Got a Personal Problem? Try On-Line Mentoring

Don't Keep It to Yourself! - On Line Mentors will Share your Burden

Aug 14, 2009

When troubles surround us, but we can't tell anybody, they seem to fester and get bigger. On-Line Mentoring offers a chance to offload the burden anonymously.

Life isn't always kind and most people at some time will suffer life problems such as bereavement, loss, redundancy, relationship problems and breakdown. It would be wonderful if everybody had a close and supportive family to help them through such traumatic times, but the truth is that many people feel alone and isolated.

Dealing with Emotional Problems

Emotional problems are, by their very nature, extremely personal, and often they are issues that cannot be divulged to anyone else. A problem that cannot be shared or discussed with another person tends to build up until it seems larger than it really is.

Often people cannot tell others about their difficulties for a various reasons. For example, many people are cut off from their families - and that is part of their problem. Others feel they should not worry their friends or relatives or burden them when they already have their own stuff to deal with. An issue may be too sensitive or embarrassing to tell.

Dealing with Suicidal Feelings

Feeling isolated is one of the main causes of suicidal feelings and attempted suicide. Often those who have suicidal feelings are not genuinely seeking to end their lives, but to end the feelings of pain and anxiety that they are experiencing.

Counseling is one option, but it can be prohibitively expensive at a time when funds may not available - especially if financial worries are part of the problem. One up and coming way of seeking help and support during difficult times is to turn to On-line Mentoring.

What is On-Line Mentoring?

On-line mentoring is the internet equivalent of writing to an Agony Aunt. Using the "open platform" approach, anybody with any form of expertise can offer their services as a mentor, and can also ask for help.

Confidentiality is maintained through the use of pseudonyms or "avatars". Messages are closely monitored for appropriateness and the receiver of mentoring is given an opportunity to rank the usefulness of the advice he has received. Mentors are listed so that potential users can find somebody whom they feel will be able to offer them useful advice.

What is the Best Way to Use On-Line Mentoring?

On line mentoring works on the principle that "more heads are better than one". Trying to deal with issues in isolation is difficult, especially for the young who may not have the life experience they need in order to cope with the difficulties that they are experiencing.

By "shouting out" for help - as it is called on one on line mentoring web site - the advice seeker will receive suggestions from a wide range of people with varying backgrounds, ages, skills and experiences. They will be able to see their problem in a new light and receive some practical solutions.

What Does On-Line Mentoring Cost?

The good news is that some on-line mentoring services are completely free of charge. Often money - or lack of it - is a part of the problem so it is heartening to know that help and support can be obtained freely.

The copyright of the article Got a Personal Problem? Try On-Line Mentoring in Health Field is owned by Christine Fadhley. Permission to republish Got a Personal Problem? Try On-Line Mentoring in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.