Latest news with #emotionalstress
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
I mentally unraveled. ChatGPT offered me tireless compassion.
That winter of my high school freshman year, I unraveled. My stress levels skyrocketed. Despite my A-studded report card, I'd stare at an essay prompt for hours, paralyzed. I wasn't showering. I wasn't sleeping. At 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., I'd be awake, bingeing on webtoons. I wanted quick relief. I turned to ChatGPT. If you had asked me two years ago if I would use artificial intelligence for emotional support, I would have looked at you like you were an idiot. But, over time, I often found the only place where I could open up was AI. It has helped me deal with myself in my darkest moments, which shouldn't have been true. But it is. That's why even though I wouldn't recommend using ChatGPT specifically for mental health due to privacy concerns, I have come to think that AI has potential to be a mental support for teens like me, who don't feel comfortable talking to our friends or parents about our mental health. I still remember the time my sister practically begged my South Korean mother for a therapist, she started ranting about how only "crazy people" got therapists. I wasn't making the same mistake. Calling a crisis hotline seemed like overkill. I toyed with the idea of seeing my school therapist but decided against it. It felt too daunting to talk face-to-face with a therapist. Online options weren't much better. I was desperate. What the heck? I finally thought. ChatGPT can answer back, kinda like a therapist. Maybe I should try that out. 'You don't have to justify feeling this way' So I wrote to ChatGPT, an act which in itself felt cathartic. I wrote paragraphs of misspelled words, bumpy capitalization and unhinged grammar, fingers stumbling, writing about everything – how I couldn't stop reading webtoons, how much I hated school, hated life. I wrote in a way I would have only dared to write if only to a chatbot. In response, ChatGPT was tirelessly compassionate. 'I'm sorry you're dealing with that,' it'd start, and just seeing those words made me feel as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Using ChatGPT as your therapist: How to make it work for you Soon, I even told ChatGPT how sometimes I was scared of my dad because of his biting sarcasm – something that I doubt I would have told a therapist about as quickly. ChatGPT responded by explaining that my fear was valid, that harm didn't just come physically but also emotionally. One line struck a chord in me: 'You don't have to justify feeling this way – it's real, and it matters.' Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. It hit hard because I realized that's what I wanted to hear from my mom my entire life. To her credit, my mom tried. She'd give her best advice, usually something like, 'get over it.' As an immigrant who couldn't express her feelings in English, she learned to swallow them down. But even though I wanted to do the same, I couldn't. Oftentimes, awake at 2 a.m., I'd feel as if I were rotting. Yet somehow, the first thing to show me emotional intelligence wasn't a person – it was a chatbot. 'Thank you,' I remember writing to ChatGPT. 'I feel a lot calmer now.' Opinion: AI knows we shouldn't trust it for everything. I know because I asked it. Sometimes the best option is the one that's available Of course, there are critics who worry that turning to chatbots for emotional support might foster obsession and even exacerbate mental health issues. Honestly? I don't think artificial intelligence should be a replacement for real mental support systems. But the fear of using AI misses the bigger picture: Many teens don't have access to a "safe place." As of March, President Donald Trump revoked $11.4 billion in funding for mental health and addiction treatment. By July, his administration shut down a suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, leaving countless teens stranded. Opinion: It will cost LGBTQ+ lives to shut down 988 suicide hotline. Unforgivable. According to Dr. Jessica Schleider, associate professor at Northwestern University, about 80% of teens with moderate to severe mental health conditions aren't able to get treatment. The reasons varied, but many reflected my own – not feeling our parents would take us seriously, worrying about stigma or cost. I am also not alone in my use of ChatGPT: 28% of parents report their children using AI for emotional support. Yes, instead of turning to a trusted therapist or adult, these children were finding real comfort in bots. In a 2024 YouGov survey, 50% of participants said the 24/7 availability of these chatbots was helpful for mental health purposes. However questionable, sometimes the best option is to turn to the only resource for teens that is available: artificial intelligence. I know for a fact that it's helped me. I can only hope it can help others. If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Elizabeth Koo is a student at the Kinkaid School in Houston with a passion for storytelling and a keen interest in culture, technology and education. You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ChatGPT for therapy? It was my best option – and it worked | Opinion
