Signs You May Be Struggling To Cope | Samaritans

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Signs you may be struggling to cope

Things to look out for in yourself when you're finding everyday life hard.

Maybe you can't quite put your finger on it, but you’re not feeling okay.

You might be feeling tired more often, be feeling emotional, and you might not want to do the things that you usually enjoy right now.

Struggling to cope with everyday life doesn’t look or feel the same in everyone. We can’t generalise about how it'll make you feel or act.

Samaritans are here to listen. You can call us on 116 123, email us at [email protected] or write us a letter.

You don’t have to feel suicidal to get in touch. Only 1 person in 5 who calls Samaritans says that they feel suicidal.

Read our tips

Practical ways to help yourself cope

Signs to look out for

• Lacking energy or feeling tired
• Feeling exhausted all the time
• Experiencing 'brain fog', find it hard to think clearly
• Finding it hard to concentrate
• Feeling restless and agitated
• Feeling tearful, wanting to cry all the time
• Not wanting to talk to or be with people
• Not wanting to do things you usually enjoy
• Using alcohol or drugs to cope with feelings
• Finding it hard to cope with everyday things and tasks
• Experiencing 'burn out'

If you don’t see what you’re feeling on this list, please still get in touch. You might also find our suggestions and tips for ways to help yourself cope useful.

And if you do think these symptoms sound like you, or someone you know, please still get in touch on 116 123, at [email protected], or in another way that suits you.

If you're worried about someone else, we can help too.

• Call us
• Visit a branch
• Write a letter
• Email us
• Welsh language

Call us

Whatever you're going through, call us free any time, from any phone, on 116 123.

Benefits

• Free
• One-to-one
• Open 24 hours a day

Maybe not if...

• You have patchy phone signal
• You prefer to write things down
• You're looking for advice

Call us any time, day or night 116 123

116 123 Call us any time, day or night Find out more

Visit a branch

Speak to a Samaritan face-to-face

Benefits

• Meet face-to-face
• Safe branch environment
• Branches all around the UK and ROI

Maybe not if...

• You need urgent support right now
• You need support outside opening hours
• You prefer to stay anonymous

Find a branch

Visit us in person Find a branch Visit us in person Find out more

Write a letter

Sometimes writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you better understand them.

Benefits

• Free
• Time to compose your thoughts
• Time to reflect between letters

Maybe not if...

• You need urgent support right now
• You have no fixed address
• It's hard for you to post a letter

Write to us

Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS

Write to us Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS, , , Find out more

Email us

Sometimes writing things down and taking some time to reflect can help you understand them better.

Benefits

• Time to compose your thoughts
• No need to respond right away
• Work things through over time

Maybe not if...

• You need urgent support right now
• You want to talk things through in one go
• You want to speak to the same person throughout

[email protected]

Response time: It may take several days to get a response by email

[email protected] Response time: It may take several days to get a response by email Find out more

Welsh language

If you would like emotional support in Welsh, we have a Welsh Language Line which is free to call. We also have a letter writing service in Welsh.

Call now 0808 164 0123

0808 164 0123 Call now Find out more

Practical ways to help yourself cope

Information on what to do if you're feeling low or struggling to cope.

If you want to self-harm

Whether you sometimes think about self-harm, or you’ve already hurt yourself, we’re here. Read more about how we can help.

I want to kill myself

Suicidal thoughts can be complex, frightening and confusing.