Just had a beneficial conversation on the crisis helpline that helped me to calm down within minutes of contacting them.
So here is your reminder to reach out to
741741
It is a texting number with 24/7 assistance. This is SAFE FOR NON-SUICIDAL CRISIS which is a very important thing to me. It means im not taking up the space of someone else's life when they need it most while i can still get the help and support i need when i need it.
10/10 I will use again the next time i have another spiral or emotiobal breakdown.
Mystery, I know you have a lot going on right now but I need your help. You see I used to be friends with this boy cole, we don’t live in the same state so we would chat over Instagram. But recently his account disappeared. Without a trace, can’t call him, can’t find him. But he was never the kind of guy to leave like that. He was kind, sweet, and caring, and true to his word. But before he disappeared, he acted very “jokery” and I’m just worried he snapped took his own life...
Hello, friend! 😊✋
The first thing that we need to do is to breathe...
In through your nose...
Out through your mouth...
I cannot help if we are in a state of panic, we must align ourselves again to calm...
It’s going to be okay. We need to remind ourselves that when we’re in a situation as such, we cannot always assume the worst.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Things happen. I’ve had problems with this blog before, one where it would say that it no longer exists. Usually it’s an email to tech support to see if my blog here can get back up and running. I’ve had situations like this before where I’ve had social media accounts deleted or not load properly and they’ve ceased to exist. Maybe the Instagram account will appear again soon.
——————————(🕉🔮✨)——————————
Please don’t get upset with me, I shared this with @movie-robotnik-positivity after receiving this message. He wanted to help. This is what he wrote:
“First of all, I’m very sorry about what happened. Cole sounds like a nice person and you like a very caring friend to have.
“I think it’s important to take a breath and try not to immediately assume the worst. An IG account can just be deleted for no reason, or if your friend wasn’t feeling too well, perhaps he needed to disconnect for a little while. There are options to consider…
“Sadly, all that can be done is wait to see if the account returns or if he contacts you. I do need you to promise me not to blame yourself for whatever happened, maybe he’s going through some stuff and needs some time.
“I have hope that Cole is fine. You’re a very good friend...”
——————————(🕉🔮✨)——————————
We must take time to step back and evaluate something here: warning signs of this type of situation.
I have had people in the past that have been down this path. I have been there coaching them through those thoughts—it’s not them. I have known people who have tried and sat with them in hospitals afterwards or waited them outside of their therapy appointments to make sure that they were okay. I have come to recognize warning signs and assure them of their worth, that’s why I make a point in telling people here that they do, in fact, matter and that they are worthy.
I feel the need to be honest here, I’m not entirely sure of what the word “jokery” is implied here. Two things come to my mind; The Joker from Batman and when we bring dark humor into our lives. I think that what is being implied here is, that he may have been holding characteristics similar to The Joker? Am I correct?
Unfortunately, and it pains me to say this, he might need a bit to be left alone. Sometimes when one struggles with the negative voices in their heads, they may need time to quarrel with them on his own. We have battles and journeys in our own lives that need to be taken alone. Some paths are only big enough for one. The best thing that we can do is be there for them when they return.
For you, I ask that you remain hopeful. This is not your fault. I promise. I know that it’s easy to blame yourself in this situation...
“What if I?”
“If only I did this, maybe this wouldn’t happened...”
“If only...”
It may not be much, but you were there for them back then. Cole will remember that. He may need some time to have a conversation with himself and think about what is right for him. If he returns, give him this address: “Dépression Hotline Numbers.” There are options there where he can call and/or text a therapist if needed. I’ve given this to some and I e been told it helps.
If Cole really is gone, then I’m sorry that you’ve lost a friend. Do not cry because it’s over, do not grow angry with yourself, appreciate the time that you’ve had with them and cherish the memories. Remember them as you always have and hold their memories dear to your heart.
It’s going to be okay.
Give it a day or two for the account to appear again.
Full body reference of Help Line ... On My way of making one for Senomaj.
She is a therapist who specializes in the treatment of stress and depression. She will hug you and give you support when you feel your lowest, and she will help you with your anxiety.
Inspired by this post, as requested by @lilyvandersteen
As a side note, I know literally nothing to how the netflix help service works, so let’s call of this artistic license ;)
On AO3
“Come on, come on, work this time …”
This is, officially, Kurt’s worst night ever.
And to think, he kept his expectations so low too: all Kurt wanted for this Monday night was to come home, reheat a soup he had in the freezer, and binge-watch The Good Place with a bowl of ice cream afterward.
Was that so much to ask?
Apparently, yes. Because his Netflix is not working.
It’s not a matter of unpaid bill, that’s certain. He already unplugged and replugged his provider’s box, so why doesn’t it work, for fuck’s sake?
Kurt doesn’t cry often, but this time, when the white screen with a big “ERROR” appears again, he feels like bawling like a baby.
Before going to that extremity, though, he has one more chance.
The Hotline.
Also known as the 8th level of Hell, by all users and customers worldwide, but he has no other option at this point.
So Kurt dials up and puts his phone on speaker.
Twenty-one minutes later, the waiting music stops and a perky male voice echoes in his living room.
“Thank you for your patience and welcome to the Netflix hotline. I’m Blaine, here to help you.”
“Oh!” Kurt didn’t expect someone with such a … positive attitude. “Hi. Hello. I’m--I’m Kurt.”
“Good evening, Kurt. Can you confirm your address and your subscription?”
Kurt gives him all the correct information.
“And before you ask me, I already tried turning it off and back on,” he adds just as Blaine seems to launch into his next question.
