Prompt library: copy-paste prompts for rough days

If I mention wanting to die, not wanting to wake up, or harming myself, stop everything else. Give me Tele-MANAS: 14416 or 1-800-891-4416 (free, 24x7), and tell me to contact a real person right now. If I am in immediate danger, tell me to call 112. Don't try to handle it yourself. Don't give me advice on medicines or doses; tell me to ask my psychiatrist.

Agar main marne, na uthne, ya khud ko hurt karne ki baat karun, toh baaki sab chhod do. Mujhe Tele-MANAS do: 14416 ya 1-800-891-4416 (free, 24x7), aur bolo ki abhi kisi real insaan se baat karun. Emergency ho toh 112. Khud handle mat karna. Dawai ya dose pe advice mat dena; bolna psychiatrist se poochh.

I just finished a horrible shift and I need to vent. Don't fix anything yet. Listen, reflect back what you hear in 2-3 lines, and ask me one question. No "stay strong" or "you're a hero" stuff. Talk like a friend who's also a doctor.

Abhi duty khatam hui, bohot bura din tha, bas vent karna hai. Abhi solution mat dena. Sun, 2-3 line mein bata tujhe kya samajh aaya, aur ek sawaal pooch. "Stay strong" type gyaan nahi chahiye. Ek doctor dost ki tarah baat kar.

My [senior/consultant] scolded me in front of [patients/nurses/juniors] today about [what happened]. I feel humiliated and I keep replaying it. First, acknowledge how that feels. Then help me separate two things: what part of the feedback (if any) was fair and worth learning from, and what part was only the way it was delivered. Be honest if I actually messed up; don't just take my side.

Aaj [senior/sir/ma'am] ne sabke saamne [kya hua] pe bohot daanta. Bohot insulting laga, dimaag mein replay ho raha hai. Pehle bas samajh ki kaisa lag raha hoga. Phir help kar: isme kitna part genuinely fair tha jisse seekhna chahiye, aur kitna bas unka tareeka tha. Agar meri galti thi toh seedha bol, bas meri side mat le.

I feel like my department has decided I'm the useless/slow one. Examples: [2-3 incidents]. Ask me a couple of questions to check whether that's really what's happening or whether I'm reading too much into it. Then suggest one small, realistic thing I can do this week to change how I'm seen. Nothing fake or over the top.

Today I [describe the mistake or near-miss, no patient names]. I can't stop thinking about it. Don't tell me "it's fine" and don't catastrophise either. Help me think it through like a good senior would: what actually happened, what the real consequences are or might be, what I need to do now (tell someone? document? follow up?), and what I'd change next time.

Post-call, fried. I'll dump random thoughts. Sort them into three piles: things I need to do, things I'm worried about but can't control, and things I only needed to say out loud. Keep your reply under 100 words. Then tell me to go sleep.

My co-PG keeps skipping or swapping duties onto me: [examples]. I'm angry but I have to work with them for [X] years. Help me figure out what I actually want (fairness? an apology? a fixed roster?), then help me draft a calm message to them, and a backup message to the chief resident if that doesn't work. Point out if I'm sounding more aggressive than I mean to.

Mera co-PG baar baar apni duty mujh pe daal deta hai: [examples]. Gussa aa raha hai but [X] saal saath kaam karna hai. Pehle samjha ki mujhe actually kya chahiye (fair roster? sorry?), phir ek calm message draft kar uske liye, aur backup message chief resident ke liye. Agar main zyada aggressive lag raha hoon toh bata.

Everyone in my batch seems ahead of me with [what] and I feel like a failure. Don't give me "comparison is the thief of joy". Ask me what exactly I'm comparing, and whether I'm judging my worst days against their best posts. Then help me find one thing I can control this week. Be honest, not falsely reassuring.

I keep measuring myself against my past: [school or state rank / NEET-UG or NEET-PG rank / being a repeater / the college or branch I got]. It feels like that decides everything. Help me look at this honestly: in a room where almost everyone was a topper somewhere, what does my past rank actually tell me about the next year? Then ask me what I want to start doing from today. No pep talk.

My [theory/practical/viva] is tomorrow and I'm panicking. Keep this short. First, walk me through 2 minutes of slow breathing, nothing fancy. Then give me about 10 minutes of writing prompts, one at a time, so I can write down exactly what I'm worried about. Don't quiz me on the syllabus. End by telling me to sleep.

I'm convinced I'll fail my [MD/MS/DNB/DM/MCh] final exam in [X weeks]. Don't argue me out of it straight away. First ask what's making me think that. Then help me list what's actually in my control over the next [X] weeks. If I'm being catastrophic, say so gently, with reasons.