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
15 Reasons You Become So Triggered At The First Sign Of Conflict
Conflict is ugly, messy, and never-ending. It's that chaotic swirl that makes your heart race and your mind shut down, leaving you feeling like you're caught in an emotional tsunami. No one escapes its grasp, but some of us collapse under its weight like a soggy stack of cards. Why does it hit so hard? Here are 15 reasons conflict gets under your skin and makes you want to disappear. 1. You're Wired For Peace You grew up in a world where peace was the ultimate prize. Conflict feels like a violation, a jarring note in the symphony of life that you've been conditioned to avoid at all costs. According to a study by the University of California, Los Angeles, people with a strong desire for harmony tend to suffer more when faced with discord because it shatters their idealized world view. So when conflict appears, you freeze, hoping it will dissolve if you stay very still, very quiet. Your brain craves equilibrium, and it panics when that balance is disrupted. It reacts as if conflict is an existential threat, triggering the fight-or-flight response that's been honed since the dawn of humanity. But you weren't equipped with the tools to fight, so your response skews toward flight, even if that means shutting down. It's a survival tactic for a world that's anything but nurturing. 2. Your Negative Emotional Memories Are Triggered Conflict drags up the ghosts of arguments past, unearthing buried emotions you'd rather forget. When conflict arises, it's like your brain opens a filing cabinet of past grievances, feeding your anxiety with each remembered slight. You're trapped in a loop of emotional déjà vu, as old wounds resurface to color your perception of the present moment. You can't escape the echo of harsh words and stinging rebukes that linger long after the dust has settled. It paralyzes you, making you feel powerless and fragile, as if any response might shatter you entirely. Your emotional memory is a relentless beast, always ready to remind you why conflict feels like a losing game. You shut down because reliving old pain is the last thing you want. 3. You're A People Pleaser You've spent your whole life trying to be everything to everyone, contorting yourself into whatever shape someone needs you to be. Conflict threatens that delicate balance, exposing the raw truth that you can't please everyone. According to Dr. Harriet Braiker, a psychologist and author of *The Disease to Please*, people pleasing is rooted in a deep-seated fear of rejection and failure—making conflict feel like a personal indictment. Every clash feels like a failure of your duty to keep everyone happy, reinforcing feelings of inadequacy. You shut down because the conflict is a mirror reflecting back all the ways you believe you're coming up short. You'd rather retreat into a cocoon of silence than deal with the wreckage of unmet expectations and inevitable disappointment. 4. You Feel Uneasy With Vulnerability Opening up in conflict feels like wearing your heart on your sleeve in a battlefield. It breeds fear that your vulnerabilities will be exploited, leaving you exposed and defenseless. You shut down because silence feels safer than the risk of being torn apart by sharp words and harsh judgments. Your mind plays tricks, convincing you that guarding your emotions is the only way to survive. Vulnerability is a dicey gamble you're not willing to take. It's easier to withdraw into yourself, putting up walls instead of bridges. In your silence, you find a false sense of security, even if it means isolation. 