“Oh. Alright then. That already makes you my favorite customer of the evening.”
“You don’t say.”
“There is major network problem in your area right now, but we have found out a way to regulate that. But having to explain to some of our, err, older users how to use their remote …”
Kurt lets out a surprised laugh.
Blaine laughs too, a small but warm chuckle, before clearing his throat. “Right. Back to your issue. So, what you need to do is …”
What follows is almost half an hour of Blaine gently guiding Kurt through plugs and buttons, all while doing tests and manipulations on his own side of things.
And then, finally, miracle of miracles, the big, red N appears and lets him in the menu.
“Yeah!” Kurt exclaims, and Blaine sighs in relief. “You fixed it!”
“I’m glad it worked,” Blaine replies. “Maybe we can … try it out? To make sure the problem is gone for good?”
“Try it out?” Kurt repeats, a smile forming on his lips without him realizing it. Through the whole ordeal, Blaine has never lost his cool, being gentle and supportive and, yes, charming. “Like, watch a movie or something?”
“Or something.”
“That is very … thorough of you. Do you hang out with all your customers in need, Blaine?”
“Err. No. Only the ones who don’t insult me and my ancestors and laugh at my jokes.”
“I feel privileged.”
“You should.”
“Oh.”
“And, um, if we’re being honest, I need to tell you that you’re probably the most interesting person I’ve talked with all day.”
“Oh!”
“Now, um, what could we watch to test my repairing superpower?”
“What about ‘When Harry Meets Sally’?”
“Excellent taste, Mr. Hummel.”
Kurt grins at his phone. “You flatterer.”
“Gets you everywhere.”
Kurt lets the movie load before starting it, snatching his snack box from under the couch.
“Are you munching on something?” Blaine asks as the credits roll at the beginning of the movie.
Kurt looks down at his lap. He has a bag of pretzels and a bag of M&M’s opened, and he mixes them.
“I am. Is my speaker that finely tuned?”
“It is. I’m jealous.”
“Don’t have snacks?”
Blaine snorts. “I have been forbidden from having snacks in my cubicle.”
Kurt openly laughs. “Is it that bad?”
“Oh, it is. I have a tendency of mixing snacks together and it bothers my colleagues.”
“Mixing?”
“Sweet and salty. The last straw was when I dipped potato chips in Nutella.”
“Oh but that sounds delicious!”
The movie goes by while they chat--except for some key scenes, where Kurt and Blaine can recite the lines in perfect synchronisation.
“Well, Kurt,” Blaine says when the movie is over, “it seems like everything works perfectly now.”
“So it seems.”
“Did you have another question for--”
“What will I do if it stops working unexpectedly?”
“--me, oh. Well. You can always call back. Either one of my colleagues or me will be delighted to help you.”
Kurt can feel his face turning red. “But what if I want to be sure you help me?”
“I--”
“Because you did it so well, and with such gentleness.”
Kurt would swear he can hear Blaine smiling, even though he doesn’t know what Blaine looks like. It doesn’t matter.
“That is very kind of you to say, Kurt. And if you could just say that when they send you the automatic email to check on your contentment level …”
“Of course.”
“But if, um, if you want to be sure to contact me to check on your Netflix, maybe I could …”
“Yes?”
“Give you my personal number?”
“Is that the usual protocol?”
Blaine doesn’t speak up, and Kurt has his answer.
Blaine sighs. “I’m sorry if I overstepped or misunderstood …”
“No!” Kurt exclaims. “No, no, you didn’t. I just--you surprised me.”
“Ah. So …?”
“So I would be honored to have your phone number, for my … peace of mind.”
“For your peace of mind.”
Blaine gives Kurt his number, and it is definitely a New York area code.
“Well, Kurt, if that is all,” Blaine says, his voice changing to his earlier “corporate voice”, “on behalf of Netflix, I thank you for choosing our services and I hope you’ll have a pleasant evening.”
“You too, Blaine,” Kurt says softly before hanging up.
Kurt looks around his empty apartment, looking for a witness, but the only other presence is the glow of his TV, where Harry and Sally look at each other.
“Was that a date?” he asks aloud, but alas, the characters stay quiet.
Where are Santana and Mercedes when he needs them?!
#
The interaction stays on Kurt’s mind for days. It wasn’t just Blaine’s niceness, but his humor, his comments, his laugh …
They’re occupying every single one of his thoughts, to Santana and Mercedes’ long suffering.
“Okay, Kurt, you know I love you,” Mercedes starts one evening where all he did was sighing when they turned Netflix on, “but enough is enough. Either call him and get a date, or go out and get yourself a man--”
“Or go out to a club and get litteraly fucked,” Santana calls from the kitchen where she is in charge tonight.
Mercedes glares in her direction. “No need to be crass, ‘Tana, but yeah, it is the gist of it. Either do something about your Netflix Boy or shut up about him.”
Kurt pouts at her, crossing his arms over his body pillow. “I haven’t talked about him that much.”
Both women give him a look of such condescension that all he can do is flee the room.
And dial the number.
(Turns out, Blaine was slowly driving his own roommate crazy with his description of the Customer Who Went Away.
Kurt apologizes by asking him for a coffee.
And then another.
And another.
Until he knows what Blaine is going to order simply by looking at him, and until Blaine knows Kurt’s coffee order down to the extra drop of caramel syrup.
And then they go to the movies.
And to the restaurant.
Until Blaine asks Kurt to come to his place for a Netflix date.
Where they don’t spend that much time actually looking at the Netflix menu and dedicate a lot of the date on the “chilling” part of the popular saying.)
