Going through a tough situation at work can be especially difficult when you feel like you have nowhere to turn to talk to about it. Some people don’t hesitate to speak out to their family, friends, or therapists. They may have a supportive environment or feel like they might explode if they don’t say something. But for many workers, reaching out for help can seem like a draining and daunting task. They  shrug off their bad work situations and say “I’ll deal with it on my own.”

Many people who reach out to the Empower Work text line say they don’t want to be a burden to their family and friends, don’t want to attend therapy, and navigating a situation on their own is complicated.

A lot of people underestimate the power of reaching out, asking for support, and venting to someone who is impartial to your situation. There is no reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed  about asking for help.  In fact, keeping your emotions and feelings bottled up can even hurt your mental health. 

As one Empower Work user shared:

“I feel a little better by talking about what I'm experiencing…I've built up a wall that I try to convince myself everything is okay when it's not. So that's what I do. I smile and pretend and never deal with anything until it's too much.”

When your friends and family just don’t get it

Sometimes, people do feel comfortable enough to reach out and speak to a trusted family member or a friend. But, in some cases, that can make a situation worse. 

Family members and friends can make insensitive comments, fail to use careful or considerate language, misunderstand the information you share, or minimize the situation, which could leave you feeling unheard or like a burden. 

As Empower Work users have shared: 

“They (my family) understand my situation but they don’t agree with me just quitting because you have a bad manager, as opposed to...being patient with him.”

“Thank you because my family did not believe that I was being treated like that until they found me in my house out of control.”

“I am here - I guess to vent because everyone is tired of hearing me. And I feel secluded in the workplace.”

“I'm just frustrated and tired of this. I know it isn't worth my time or energy and that I need to move past it and not let it bother me. Plus, I don't have anyone to vent to!”

When you feel like you have no one to talk to and you’re struggling at work, it can leave you feeling isolated and stuck at work. 

Empower Work peer counselors are always here

Whether you’ve tried reaching out to family and friends or you feel like there’s no one you can talk to, reaching out about your work issues can feel complicated. That’s why Empower Work exists — to support those who are feeling stuck. Our peer counselors are trained to listen without judgment, help you come up with solutions, and support you as you take your next steps. 

People often feel relieved, less stressed, and ready to take action after a conversation with a peer counselor. 

As Empower Work users have shared: 

“Chatting has really helped! I've talked to a lot of people, but you asked questions that didn't make me more upset actually, which helped!”

“Thank you for being a sounding board for me in the midst of a truly horrible, awful, depressing work situation. You helped me figure out my next steps toward an exit strategy so I didn’t feel quite like I was drowning. You rock!”

"My peer counselor helped me think through my goals, and made me feel better about my situation. I felt heard and not judged. It was like a good therapy session all on my phone." 

The feeling of relief after a conversation

At Empower Work, we hear from workers who are experiencing discrimination, feelings of stress and anxiety, feeling unappreciated, harassment, job insecurity, bullying, and more work issues. This can be a lot to carry on your own and no one should have to go through these experiences alone. 

It’s normal to feel hesitant and nervous before starting a conversation with someone about a work issue. Sometimes people realize after having a conversation with a peer counselor, that all they needed to do was vent about their situation. 

As Empower Work users have shared: 

“Thanks for letting me vent”

“I am hoping maybe I can use you guys as a "vent" of sorts. To let out the stuff I have to bottle at work.”

“I appreciate the space to vent my frustrations and your time as a volunteer.”

At Empower Work, we believe everyone deserves to feel included, safe, and empowered in the workplace. People find that after a conversation with a peer counselor, they feel a sense of relief, whether they just wanted to chat or they wanted support in taking the next steps. 

As one Empower Work user shared: 

“Thank you so much. It means a lot. It's been very difficult but I think when everything is said and done I will feel so much relief. 100% everything happens in perfect timing and I will be in a place that I feel appreciated and happy in. I have before in a workplace so I know it exists.”

Life at work after reaching out

After reaching out to a peer counselor on our text line, you will find that life can become much better at work once you express your feelings. 

Every conversation and experience on the line is different, therefore we’ve seen a variety of solutions and outcomes. We often hear from people who just need someone to talk to and their solution is having an outlet. 

Some benefits of a conversation with a peer counselor are  speaking to someone who’s impartial to your situation, seeing another perspective, seeing your options more clearly, or hearing an idea you might not have thought of yet. Whatever the outcome of a conversation might be, you’re not alone — our peer counselors will support you every step of the way. 

Reaching out and talking about your experience at work can improve your mental health, work environment, and your productivity at work.

After reaching out to our text line at 510-674-1414, people have reported feeling more in control of their situation, feeling relieved after venting, ready to take next steps, and feeling more productive and motivated to go to work. 

As Empower Work users have shared: 

"I felt like I had been heard. The plan I worked out with the counselor left me feeling more in control of my problems.”

“I feel better now & an urge to work harder, thank you so much.”

“You've helped me realize I have less to lose with pursuing the promotion.”

“Feeling a little better - I'm just glad that I was able to talk in a safe space about this. I need to work through this myself a little more before I feel comfortable talking with my coworkers and bosses about it.”

“I feel better.  I feel like I have at least a way to manage those feelings.  When I think about it, I think maybe I put a lot more pressure on myself to accomplish things than I need too.”

“You have been very helpful in this process of untangling things and helping me distill what I need and strategies for success in that conversation."

If you or someone you know is struggling at work, text 510-674-1414 to chat with a trained peer counselor. 

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*Note: Empower Work provides non-legal support for workplace challenges. This information, while authoritative, is not legal advice or guaranteed for legality. Employment laws and regulations vary by state. We recommend consulting with state resources for specific interpretation and decisions. If you believe you were discriminated against in violation of the law, we recommend you seek legal advice.