I have always had great outcomes from using crisis centers and hot lines and I have been using them since I was told about them during health class in jr high some 25-30 years ago. The key to them for me is that right when they pick up the phone I tell them exactly what I need from them be it just someone to stay on the line with me or more in depth help with a specific problem. For example one night I called one and said hi I just woke up from a nightmare in a panic attack I need to hear a live persons voice can you stay on the line with me? The person let me know it was a slow night and she would be glad to stay on as long as I needed her. we ended up staying on the phone for 2 hours she was taking calls from the office not in her home so she had access to the agencies courage to heal book and I grabbed mine and we went through a few things in it until her next call came in. Other times I have called in with more detailed problems and they were having a busy night so I had her page the professional on call and that person called me from her home so that they could give me the time I needed. Sometimes Im on the phone with a hotline only a few minutes other times hours. and they have always been receptive and supportive and open with me. Maybe its because I go into my conversations on the phone like I do my therapy with the frame of mind that the process is only as good as what the client puts into it. They may be the trained professionals but they aren't mind readers and they can't tell over the phone what I am feeling by facial expressions and body language so I need to be clear on why I am calling and what I need from them right from the beginning of the conversation in order to get what I need out of the situation.