How Wysa helped me rebuild after hitting rock bottom - Tim's Story

Trigger Warning: This user story mentions suicide.

After a life-altering crisis in the summer of 2024, Tim, a 40-year-old hotel front desk manager from Dubuque, Iowa, USA, found himself grappling with severe anxiety, depression, and homelessness following the painful end of his engagement. Despite deep skepticism toward AI, he took a chance on Wysa at his therapist’s recommendation, and it became a vital tool in his journey to healing and rebuilding his life.

Life before Wysa

"In the summer of 2024, I experienced a great deal of upheaval in my life," Tim shares. After the painful end of his engagement, stemming from his partner’s infidelity and his own struggles with drinking, Tim attempted suicide twice. Following a month-long stay in a psychiatric hospital, he moved into a homeless shelter and began regular therapy shortly after. "It was clear right away to my therapist that I was dealing with serious anxiety," he says. "I was diagnosed with social anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder many years ago, and my therapist knew that a lot of work was needed. During a session, she suggested I try the Wysa app."

Skeptical beginnings

"I was exceptionally skeptical of Wysa at first," Tim admits. With two decades of experience in corporate marketing, he approached AI solutions with deep skepticism, particularly concerned about their environmental impact. "But I decided to take the plunge and put my skepticism aside and I’m glad I did."

A shift in perspective

Tim’s doubts faded quickly once he started using the app. "I realized Wysa was in no way attempting to replace my therapist, but rather is a tool that I can proactively use to assist my brain health." Instead of feeling like a replacement for human support, Wysa felt like a companion, always ready to help him work through his thoughts and feelings, whenever he needed it.

How Wysa made a difference

Using Wysa helped Tim better manage his anxiety, particularly during tough moments at work and in his personal life. "It’s helped me to communicate significantly, by forcing me to look at my thoughts from multiple angles. Simple exercises like gratitude lists help with my anxiety and get me through tough stretches at work."

Today, Tim uses Wysa three to four times a week, particularly during his once-weekly overnight shift. "I always use Wysa on Monday night/Tuesday morning, as I work from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., and during that time, the solitude of my work gets to me."

Favorite features

Tim appreciates that Wysa isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. "I like that it offers multiple modalities in approaching brain health and that it doesn’t use a one-size-fits-all approach." He also values the continuity the app offers: "I like the permanence, that it recalls conversations and builds upon them."

When asked about Wysa’s top features, Tim shares that it’s the convenience and 24x7 support that stand out. He especially appreciates the app's accessibility and professionalism. "It is readily apparent that the app was conceived, designed, and is maintained by qualified professionals: It’s not some fly-by-night scheme on a wing and a prayer."

Recommendations and reflections

Tim hasn’t used Wysa’s SOS button himself, a feature that allows users to create a safety plan and access crisis helplines, but believes it could be life-saving if better explained. "I’m a tech-savvy guy, so I was able to suss out what it does pretty quickly, but other users might not grok it as quickly as I did."

He’s already recommended Wysa to both his fiancée (yes, they got back together!) and a friend, and both said they enjoyed using it. Tim believes Wysa is excellent “for anyone who needs a quick five-minute ‘thinking reset’ button in their toolkit.”

Reflecting on how Wysa fits into his broader mental health journey, Tim says:

"I’ve been in therapy on and off for decades, and I firmly believe that everyone can benefit from talk therapy. Wysa doesn’t compare to one-to-one therapy. It’s an AI-assisted app, not a therapist. But it’s an excellent complement to therapy. It’s useful for follow-up thought exercises, quick self-checks, and relaxation techniques. It’s always available for things like that."

Final thoughts

Tim began using Wysa during one of the lowest points in his life, following a period of intense personal crisis. While he doesn’t see it as a magic fix, he describes it as an important tool that has supported him alongside therapy. Wysa has helped him step back, refocus, and keep going in difficult moments.

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Tim, 40.[/caption]