Small steps · questions
Questions people ask.
Real questions, answered from what worked for real people — every answer cites the small steps and organizations it draws on.
It sounds heavy. We’re here.
In the US
In the UK · Samaritans
Worried about someone else? What helps →
In the US · National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-7233Text START to 88788
In the UK · National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge)
For men in the UK · Men’s Advice Line Lines open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Need somewhere safe to sleep tonight? What to do, step by step →
More lines: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
In Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland · your nation’s own 24-hour line
Scotland: 0800 027 1234Wales: 0808 80 10 800Northern Ireland (18+): 0808 802 1414
In the US · Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
Call 1-800-422-4453Text GO to 1-800-422-4453
In the UK · Childline
An adult worried about a child? Childhelp takes those calls too. In the UK: NSPCC, 0808 800 5000, 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Under 18 and told to leave home, or not safe there? What to do, step by step →
More: Childline’s online chat
Can’t talk out loud? Childline’s 1-2-1 chat → You make a free account first (no email needed).
It was not your fault.
In the US · RAINN — National Sexual Assault Hotline
Call 1-800-656-4673Text HOPE to 64673
In England and Wales · Rape Crisis (16+)
18 or under in the UK? Childline, any time: 0800 1111.
More lines: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
In Scotland · Rape Crisis Scotland (13+) Lines open every day, 5pm to midnight
Call 08088 01 03 02Text 07537 410 027
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
In Wales or Northern Ireland · 24-hour lines that cover sexual violence
Followed, watched or harassed? What to do, step by step →
In the US · VictimConnect Resource Center
Call 1-855-484-2846Text 1-855-484-2846
In the UK · National Stalking Helpline (Suzy Lamplugh Trust) Lines open Monday and Wednesday, 9:30am to 8pm. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:30am to 4pm
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Someone sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images of you?
StopNCII.org (18+): help stop them being shared online →
In the UK · Revenge Porn Helpline (18+) Lines open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, excluding bank holidays
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Under 18 in the images? In the UK, Childline can help you get them removed (Report Remove): 0800 1111. In the US, NCMEC can point you to Take It Down, any time: 1-800-843-5678.
Forced or tricked into work or sex?
In the US · National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888Text 233733
In the UK · Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline (Unseen) Lines open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday (reduced hours until further notice)
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
An older person being hurt, neglected or exploited?
In the UK · Hourglass (older people and abuse)
Call 0808 808 8141Free text 078 6005 2906
If any of this is about you: call 988 in the US or Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK. In danger: 911 / 999. Someone to talk to →
Afraid of someone at home? Domestic abuse lines → Worried someone checks this device? Browse more privately →
About a child? Childline 0800 1111 in the UK, Childhelp 1-800-422-4453 in the US.
Sexual assault: RAINN 1-800-656-4673 in the US, Rape Crisis 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales.
In danger now: 911 in the US, 999 in the UK.
A teen or young adult in the US? Love Is Respect, any time: 1-866-331-9474, or text LOVEIS to 22522.
18 or under in the UK? Childline, any time: 0800 1111.
If you’re over 18: domestic abuse lines →
Worried someone checks this device? How to browse more privately →
Someone to talk to, and more →
Thinking of ending your life, or in danger? 988 (US) · Samaritans 116 123 (UK) · 911 / 999
Money
- Am I allowed to use food help, or is it for people worse off?
- Can we afford to have a baby?
- Do I need to pay someone to do my taxes?
- How can I tell if reviews and labels are lying to me?
- How do I arrange a funeral without being taken advantage of?
- How do I buy a used car without getting burned?
- How do I check what I'm actually getting before I buy or sell?
- How do I cut my subscriptions without missing them?
- How do I cut my water and energy bills without buying anything?
- How do I cut what college costs me?
- How do I destroy old documents and protect my identity?
- How do I do Halloween without spending much?
- How do I fly cheaper without getting caught out?
- How do I freeze my credit, and how do I know if my email was in a breach?
- How do I get a company to fix it, cancel it, or lower the bill?
- How do I get through the airport without paying extra?
- How do I give the kids a good weekend without spending much?
- How do I handle Christmas when money is tight?
- How do I look ready for work when money is tight?
- How do I make a big purchase without being sold to?
- How do I start saving when there’s nothing left at the end of the month?
- How do I stop impulse-buying at the grocery store?
- How do I travel cheaper, and keep the trip afterwards?
- How do I wrap presents without buying wrapping paper?
- I can’t pay my rent this month — what do I do?
- I got a medical bill I can’t pay — what now?
