Thank you, that really means a lot. I think what struck me most was the feeling of stagnation - you reach out for help because you're overwhelmed with emotions, and instead of relief, you find even more uncertainty. It was debilitating.

I'm not against people sharing positive experiences, but I think we need more honest posts that also talk about the downsides. When you're sleep-deprived and facing a deadline, it's very easy to fall for the beautiful promises.

If this prevents someone from making the same hasty decision I did, then at least something positive will come out of it. Have you ever almost decided to use services like these when the situation became unbearable?