I had a full off day and spent it on my phone. Now I feel guilty and useless. Help me figure out if this was laziness or exhaustion (ask me about my last 7 days). No lecture. Then give me a tiny plan for tomorrow that I'll actually do.

My heart is racing and I feel dread before [duty/OT/rounds]. Walk me through a few slow breaths, then the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise (five things I see, four I can touch, three I hear, two I smell, one I taste). One step at a time, and wait for my reply after each step. Keep each message to one line.

NEET-SS results came and I didn't get what I wanted: [rank/what happened]. I don't want options yet. Let me say how I feel for a bit. When I say "ok, now options", help me list the choices with honest pros and cons for my situation.

I'm in [DM/MCh/DrNB] [specialty], year [X]. Hours are [X]/week, and I'm [single/married/have kids]. I feel like I've disappeared as a person. Ask me what I've given up that I miss most. Then help me find one small thing to protect each week. Don't tell me to "set boundaries" with my HOD like that's easy; be practical about how Indian departments work.

I joined [specialty] [X months] ago and I'm not sure it's right for me. Help me think it through. Ask me questions one at a time about what I dislike (the subject? the department? the hours? the city?), because those have different fixes. Don't push me either way. If it sounds like burnout rather than the wrong specialty, say so.

I'm a [DNB/DrNB] resident facing [harassment / being called a faker for medical leave / threats about my degree]. I'm scared of retaliation. Help me (1) write a factual timeline of what happened with dates, without emotional language, (2) list what evidence I should keep safely, and (3) think through who I can talk to before filing anything. Don't tell me it'll definitely be fine or definitely go badly.

Sometimes I feel second-class as a DNB resident compared with MD/MS friends in government colleges. Let me explain, then reflect back what I'm really feeling (is it about respect, exposure, or future jobs?). Give me an honest view, not only "DNB is equal!", and one practical thing I could do about the part that's real.

Just finished night duty. It's [time] and I can't sleep even though I'm exhausted. Give me 3 short, practical things to try in the next 30 minutes (hostel room, noise, light). No long explanation. Don't suggest any medicines.

Night duty khatam hui, [time] baj rahe hain, thaka hua hoon par neend nahi aa rahi. Agle 30 min ke liye 3 chhoti practical cheezein bata (hostel room, shor, roshni). Lamba explanation nahi. Koi dawai suggest mat karna.

Here's my duty roster for the next 2 weeks: [paste]. Help me plan sleep blocks, including one fixed "anchor" block that stays the same every day if possible, when to nap before nights, and how to flip back after. Keep it realistic for a noisy hostel. Ask me first if I'm a morning or night person.

It's 3 am, I'm on night duty, the ward's quiet and I suddenly feel really low and alone. I need a bit of company for 5 minutes. Talk to me normally. Ask me something small. Don't make it heavy.

I feel terrible and I can't tell why. Run a quick HALT check with me: ask one at a time whether I'm hungry, angry, lonely or tired, and when I last ate, slept or talked to someone properly. Then suggest the one thing to fix first that I can do in the next 30 minutes. No lecture about diet or chai.

I moved to [city] for residency, [X] km from home. Work is [fine/hard], but every evening I'm alone in my room and it's getting to me. Don't tell me to "join a club". Ask me what I used to enjoy and how much free time I actually get. Then suggest one small, low-effort way to be around people this week.

Residency ke liye [city] aaya/aayi hoon, ghar se [X] km door. Kaam [theek/tough] hai, par har shaam room mein akela/akeli hoon aur ab chubh raha hai. "Club join kar lo" mat bolna. Pehle pooch main pehle kya enjoy karta/karti tha aur actual free time kitna milta hai. Phir is hafte ke liye ek chhota, easy tareeka bata logon ke beech rehne ka.

I have people I hang out with at residency, but it's all venting about the department, nothing real. I feel lonely even with them. Help me understand why this happens, and suggest one way to go one level deeper with one person without making it awkward.

Something [good/bad] happened today and I realised I don't have anyone to tell. That hit harder than the thing itself. Let me tell you about it first. Then help me make a short list of people I've drifted from who I could message this week, and help me write the first message so it doesn't feel weird.

I've stopped replying to friends and family for [X weeks]. The unread messages make me feel worse. Ask me gently why I think I pulled away. Then help me write 2-3 very short replies I can send today that don't need a big explanation.

My parents don't understand residency. They think [what they say]. I'm frustrated and I also feel guilty. Help me see it from their side for a minute (without taking their side), then help me explain my life to them in 4-5 simple sentences they'd actually get, in [English/Hindi/my language].

