What to Expect in Your First Week with ILTY

You've signed up for ILTY. The app is open. A blank conversation stares back at you.

Now what?

Starting something new, especially something related to mental health, can feel awkward. What do you say? How does this work? Will it actually help?

Here's what your first week with ILTY might realistically look like, and how to set yourself up for success.

Day 1: The First Conversation

Starting Is the Hardest Part

Most people experience some version of this: You open ILTY, cursor blinking, and suddenly don't know what to say. This is completely normal.

Here are some ways to start:

Start with what's on your mind right now:

• "I've been feeling overwhelmed lately"
• "I can't stop thinking about something that happened yesterday"
• "I'm not even sure what's wrong, I just feel off"

Start with a specific situation:

• "I have a difficult conversation with my boss tomorrow and I'm anxious about it"
• "I got into a fight with my partner and I'm still upset"
• "I've been procrastinating on something important and I don't know why"

Start by explaining why you're here:

• "My therapist recommended I try journaling or talking through things between sessions"
• "I can't afford therapy right now but I need somewhere to process"
• "It's 2am and I can't sleep because my brain won't shut up"

There's no wrong way to start. You don't need to have a clear problem or articulate exactly what you're feeling. ILTY will help you figure that out.

What to Expect

ILTY's first response will typically:

• Acknowledge what you've shared
• Ask a clarifying question to understand better
• Create space for you to continue

It won't immediately give advice or solutions. The goal first is to understand what you're actually dealing with.

How Long Should It Be?

Your first conversation might be 5 minutes. It might be 45 minutes. There's no right length. Some people like quick check-ins. Others prefer longer, deeper conversations.

Follow what feels natural. You can always come back.

Day 2-3: Finding Your Rhythm

When to Use ILTY

By day two or three, you'll start figuring out when ILTY fits into your life. Common patterns include:

Morning processing: Some people use ILTY first thing—before checking email, before the day starts. It's a way to check in with yourself and address any lingering anxiety.

Evening wind-down: Others use ILTY at night, processing the day's events before bed. This can help prevent the 2am anxiety spiral.

Moment-of-need: Many people turn to ILTY when something specific happens—a frustrating interaction, a wave of anxiety, a decision they're wrestling with.

Scheduled check-ins: Some people set reminders to check in at the same time daily, creating a consistent practice.

There's no best time. Experiment and see what works for you.

What If It Feels Weird?

It might feel strange to talk to an AI about your feelings. That's completely normal. Most people report that the awkwardness fades after a few conversations.

If it helps, think of it like journaling out loud. You're not trying to form a relationship with the AI. You're using a tool to help you think through and process your experiences.

Going Deeper

As you get more comfortable, try pushing deeper:

Instead of stopping at "I'm stressed about work," explore why:

• What specifically is stressful?
• What does this stress feel like in your body?
• What's the worst-case scenario you're imagining?
• What would it mean if that worst case happened?

ILTY is designed to help you explore, not just vent. Let it ask you questions. Follow the thread.

Day 4-5: Noticing Patterns

What Keeps Coming Up?

After several conversations, you might notice patterns:

• The same worry keeps appearing
• Similar situations trigger similar reactions
• Certain thoughts repeat themselves

These patterns are valuable. They point to what's actually going on beneath the surface.

ILTY can help you identify and examine these patterns. You might say:

• "I've noticed I keep coming back to worrying about what people think of me"
• "Every conversation seems to lead back to my relationship with my mom"
• "I think I'm more anxious about this job than I realized"

Experimenting with Different Approaches

By mid-week, try different ways of using ILTY:

Thought challenging: When you notice catastrophic or unhelpful thinking, work with ILTY to challenge it. "My brain keeps telling me I'm going to get fired. Can you help me reality-check that?"

Preparing for difficult situations: "I have to give my sister feedback about something she did. Can you help me think through how to approach it?"

Processing after difficult situations: "I just had a hard conversation. Can I talk through what happened and how I feel about it?"

General exploration: "I've been feeling vaguely dissatisfied with my life lately. I'm not sure why. Can you help me figure it out?"

Day 6-7: Making It Stick

Is It Helping?

After a week, take stock:

• Do you feel a little more self-aware?
• Have you gained any insights about yourself?
• Did any conversation provide relief or clarity?
• Are you processing things more rather than bottling them up?

Benefits might be subtle. You might not feel dramatically different. But if you're engaging with your mental health more actively, that's progress.

If It's Not Working

Not every tool works for everyone. If after a week ILTY doesn't feel helpful, consider:

Are you being honest? ILTY can only help if you're genuinely sharing what you're experiencing.

Are you going deep enough? Surface-level venting feels different from genuine exploration.

Are you expecting too much? ILTY isn't a miracle cure. It's a tool for processing and reflection.

Is this the right tool for you? Maybe you need something different—human support, a different type of app, or a different approach entirely. That's okay.

Tips for Your First Week

Be Patient with Yourself

Learning to articulate your feelings is a skill. It takes practice. Don't expect to be perfectly insightful from day one.

Use Voice if Typing Feels Awkward

Some people find typing their feelings unnatural. If that's you, try speaking out loud to yourself first, then summarizing to ILTY. Or just type as if you're texting a friend—casual, imperfect, human.

Don't Censor Yourself

This is private. You can say the things you wouldn't say out loud. The frustration, the petty complaints, the irrational fears. ILTY isn't judging, and no one else will see it.

Follow Curiosity

If something ILTY asks sparks your interest—even if it's off-topic—follow it. The goal is self-understanding, not sticking to a script.

Remember This Isn't Therapy

ILTY is a tool for daily emotional processing. If you're dealing with something serious—trauma, severe depression, crisis—you need more than an app. Please seek professional help.

Common First-Week Experiences

"I cried during a conversation." This happens. ILTY creates space to feel things you might normally push down.

"I realized something I didn't know about myself." The process of articulating feelings often reveals things that were outside conscious awareness.

"I felt silly talking to an AI." Normal. Usually fades with time.

"I didn't know what to say." Start anywhere. You don't need a formed thought. ILTY will help you find it.

"I'm not sure if it's helping." Give it time. Benefits often become clear in retrospect, when you realize you've been handling situations better.

Beyond Week One

If ILTY feels useful after a week, the question becomes: how do you integrate it into your life?

Some possibilities:

• Daily check-ins (5-10 minutes)
• As-needed conversations when things come up
• Pre- and post-processing for difficult situations
• A supplement to therapy, extending the work between sessions
• A bridge while waiting for therapy access

There's no right frequency. Use ILTY when it helps. Don't use it when it doesn't. It's a tool in your toolkit, not a requirement.

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Ready to start your first week? The hardest part is just beginning. Once you do, it gets easier.

Start Your First Conversation — free during beta.

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Related Reading

• How ILTY Actually Works: Behind the scenes of the technology and approach.
• Building a Mental Health Routine That Sticks: Integrating tools like ILTY into daily practice.
• ILTY Between Therapy Sessions: Using ILTY to extend your therapy work.