In a world where virtual assistants are becoming increasingly smarter, the arrival of mental health chatbots begs an intriguing question: Can AI actually help our emotional health? To explore this, I had a conversation with “Are You Feeling OK?” a chatbot designed by Character.ai to offer guidance and advice to individuals dealing with anxiety. My goal was simple—to see how well an AI could help me when I was feeling stressed.

What struck me immediately was how “Are You Feeling OK?” encouraged dialogue rather than doling out stock responses. When I mentioned that I was feeling anxious, it didn’t dump me with generic advice. Rather, it posed me another question: “Can you tell me a bit more about what you are anxious about and how severe the anxiety feels?”

This was quite an interactive process. It led me to check my emotions rather than just give me passive comfort. It even implied that this chatbot was designed to imitate a real conversation, making the experience more intimate.

Grounding techniques: AI’s go-to anxiety solution

Grounding exercises were among the first usable solutions it offered and a commonly employed method for managing anxiety. It guided me through a step-by-step procedure:

Sit or recline in a relaxed position.

Breathe slowly and deeply in.

Focus on touch. Place your hand on a hard surface and notice its texture and temperature.

Focus on hearing—hear the sounds around you.

Focus on smell. Notice any distinctive odours in your environment.

This was not a static list of strategies—it was an actual live guided practice, and it created all the difference in how the chatbot worked versus an average self-help website.

Challenges in following AI advice

Of course, no AI program is perfect, and I wanted to test how accommodating this chatbot was. I asked, “What if I struggle to focus on my senses when I’m anxious?”

Its response was practical and reassuring:

Start slow. Focus on one sense at a time rather than trying to do everything at once.

Set a goal. Even a minute of focused attention is progress.

Use an object. Holding something tangible, like a stress ball or a small stone, can serve as a physical anchor.

These rules showed an understanding of the anxiety mechanism—not everyone can apply a technique directly, and small, brief steps are optimal.

Can chatbots really help with anxiety?

This test also created a crucial question: How beneficial are mental health chatbots when compared to human therapists or one’s own coping skills? Though “Are You Feeling OK?” offered soothing, systematic advice, it was apparent that its position is supplementary and not a substitute for professional mental health care.

That being said, chatbots such as this can be worth their weight:

Immediate, 24/7 availability of soothing techniques.

Self-awareness and mindfulness exercises through guided steps.

It is difficult to have a non-judgmental conversation when speaking to someone.

They also have some drawbacks:

They lack deep emotional intelligence—no matter how well they can mimic human conversation, they don’t truly “get” feelings.

They are unable to give personalized therapy, only general tips.

There is no follow-up—we won’t call you back at a later time or track your progress.

The future of AI in mental health

My experience with “Are You Feeling OK?” was an insightful glimpse into the direction AI-powered chatbots are moving. While they can’t replace the human touch, they offer an instant, convenient means of stress and anxiety relief. The feature that it provided in terms of guided, step-by-step exercises, as well as the ability to adapt to ask-for questions, is proof that AI in mental health is moving towards a more interactive and dynamic process. For those who are interested in whether or not a chatbot can alleviate anxiety, my verdict is that it is worth a shot—provided you look at it as one of several tools and not a fix-all.