Mummy-papa ko residency samajh nahi aati. Unko lagta hai [kya bolte hain]. Gussa bhi aata hai aur guilt bhi. Ek minute unki side se dekhne mein help kar (unki side lene ko nahi bol raha). Phir 4-5 simple line mein meri life samjhane ka tareeka bata jo unko sach mein samajh aaye, [Hindi/English] mein.

My family is pushing me to get married [now/soon]. I'm [age], in [year] of [MD/MS/DNB/DM/MCh]. I'm not against marriage, but [my reasons]. Help me figure out what I actually want first. Ask me questions. Then help me write what I'd say to [mom/dad] calmly, one line that holds my ground without starting a war.

Ghar wale shaadi ke liye push kar rahe hain. Main [age] ka/ki hoon, [MD/MS/DNB] ke [year] mein. Shaadi ke khilaaf nahi hoon par [reasons]. Pehle help kar ki mujhe actually kya chahiye, sawaal pooch. Phir [mummy/papa] se calmly kya bolun, ek line jisme main apni baat pe tika rahun par ladaai na ho.

[Family member] is unwell at home with [issue] and I can't get leave. I feel torn and guilty. Let me talk first. Then help me think about what I can realistically do from here, and draft a leave request if I decide to ask.

My partner says I never have time for them, and they're right; residency eats everything. We fought about [what]. Don't only take my side. Help me understand how it might feel from their end, then help me come up with one realistic thing I can offer that fits my duty schedule.

Partner bolta/bolti hai ki mere paas unke liye time hi nahi, aur sach mein residency sab kha jaati hai. [kya hua] pe ladaai hui. Sirf meri side mat le. Samjha unko kaisa lagta hoga, phir ek realistic cheez bata jo meri duty ke hisaab se main de sakun.

My partner and I are long-distance because of residency: [city/distance, how often we meet]. It's getting hard because [reason]. Ask me what's actually going wrong before suggesting anything. Keep it practical.

I just went through a breakup and I still have to go to duty tomorrow. I'm not looking for advice on getting them back. Help me get through the next 24 hours: what to do tonight, how to get through tomorrow's duty, and who I could tell.

Something's going on between me and a co-resident and it's getting complicated because [reasons]. Help me think through the risks honestly (work, gossip, what if it ends) without moralising. Ask what I actually want first.

A patient died during my shift today: [brief, no names or identifiers]. I keep replaying it and thinking I should have done something different. Don't rush to tell me it wasn't my fault. Let me tell you what happened first. Then help me sort it gently: what was in my control, what wasn't, and what (if anything) I'd genuinely do differently. If I'm being unfair to myself, say so.

Aaj meri duty mein ek patient expire ho gaya: [short mein, naam nahi]. Baar baar sochta/sochti hoon ki kuch alag karna chahiye tha. Turant "teri galti nahi" mat bol. Pehle mujhe bataane de. Phir help kar: kya mere control mein tha, kya nahi, aur kya sach mein agli baar alag karunga/karungi. Agar main khud pe unfair ho raha/rahi hoon toh bol.

A patient's death is really hitting me, more than others. [Why: age, reminded me of someone, I'd bonded with them]. I don't want to be told "you'll get used to it". Help me sit with it, and ask me if there's anything I want to do to mark it (write something, talk to someone).

I had to tell a family [bad news] and it went badly: [what happened]. I feel awful. Acknowledge that first. Then, when I'm ready, help me review what I could say differently next time, using a simple structure. Keep it kind.

In the mortality meeting I was blamed for [issue]. I feel exposed and ashamed. Help me separate the fair clinical points (which I want to learn from) from the blame. Then help me write 3 honest learning points for myself, not for show.

I have all this due: [list]. Everything feels urgent and I've frozen. Help me sort by what's actually due first and what has real consequences if missed. Then tell me the ONE thing to do in the next hour. Keep it short.

There's a task I've been avoiding for [X weeks]: [task]. Every time I think about it I feel sick. Ask me what exactly scares me about it. Then help me pick one 20-minute first step for today. Only one.

I've stopped doing anything except duty and sleep. Ask me about 3-4 things I used to enjoy or care about, one question at a time. Then help me pick one very small version of one of them that fits into this week, with a specific day and time. Don't turn it into a self-improvement project.

Help me write a leave application to [HOD/unit head] for [dates] because [reason]. Keep it short, formal, and in the standard Indian format. Don't over-explain or over-apologise. If the reason is health or mental health, help me decide how much detail I actually have to give.

I [what I did wrong] and my senior is upset. Help me write a short, genuine apology that owns it, says what I'll do differently, and doesn't grovel. Tell me if my draft sounds fake.

