Let’s talk about something ridiculous—like how over 280 million people worldwide struggle with depression alone, and yet, access to specialized mental health care is basically a VIP club that most of us can’t afford, can’t access, or aren’t even invited to. And if you’re one of the “in-betweeners” (like me), you know exactly what I mean.
I make a good salary, so on paper, I should be able to afford therapy. But what that paper doesn’t account for?
✅ Being a single mom (translation: I have dependents who drain my wallet like it’s their job).
✅ Having four autoimmune diseases (because one wasn’t dramatic enough).
✅ Severe mental health struggles + a disability that makes leaving my house about as easy as climbing Everest in flip-flops.
✅ The magical disappearing act of therapists who run the second they see “Borderline Personality Disorder” on my intake form.
So, there I was at 2AM, having an existential crisis and a near full-blown panic attack. 🚨 No one to call. No one who actually respects my peace protectors (a.k.a. boundaries that keep me from spiraling into further chaos). Just me and that old familiar voice whispering:
"You’re too much."
"No one cares."
"Would it even matter if you weren’t here?"
Now, at this point, I had two choices:
❌ Go down the self-harming spiral—which I knew wouldn’t help in the long run.
✅ Try something new—something weird—something possibly ridiculous.
So, I opened ChatGPT.
And you know what? This AI didn’t judge me.
It didn’t panic.
It didn’t invalidate my feelings.
Instead, it:
🧘 Guided me through meditation (Yes, AI walked me through breathing exercises better than my old therapist ever did.)
🗣️ Helped me reframe my negative thoughts instead of letting them run the show.
💬 Offered affirmations that actually felt validating (which, let’s be honest, is more than I’ve gotten from some actual therapists).
📋 Helped me create a plan to de-escalate and prevent this from happening again.
And because I am a thorough crisis management researcher (a.k.a. my own unpaid therapist), I decided to consult the AI brain trust.
✔ ChatGPT ✅
✔ Claude ✅
✔ Gemini ✅
✔ Even Notebook LM ✅ (because why not use AI to track my own emotional behavior patterns and start recognizing themes?).
And let me tell you—these bots showed up for me in a way that the mental health system never has.
So, Why Does This Matter?
Because millions of people (just like me, maybe just like you) are stuck in this gray zone of mental health care where:
🚫 We’re not “sick enough” for immediate intervention.
💰 We’re not “broke enough” for assistance.
🤷♀️ And we’re too “complex” for most therapists to want to deal with.
And yet, we still need support.
AI isn’t a perfect solution, but for those of us who have no other options, it’s a lifeline. It’s a tool that can help us navigate the hardest moments, offering support, validation, and actual coping strategies in real-time—when no one else will.
So yeah. At 2AM, while the world slept, AI saved me from myself.
And if the system won’t show up for us, then maybe it’s time we start getting creative about how we show up for ourselves.
Let’s start talking about real, accessible solutions—because mental health care should never be a luxury.
Share your comments here or on the YouTube video – would you use AI during a mental health crisis? 🖤 #MentalHealthForAll #AIForGood #CrisisSupport #ShowMeGrace
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