- I got a shutoff notice, court papers or a denial letter — what do I do before the date?
- Is this call, text or email a scam — and what if I already paid?
- My credit card is costing me too much — what actually helps?
- My family wants me to co-sign a loan, or I’m thinking of adding my child to my credit card — what should I know first?
- My parents keep asking me for money — how do I help without going under?
- No internet at home — what are my options?
- Should I buy the expensive version or the cheap one?
- What can I fix instead of replacing?
- What should I give for a new baby, a new home, or when I send flowers?
- What should I never buy secondhand?
- What’s free at the library that I’m not using?
- Where can I get a wheelchair, walker, or crutches cheap?
- Which car jobs can I do myself, and which should I leave to a garage?
- Why am I always broke before payday even though I budget?
- Why is my utility bill so high?
- Will a garden actually save me money on food?
Home
- How do I approach a dog I don’t know?
- How do I become a calmer, safer driver?
- How do I drive safely in bad weather?
- How do I find a cheap apartment I won’t regret?
- How do I fix the laundry problems I keep having?
- How do I furnish a place with almost no money?
- How do I get my security deposit back?
- How do I get rid of mice and roaches for good?
- How do I help the wild animals around my home without hurting them?
- How do I keep my pet safe from poisons and fireworks?
- How do I keep the kitchen clean without a cupboard full of sprays?
- How do I measure, convert and work out percentages in my head?
- How do I start a garden with no money?
- How do I stay safe meeting a stranger from an online marketplace?
- How do I stay warm this winter without a huge bill?
- How do I stop the clutter coming back?
- How do I stop the small things that wreck a night’s sleep?
- I'm sleeping in my car — how do I stay safe and get help?
- My car won’t start, or the engine light came on. What do I do?
- My landlord won’t fix things — what can I do?
- My parents have told me to leave home — who do I call first?
- My phone or laptop is dying — what do I try before replacing it?
- My rented home has mould, a noisy neighbour or a rent rise — what can I actually do?
- Someone is in trouble in front of me. What do I actually do?
- Someone is tailgating me — what do I do?
- The power or heat is off. How do I stay warm?
- What actually works on flies, fruit flies, mosquitoes and bed bugs?
- What do I do about deer, big trucks, deep snow and floodwater on the road?
- What do I do in the first minute of an emergency — a fire at night, a tornado warning, a rip current, a call for help?
- What do I do right after a car accident?
- What do I say when the police pull me over?
- What should every home have ready for an emergency?
- What should I do first when I move into a new place?
- What should I set up now in case my phone dies, gets lost or has no signal?
- Which home repairs are safe to do myself, and which are not?
- Which kitchen habits actually prevent a fire or a burn?
- Which online privacy habits are actually worth the bother?
- Which records should I keep for myself?
- Which small safety habits are worth picking up?
Habits
- How do I do better in a class without studying more hours?
- How do I get a lost habit back without the January version?
- How do I keep exercising without hurting myself or feeling watched?
- How do I quit a habit without white-knuckling it?
- How do I start exercising when I hate it?
- How do I start learning something new as an adult?
- How do I stop hitting snooze and actually get up?
- How do I stop watching YouTube all night?
- How do I take photos people like, and look like myself in them?
- I keep putting off important tasks — how do I start?
- I keep starting over every Monday — how do I stop restarting?
- I quit scrolling and now I’m bored — what do I do with the time?
- I want to do some good. Where does it actually land?
- Is my gaming a problem, and how do I cut back?
- What did people fix about getting ready in the morning?
- Why can’t I start even easy tasks, and what actually helps?
- Why do I keep playing a game I’m not even enjoying?
- Why does dreading a task hurt more than doing it?
Relationships
- A friend is going through something hard — what do I say?
- Am I talking too much?
- Do I need a drink to be social, and what if I don’t want one?
- How do I argue without it turning into a fight?
- How do I care for an aging parent without taking their dignity?
- How do I get through the early stage of dating without losing my head?
- How do I give a compliment without it being awkward or creepy?
- How do I help my child along without pushing?
- How do I help someone without putting them on the spot?
- How do I keep a conversation going when I never know what to say?
- How do I keep distance from family without cutting them off?
- How do I keep friendships without them draining me?
- How do I know when to cut someone off?
- How do I know whether to stay in this relationship?
- How do I leave without the guilt deciding for me?
- How do I make friends as an adult?
- How do I make friends when I feel like the odd one out?
- How do I make time for the older people in my life?
- How do I set a boundary without ending the friendship?
- How do I stop cancelling plans because I’m anxious?
- How do I support a friend without trying to fix them?
