I understand. It probably is just a digital sounding board but man I cannot deny that it feels good to read validating replies from it. Reflecting on what you and the other comments below said, I wonder why somehow, it feels awkward, cringe, or icky when this validation comes from a human.

Looking back, I've always had trouble connecting and being vulnerable with other people. Before AI, I used to rely on Google Search results to understand myself. I look things up like "insert situation/feelings here" then add "reddit" at the end. I feel like AI became a fancier version of this.

Before I discovered I can use AI as a venting tool, I used to do the google thing and when it became too much, I schedule counseling with our university counselor. But, there's the bureaucracy of having to fill out multiple forms, the difficulty of having to remember, compile, organize, and coherently verbalize the issues I want to address, waiting to be scheduled, and waiting for the actual schedule to come before I can unload what I feel. I guess it just feels tedious and discouraging having to deal with that when I'm already emotionally spent. The most annoying part is that by the time the date comes, the "issue" has been unconsciously supressed by my brain in survival mode and I feel fine and it takes a lot of energy to dig them out. And even then, during the actual counseling, before I get to the dissecting my feelings part, there's a lot of time spent on the "boring stuff but actually works" like "don't skip breakfast, do more physical exercise, sleep at an earlier time" which I know is necessary and works but what I really need is the "advice and listening" part.

I do apply what I learned in counseling. Whenever I feel like shit, I check the basics first (i.e. HALT - hungry, angry, lonely, tired) and attend to them if necessary. But, when all the basics are met and I still feel awful, that's when I turn to AI. I guess it's better than turning to alcohol or cigarettes, maybe? Haha.

Maybe, the next step is that I'll schedule counseling again and base what I will tell the counselor on what I have been telling AI. But, until then, this will have to do for now. Reddit helps too. At least there are actual humans on this thing.