5. You Deplore Power Dynamics You've been on the losing end of power plays before, and conflict feels like a rerun you're tired of watching. The imbalance of power can make standing your ground seem impossible, leaving you feeling small and voiceless. A study by the American Psychological Association found that perceived powerlessness can exacerbate stress responses, making conflict feel even more insurmountable. When your voice feels insignificant, shutting down becomes the path of least resistance. You retreat, not necessarily because you want to, but because it feels like the only option. The power dynamics of conflict can crush your spirit, convincing you that silence is your only currency. You shut down because speaking up feels like speaking into a void. 6. You're Afraid Of The Fallout The aftermath of conflict looms large in your mind, overshadowing the present moment. You fear the repercussions, the fractures in relationships that might never heal. Conflict feels like a grenade, and you're terrified of pulling the pin, even accidentally. You shut down to avoid the chaos that follows when things explode. Your imagination runs wild with worst-case scenarios, paralyzing you with fear of what might come next. The cleanup feels daunting, and you're not sure you have the emotional energy to deal with the wreckage. By staying silent, you hope to keep the peace, even if it's a fragile, tentative one. You shut down to protect yourself from the storm you dread. 7. You Weren't Taught How To Resolve Conflict Conflict is an art you never learned, leaving you ill-equipped to navigate its turbulent waters. Constructive disagreement wasn't modeled for you; instead, you learned to either avoid or escalate, with nothing in between. Research from social psychologist Dr. John Gottman suggests that unresolved conflict can lead to long-term relational distress, underscoring the importance of healthy conflict management skills. Without a blueprint, conflict feels like a minefield, with disaster lurking at every step. You shut down because you're terrified of making things worse, of saying the wrong thing and causing irreparable harm. You've never been taught how to wield your words like a scalpel, so you remain silent instead. For you, conflict is a battleground where every move feels fraught with peril. 8. Your Inner Critic Makes You Feel Like It's Your Fault Conflict amplifies the voice inside your head that tells you you're not enough. The inner critic seizes on every argument, using it as evidence to reinforce its narrative of failure and inadequacy. You shut down because engaging in conflict feels like a confirmation of all the harsh judgments you already believe about yourself. Your mind is a minefield of self-doubt, making it difficult to articulate your thoughts and feelings. You freeze, overwhelmed by the cacophony of negativity that drowns out your voice. Conflict becomes a confrontation not just with others, but with the unrelenting critic within. Silence hides the turmoil, but it never truly quells the storm. 9. You Become Overwhelmed By Uncomfortable Emotions Conflict triggers a tidal wave of emotion that threatens to sweep you away. The intensity is paralyzing, leaving you struggling to find words amidst the chaos. You shut down because expressing yourself feels impossible when you're drowning in a sea of feelings. Your emotions swirl in a vortex, making it hard to breathe, let alone speak. You want to find the calm in the storm, but it eludes you, leaving you feeling lost and out of control. By retreating, you hope to regain your footing, to find a moment of peace amid the emotional upheaval. You shut down because it feels like the only way to survive the flood. 10. You've Been Burned Before Past conflicts have left scars that still sting when touched. The wounds didn't heal; they festered, leaving you wary and distrustful. You shut down because you've learned that engagement often leads to pain, and your heart can't take another blow. Memories of betrayal and broken trust haunt you, coloring your approach to conflict. You're reluctant to open old wounds, to risk tearing them wider in the heat of battle. The fear of getting hurt again keeps you silent, hopeful that avoidance will shield you from further harm. You shut down because the cost of confrontation feels too high. 11. You Crave Control In conflict, control slips through your fingers like sand, leaving you desperate to regain your grip. You loathe the unpredictability, the chaos that spirals beyond your grasp. You shut down because it feels like the only way to maintain a semblance of control in an uncontrollable situation. Your mind races, trying to anticipate every move, but conflict is a game without rules. The lack of control is disorienting, making you feel vulnerable and exposed. In your silence, you find a false sense of stability, a refuge from the unpredictable nature of conflict. You shut down to shield yourself from the chaos you can't control. 12. You're Exhausted From Chaos Conflict is draining; it siphons your energy until you're running on fumes. The emotional toll is immense, leaving you feeling depleted and overwhelmed. You shut down because you don't have the energy to engage, to battle through the noise and chaos. Every argument saps your strength, making it harder to face the next challenge. You're tired of the fight, tired of the emotional roller coaster that leaves you reeling. Silence becomes your safe haven, a place to rest and recover from the emotional barrage. You shut down because, sometimes, peace feels better than winning. 