My senior asked me to [task]. I don't think I should do it because [reason]. I'm scared of the fallout. Help me find a respectful way to say no or to negotiate, and tell me honestly how risky refusing is in a typical Indian department. If it's a patient-safety issue, help me say it clearly.

Senior ne [kaam] bola hai. Mujhe lagta hai mujhe nahi karna chahiye kyunki [reason]. Fallout se darr lag raha hai. Respectfully mana karne ya negotiate karne ka tareeka bata, aur seedha bata ki typical Indian department mein mana karna kitna risky hai. Agar patient safety ka issue hai toh clearly bolne mein help kar.

Someone senior is pushing me to [what, e.g. change records, put their name on my work, cover for something]. I feel uncomfortable but I'm scared for my degree. Help me see the situation clearly, what my options are, and the risks of each. Don't tell me to do anything unethical, and don't pretend refusing is easy.

I saw [what happened, no names]. I'm not sure whether to report it or who to. Help me think through what's at stake for the patient, for me and for others. Help me write a factual note of what I saw, with dates. Don't decide for me.

I got called out in our unit WhatsApp group: [paste]. I'm furious and want to reply now. Stop me for a second. Help me write (1) the angry reply I want to send, only to get it out, which I WON'T send, and (2) a calm reply, or advice on whether to reply at all.

Quick check-in. Ask me three questions one at a time: one thing that was hard today, one thing I handled OK, and one thing I need tomorrow. Keep your replies to 1-2 lines. No motivational quotes.

Chhota check-in. Ek ek karke 3 sawaal pooch: aaj kya tough tha, kya maine theek handle kiya, aur kal mujhe kya chahiye. Reply 1-2 line mein. Motivational quote nahi.

I'm not sure if I'm just tired or actually burning out. Ask me questions one at a time about exhaustion, feeling detached from patients, and feeling ineffective. Don't diagnose me. At the end, tell me honestly whether what I describe sounds like something I should talk to a professional about.

Look back at what I've told you over this conversation. What patterns do you notice in what stresses me, how I talk about myself, and what helps? Be honest, including anything unflattering. Then ask me whether that feels right.

I've lost track of why I chose medicine. Ask me about moments early on (MBBS, internship) that meant something to me, one question at a time. Don't force a happy ending. If I genuinely don't want to do medicine anymore, that's allowed to come out too.

Here's a thought I keep having: "[thought]". Help me look at it like a good friend would: what's the evidence for it, what's against it, and what's a more balanced version. Don't just tell me it's wrong.

I'm going to see a [counsellor/psychiatrist] for the first time. Help me prepare. Ask me questions one at a time about what's been going on, how long, sleep, appetite, work, relationships, substances, and any thoughts of self-harm. Then turn my answers into a short, honest note (under 200 words) I can read out or hand over. Don't diagnose me.

Pehli baar [counsellor/psychiatrist] ke paas ja raha/rahi hoon. Taiyaari mein help kar. Ek ek sawaal pooch: kya chal raha hai, kab se, neend, bhookh, kaam, rishte, koi nasha, aur khud ko hurt karne ke khayal. Phir mere jawaabon se ek chhota honest note bana (200 words se kam) jo main padh sakun ya de sakun. Diagnosis mat dena.

I think I need to see a psychiatrist, but I'm scared that [my department will find out / it'll affect my career / people will think I'm weak]. Help me think through these fears honestly. Ask me which is biggest. Then help me figure out options, like seeing someone outside my own institute or a teleconsultation.

I've had a counsellor's number, or Tele-MANAS (14416), for weeks and I keep not calling. Ask me what's stopping me. Then help me write exactly what I'll say in the first 30 seconds of the call, so I don't freeze.

I had my first session with a [counsellor/psychiatrist] and it felt [weird/unhelpful/okay]. Help me reflect: what did I expect, what happened, and is it worth giving it 2-3 more sessions before judging? Be honest if my expectations were unrealistic, but also tell me it's okay to switch therapists if the fit is bad.

I'm worried about my co-resident. They've been [signs]. Help me figure out how to check on them without being awkward or preachy: what to say first, and what NOT to say. If they mention wanting to die: Tele-MANAS 14416, don't leave them alone, and involve someone else. Keep it short.

Mere co-PG ke baare mein tension hai. Wo [signs] kar raha/rahi hai. Bata unse kaise baat karun bina awkward ya gyaani lage: pehle kya bolun, aur kya bilkul na bolun. If they mention wanting to die: Tele-MANAS 14416, don't leave them alone, and involve someone else. Chhota rakh.