Emotion: anxiety
Problem: ongoing depression
Situation: Constant pain from back problems.

assistant: hi, how are you and how can i help?

user: Hi I'm experiencing a lot of anxiety and depression because of constant severe back pain.

assistant: when did this start?

user: About eight years ago.

assistant: i see. have you sought out any medical help with the back pain?

user: Yes, I was supposed to have surgery for it, but it has been cancelled because the hospitals are full due to the coronavirus.

assistant: yeah, this pandemic has thrown a wrench into many people's plans, but hopefully things will ease up soon.

user: I hope so too, but it looks like it's going to be a long time.

assistant: it is a bit daunting when we see the number of infections increasing and people getting sick, but i think it will just be a matter of time before things get better. and hopefully a vaccine will help with the hospitalizations

user: Hopefully, but how to deal with it in the mean time?

assistant: i think you're already taking a step in the right direction by talking to me about your anxiety and depression. i'm amazed that you've been able to just deal with it for 8 years i've had friends who suffered from anxiety and depression, and i've noticed that just talking things through can sometimes help a lot

user: It's been very hard, I've also had to take care of my mother in that time period, but she sadly passed away last march, possibly from the virus and I've been having a hard time processing that grief.

assistant: i'm very sorry to hear about your mother's passing, and a significant loss like that can take some time to process from my experience, it really helps just to open up to someone about the things that are on your mind. even a journal can help. if you have someone who can lend an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on, spending some time with them can help you get your feelings out and might give you a sense of relief

user: That's true, I know many are suffering so much right now and many people have also lost their loved ones. It makes the isolation all the harder trying to handle the grief. It does help to talk, thank you. Do you have any suggestions on how to handle the anxiety?

assistant: personally, i find that hobbies are great for getting your mind off things and keeping yourself occupied means that your mind doesn't wander into dark thoughts

user: That is good advice, I will try to stay busier. Also, do you know of any support groups online that might be helpful?

assistant: just from this limited conversation, it sounds like you're an amazing person and i sincerely commend you for seeking help here and pushing yourself to cope with you loss and pain. i really wish there was more i could do to help but i believe in you ;) this might sound silly, but reddit is a great resource. there are some great support groups there who help each other and lift people up

user: Thank you, I will look there for others going through the same things, it doesn't sound silly at all and you are an amazing person too. Thank you for listening and your thoughtful help.

assistant: you're very welcome, and thank you for your kind words. stay strong and i know you can get through this. i don't know what the rules are on sharing personal contact info here, but i'm happy to be a friend or pen pal if you just need someone to talk to

user: Thanks, you stay strong too! I know this time isn't easy for anyone. I'm just grateful for the few minutes of help here, you really did help. No need to share too many details, I think that going to the reddit forum will lead me to other people in my area that might be able to get together and help each other. Thanks very much for your help and good advice and you have a wonderful evening!