- How do I talk to people when I'm shy?
- How do I tell a story or recommend something without losing the room?
- How do we stop having the same small fight?
- I cut off toxic friends and now I’m alone — was that wrong?
- I cut someone off and I miss them — is that normal?
- I forgot their name — how do I fix it without making it weird?
- I have friends but still feel lonely — why?
- I’ll be alone this holiday — how do I get through it?
- I’m furious — should I say something now or wait?
- Is my friendship one-sided, and what do I do about it?
- My boss calls me “buddy” and I hate it — what do I do?
- My parents did their best and it still hurt. How do I hold both?
- Someone I know is grieving or in hospital — what can I actually do?
- Someone made a joke at my expense, or one I hate. What do I do?
- Someone snapped at me and I can’t stop replaying it — what do I do?
- Was my relationship a waste of time?
- Which questions open a conversation, and which close it?
- Why do I say sorry for everything, and how do I stop?
- Why do my conversations feel like a performance, and how do I stop grading them?
- Why does no one ever invite me, and what can I do about it?
- Will I ever find someone, and why do I keep ending up with the wrong people?
Work
- A recruiter is promising me a lot. What can I actually count on?
- Am I being paid fairly, and what can I do about it?
- Do I have to go in when I’m sick, or do a task that isn’t safe?
- How do I get through the dead hours of the working day?
- How do I say no at work without looking lazy?
- How do I speak up at work when I’m the quiet one?
- How do I stop making embarrassing email mistakes?
- How do I stop sending messages I regret?
- How do I talk about pay for a new job?
- I just lost my job — what do I do this week?
- I made a mistake at work — do I tell my boss?
- I started a new job and feel like I know nothing — is that normal?
- My job is toxic — do I quit or fight?
- Should I apply if I don’t meet all the requirements?
- Which small office skills are worth learning first?
Food
- How do I buy fruit, vegetables and tinned fish well when money is tight?
- How do I eat out or have people over when money is tight?
- How do I eat well on almost no money?
- How do I make cheap food taste homemade?
- How do I make groceries last the whole week without throwing food away?
- I have no money for groceries — where do I start?
- Meat is too expensive now — how do I still eat it?
- What do I do with the half I didn’t use?
- What do I eat when I’m too tired to cook, and how do I keep it safe?
- Why does my cooking keep going wrong in the same small ways?
Wellbeing
- Am I an introvert, or is it social anxiety?
- How do I actually become more confident?
- How do I cut down or stop drinking or cannabis safely?
- How do I eat and drink a bit better without going on a diet?
- How do I get home safely after a night out?
- How do I get my doctor or therapist to actually listen to me?
- How do I get out of a thought loop without arguing with it?
- How do I get through a shift on my feet?
- How do I keep my friends while I’m depressed?
- How do I keep my kids safe when we’re out — crowds, bikes, the road and the water?
- How do I look after my eyes and ears without buying gadgets?
- How do I look after my teeth when the dentist is expensive or frightening?
- How do I stay safe on a night out?
- How do I stop being so judgmental?
- How do I stop believing my negative thoughts?
- How do I stop putting myself down all the time?
- How do I take criticism without falling apart?
- How do I work out what actually matters to me?
- How do people come back from their lowest point?
- I can’t afford therapy — what can I do instead?
- I can't put on weight. What should I try, and when is it a doctor's question?
- I can’t sleep and my mind won’t stop racing — what do I do at 2am?
- I feel like I wasted my potential — how do I live with that?
- I shower every day and still smell. What is going on?
- Is it ADHD, autism, or something else, and how do I find out?
- Is it bad that I still live with my parents?
- Money stress is keeping me up at night — what helps?
- My body embarrasses me in public. What did people do about the blush, the stomach and the smell?
- My perfectionism stops me finishing anything — how do I get past it?
- Nothing is wrong and I feel nothing. What did people find underneath it?
- Should I stay in the room when my pet is put to sleep?
- What actually helps when I have a cold?
- What bathroom habits do people wish they had changed years earlier?
- What do people actually do on a hard day that helps?
- What helps with everyday aches, cramps and dizziness?
- When should I see a doctor about anxiety or anger?
- Who am I when I stop performing for other people?
- Why am I always tired?
- Why do I eat when I’m not hungry, or get so hungry at night?
- Why do I feel poor compared to my friends?
- Why does other people’s success make me feel like a failure?
- Why does the same thought keep coming back, and how do I stop feeding it?
- Why does the year feel like it vanished, and how do I slow it down?
- Will changing how I look fix how I feel about myself?