cups (7 cups of tea)
Signing up for 7Cups will give you access to a growth plan that is designed to help you grow significantly in your relationship with your mental health. Within the growth plan, you are given access to several exercises such as meditation, help with self-esteem, anxiety, as well as general motivation, that provide instruction via audio format. I’ve only listened to one audio tape so far and I’ve found it very helpful for its particular purpose, so I would definitely recommend you give it a try. Signing up also gives you greater access to unlock all the features that the website has to offer, such as forums and discussions which would have otherwise been locked to non-members.
Something that is really interesting about being a member is being given badges. You get badges for signing up and for connecting to a listener. In addition to that, you have the ability to earn growth points and compassionate hearts for doing various simple tasks. These rewards are used to advance you on your growth path and encourage you to keep making an effort. There are also several self-help guides for many mental health issues, available to members, that come with videos and advice tailored to your particular experience. 7cups also incorporates a holistic approach to wellness, touching upon various healthy living topics throughout the website. The best part is, it’s free.
When Not to Use 7 Cups Of Tea
Firstly, if you are feeling suicidal, 7cups is not for you, as you will require more hands-on professional help and you will be encouraged to seek it from the get-go. If you find yourself being overwhelmed and incapable of coping with your mental illness, then you should also seek more robust professional help. With the exception of the therapist available on the site, 7cups.com isn’t meant to completely replace therapy or medication. Instead, it is meant to provide support and reiterate the fact that you are not alone in your struggles.
Verdict
Whether or not you decide to become a full-fledged member, 7cups.com is worth giving a shot. Whenever you feel even slightly alone, just open the app or visit the website in your browser, and you’ll find a community of supportive individuals who want to hear from you. I’m sure we could all use a judgment-free zone sometimes, and 7cup.com is just that.
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