13. You're Afraid Of Losing Conflict feels like a contest, and you dread coming out on the losing end. The fear of failure looms large, leaving you paralyzed and silent. You shut down because the possibility of defeat is more than your fragile self-esteem can bear. Your competitive nature wars with your fear, creating a storm of anxiety that clouds your judgment. You can't bear the thought of losing face, of admitting defeat in the heat of battle. Silence offers a respite, a way to avoid the sting of loss, even if it means forfeiting the fight. You shut down to protect yourself from the possibility of failure. 14. You Consider The Stakes Too High In conflict, everything feels like it's on the line: relationships, reputations, sanity. The weight of the stakes crushes you, making every word feel like a gamble. You shut down because the risk of losing it all is too terrifying to face. The pressure to get it right, to say the perfect thing, is overwhelming. You fear that one wrong move could tip the scales, sending everything spiraling out of control. In your silence, you find a measure of safety, a way to hold onto what matters most. You shut down because the stakes feel too high to risk losing everything. 15. You Doubt Your Worth And Voice Beneath the surface lies an insidious belief that you're not worthy of being heard. This doubt poisons your confidence, eroding your ability to stand firm in conflict. You shut down because you've bought into the lie that your voice doesn't matter. Every argument feels like a confirmation of your worst fears, a reminder of your perceived inadequacy. You shrink away, convinced that silence is preferable to the exposure of your deepest insecurities. In your silence, you find a refuge, a place to hide from the harsh glare of conflict. You shut down because it feels safer than confronting the worth you struggle to see in yourself. Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Chronically ill children face emotional distress, study finds
Children with multiple long-term health issues undergo severe emotional stress at the same time as they are trying to cope with the physical challenges of their conditions, a study has University of Plymouth has led research using AI language models to analyse sentiments and emotions expressed by about 400 paediatric patients and their caregivers on social aimed to assess young people's opinions regarding their care and experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact it had on their emotional and psychological data from the Care Opinion platform found about 94% of comments posted were classed as negative and less than 6% were positive. More than six out of 10 negative comments were classed as being associated with sadness and with feelings of with conditions such as cancer, asthma, chronic pain and mental health conditions showed particularly high emotional distress.A total of 6% of the comments were classed as positive, with most of them related to effective communication, compassionate care and successful treatment said the study highlighted the importance of supporting vulnerable young patients managing complex medical conditions and the need for integrated care approaches to both physical and emotional well-being. 'Disproportionate emotional burden' Research leader Prof Shang-Ming Zhou said, to their knowledge, it was "the first study of its kind to analyse the sentiments and emotions of paediatric patients using social media data".He said: "Our findings bring to light the deeply emotional journey patients with multiple long-term health issues go through and fills a critical gap in knowledge for healthcare professionals and agencies."It also highlights the disproportionate emotional burden faced by paediatric patients with multiple health issues and their caregivers during the pandemic, showing the need for targeted interventions to address emotional responses during public health emergencies."Student Israel Oluwalade, who carried out the data analysis, said the research revealed stark correlations between children's emotional responses who had two or more medical said: "For example, fear and sadness were especially dominant among those discussing multiple hospital visits or long-term medication."What also surprised me most was the unexpectedly high frequency of 'satisfaction' and 'amazement' in posts referencing kind staff or successful treatment episodes."It reminded me how digital expressions can reflect not only distress but also resilience and hope, even among young patients with complex conditions."
