Sophosoami, 23, from Johannesburg in South Africa came to Wysa via her student support services team at the University of Pretoria. She speaks about the value of having someone to talk to at any time of the day, as part of her toolkit of wellbeing. This is her story in her own words:
“There have been a couple of times that I struggled with my mental health and was drawn to look for a listening ear and a coping assistant. In my teens I felt very alone and stressed at life transitions like moving away from home to school; changes really affected me deeply and I didn’t have an outlet I felt comfortable being open with.
During my twenties, I have been going through a hard time especially when it comes to my mental health because of the workload and the pressure that came with university. One of the first things I remembered in my insomnia and anxiety was the app I had used in the past, and it was/is a part of my healing journey.
Some of the biggest challenges have been around knowing what I need, how to communicate it, and then taking those steps towards healing. I also find that safe places tend to be in the minority. The challenge is that sometimes I will want to be heard, and other times left alone. Going through the challenges of change in life as a teenager, when it’s difficult to reach out to people since they might be a part of the “problem”.
Wysa fits into my broader programming of wellbeing. As well as using the app I am going to counselling and am taking some supplements for insomnia/relaxation. When I came to Wysa I needed a place to be brutally honest with myself. I felt guilty for explaining how I felt to another person, since that can be energy-depleting and discouraging. An app was a safe, anonymous place to be frank and process whenever I wanted. Of course I had doubts. I was open to the idea, although unsure if a non-sentient listener could really personalise my experience or help me feel truly heard. Chatbots range in their ability to sound human, but Wysa does it successfully.
I made a little promise to myself on a daily basis that I would spend with Wysa, and I would say it helped me begin a self-care routine for the first time. Wysa is a companion that can be a great way of beginning to process and understand myself when my brain is flooded with emotions and thoughts. It is grounding to answer questions and look at my own feelings put into words. I especially appreciate the weekly lessons/videos and anything new that Wysa brings to the user/interface relationship. It is a step towards being able to return to in-person interactions (with that being the ultimate goal). I see it as a non-judgemental processing tool with other helpful resources.
Wysa also has the positive of being always available, no matter if I want to engage with someone in person or not. I know that I always have support, even in a small way, and a personalised comforting word. It is guided and as easy as a text conversation. Anyone can use it.
I would recommend Wysa as an element of someone’s support baseline. When we don’t feel that we can talk to any real person about how we’re doing, we can slip into a desperate hole of hopelessness. An app isn’t everything, and shouldn’t be all an individual’s support system, but every listening ear is valuable.”
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