Can AI Be Your Work Wife? The Emotional Side of Artificial Intelligence
Over the last year, I’ve put a massive focus on my mental wellbeing and it’s changed A LOT in my day to day. I feel more resilient, more stable, and I’m definitely laughing louder than I used to (which I'm sure many didn't think was possible). At 28, it finally feels like things are falling into place. I actually feel present in the world. And now, in that same day to day, I’m also noticing myself turning more and more to AI.
So for Mental Health Awareness Week, I wanted to reflect, personally and professionally, on how I’m noticing AI show up in this space. Not in the therapy room, but in the every day. In chats with neurospicy pals. In moments of burnout. In powerful women trying to shape their voice in a crowded room. It’s not perfect but I think it’s making an impact.
So no offence to caffeine, chaos and the regular glass of Pinot, but AI might actually be my new emotional support system.
Mental Health Awareness Week feels like the right time to pull back the curtain on what’s really going on behind the screen. The quiet, grinding effort it takes to just show up and build on personal resilience. And now, how AI is showing up in all of that. Not replacing human connection but making it easier to reach for it. To structure it. To rehearse it. And for me, to believe in it again.
When You Can’t Say It Out Loud
Sometimes, you just need to say something, even if you're not ready to say it to someone. Whether I’m venting, clarifying my thoughts, or scripting a terrifying message, AI has become the judgement-free zone I didn’t realise I needed.
It’s not therapy. It’s not a cure. But for people like me who sometimes find it hard to speak up, whether due to stigma, anxiety, or overthinking exhaustion, it’s a first step.
Making the World Less Neurotypical, One Prompt at a Time
ADHD. Dyslexia. Anxiety. Executive dysfunction. The list of things that make “just doing the job” harder is long. And invisible. AI tools like ChatGPT are helping people structure tasks, reduce friction, and start moving again when their brain hits the wall.
As someone who often works alongside and talks with brilliantly neurodivergent friends and colleagues, I’ve seen how AI can give their minds (and my own) a thinking partner, a second brain and most importantly a bit of breathing room.
So watch out, because us neurospicy individuals? We’re thriving!
Still Making Yourself Smaller to Sound Bigger? Here’s Some Backup.
Let’s talk about the feminist load. This one’s personal for me. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve rewritten a message to sound less 'direct' or tried to sand down my opinions so they’d land better in a room that wasn’t built for them.
We're not just doing our jobs. We're:
Rewording to sound less "bossy"
Padding emails to seem "nice"
Holding back passion so it doesn’t feel "too much"
That takes energy. Emotional, mental, often physical. AI doesn’t erase the need to play the game. But it helps:
Draft it my way first
Adapt it for the room after
Keep my message without losing myself
Not because we should have to. But because right now, we still do.
That gap between what I think and what I feel safe to say? That’s where I think burnout builds for us, and personally, I’m done pretending it doesn’t matter.
Just Tell Me What to Say
Then on a smaller scale... On the days you’re overwhelmed, ragey, or teetering on the edge of a spiral, AI helps you rewrite the message. It takes the hurt out without taking away your point.
And that matters. A recent report from Salesforce found that nearly 68% of users have started using AI tools to help rewrite, reframe, or soften emotionally sensitive communication, especially in professional settings. When you’re already at capacity, even writing a two-line reply can feel like an emotional minefield.
My voice, just steadier. My thoughts, just a bit clearer. My inbox? Slightly less terrifying.
AI Won’t Book You a Mental Health Day, But It Might Help You Ask For One.
Professional vulnerability is still taboo. Especially in high-performance spaces. Especially if you’re the one who’s usually got it together. Saying "I’m struggling" can feel daunting.
I’m incredibly lucky to work in an environment that feels like home, but even then, I don’t always find the right words. Sometimes I just need a little help shaping them. And that’s where I want AI to step in for me.
AI can help you:
Start the message
Practise the words
Rehearse the conversation
It’s a pressure valve. A safe draft. A quiet nudge that saying something is better than saying nothing.
But Here’s the Catch
There’s a fair critique to be made here: AI isn’t built for emotional nuance. It’s not trauma-aware. It doesn’t have lived experience. And using it as a stand-in for human connection could absolutely backfire if people start relying on it instead of professional support or community.
There are real ethical concerns too, from bias baked into models, to a lack of cultural context, to the sheer absence of accountability if advice goes wrong.
So, yes, we need caution. Clear boundaries. And better design.
But personally? I think it’s opening new doors. For me, AI has become a quiet kind of partner. A tool I’ve trained to understand what I value, how I communicate, and where I sometimes need a hand.
It won’t solve everything. But it helps me start. Start a conversation. Start regulating. Start saying what I actually mean without fear of fallout.
For me, AI isn’t replacing real support. It’s helping me reach it. And that has made all the difference. And sometimes, that’s all it takes.
Got a moment where AI helped you through a tricky day or turned a spiral into a manageable moment? Share it. The more we talk about it, the less weird it gets.