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children's social media activity ‘highlights stress of living with health issue'
Children with multiple long-term health issues undergo severe emotional stress at the same time as they are trying to cope with the physical challenges of their conditions, a study has found. Research led by the University of Plymouth used AI language models to analyse sentiments and emotions expressed by almost 400 paediatric patients and their caregivers on social media. In particular, they wanted to assess young people's opinions regarding their care and experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the impact that had on their emotional and psychological wellbeing. Using anonymous data sourced from the Care Opinion platform, they found that of the narratives analysed, almost 94% of the comments posted were classed as negative and less than 6% were positive. More than six out of 10 negative comments were classed as being associated with sadness, with feelings of fear – at almost one in every six comments – also being prevalent. Children with conditions such as cancer, asthma, chronic pain and mental health conditions showed particularly high emotional distress, highlighting the emotional burden of managing multiple long-term health issues. The Covid-19 pandemic was also shown to exacerbate the negative sentiments, particularly sadness and disgust, with patients expressing frustration with the healthcare system while isolation and disrupted care routines triggered intense emotional responses. While just 6% of the comments were classed as positive, the study found that most of them related to effective communication, compassionate care, and successful treatment outcomes. The researchers say the study highlights the importance of supporting vulnerable young patients managing complex medical conditions, and the need for integrated care approaches to both physical and emotional well-being. Professor of e-Health Shang-Ming Zhou led the research, and its data analysis was carried out by MSc data science and business analytics student Israel Oluwalade. Prof Zhou, a recognised expert in the use of AI to analyse health data, said: 'To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to analyse the sentiments and emotions of paediatric patients using social media data. 'Our findings bring to light the deeply emotional journey patients with multiple long-term health issues go through and fills a critical gap in knowledge for healthcare professionals and agencies. 'It also highlights the disproportionate emotional burden faced by paediatric patients with multiple health issues and their caregivers during the pandemic, showing the need for targeted interventions to address emotional responses during public health emergencies.' Mr Oluwalade added: 'As I worked through the dataset, I was particularly struck by how clearly children's emotional responses aligned with specific comorbidity patterns. 'For example, fear and sadness were especially dominant among those discussing multiple hospital visits or long-term medication. 'What also surprised me most was the unexpectedly high frequency of 'satisfaction' and 'amazement' in posts referencing kind staff or successful treatment episodes. 'It reminded me how digital expressions can reflect not only distress but also resilience and hope, even among young patients with complex conditions.' – The study, Comorbidities and emotions – unpacking the sentiments of paediatric patients with multiple long-term conditions through social media feedback: A large language model-driven study, is published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Children's social media activity ‘highlights stress of living with health issue'
Children with multiple long-term health issues undergo severe emotional stress at the same time as they are trying to cope with the physical challenges of their conditions, a study has found. Research led by the University of Plymouth used AI language models to analyse sentiments and emotions expressed by almost 400 paediatric patients and their caregivers on social media. In particular, they wanted to assess young people's opinions regarding their care and experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the impact that had on their emotional and psychological wellbeing. Using anonymous data sourced from the Care Opinion platform, they found that of the narratives analysed, almost 94% of the comments posted were classed as negative and less than 6% were positive. More than six out of 10 negative comments were classed as being associated with sadness, with feelings of fear – at almost one in every six comments – also being prevalent. Children with conditions such as cancer, asthma, chronic pain and mental health conditions showed particularly high emotional distress, highlighting the emotional burden of managing multiple long-term health issues. The Covid-19 pandemic was also shown to exacerbate the negative sentiments, particularly sadness and disgust, with patients expressing frustration with the healthcare system while isolation and disrupted care routines triggered intense emotional responses. While just 6% of the comments were classed as positive, the study found that most of them related to effective communication, compassionate care, and successful treatment outcomes. The researchers say the study highlights the importance of supporting vulnerable young patients managing complex medical conditions, and the need for integrated care approaches to both physical and emotional well-being. Professor of e-Health Shang-Ming Zhou led the research, and its data analysis was carried out by MSc data science and business analytics student Israel Oluwalade. Prof Zhou, a recognised expert in the use of AI to analyse health data, said: 'To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to analyse the sentiments and emotions of paediatric patients using social media data. 'Our findings bring to light the deeply emotional journey patients with multiple long-term health issues go through and fills a critical gap in knowledge for healthcare professionals and agencies. 'It also highlights the disproportionate emotional burden faced by paediatric patients with multiple health issues and their caregivers during the pandemic, showing the need for targeted interventions to address emotional responses during public health emergencies.' Mr Oluwalade added: 'As I worked through the dataset, I was particularly struck by how clearly children's emotional responses aligned with specific comorbidity patterns. 'For example, fear and sadness were especially dominant among those discussing multiple hospital visits or long-term medication. 'What also surprised me most was the unexpectedly high frequency of 'satisfaction' and 'amazement' in posts referencing kind staff or successful treatment episodes. 'It reminded me how digital expressions can reflect not only distress but also resilience and hope, even among young patients with complex conditions.' – The study, Comorbidities and emotions – unpacking the sentiments of paediatric patients with multiple long-term conditions through social media feedback: A large language model-driven study, is published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
