I understand sometimes we don't feel like we're strong, but others can often see it in us well before we can. I know we haven't met, and trust is a big thing, but I hope you can put a wee bit of faith in me when I say you are the epitome of courage, and by virtue strength. It's impossible to experience what you have without being courageous. True story 😊
Now, what does a peer support worker do you ask? That's a brilliant question! In a work meeting last week I described it as being a "professional friend", that it is both a profession, but also one where you truly care for the person and want to see them be the best version of themselves. To put it in a more formal sense, peer work is mental health support provided by someone with lived experience of dealing with mental health challenges. In my case that means I've been around the block with my own mental health challenges: PTSD, major depression, developmental trauma, OCD, to name a few. It's been tough (understatement), but I was fortunate enough to find a therapist, at a time when I thought I couldn't go on, who helped me find my path to myself. She once said "you'll never be rid of it", and at the time I nearly fell to the floor because I so badly wanted to rid myself of it all. But the gift she gave me was to learn how to live with it, and that's what led me to the journey of peer work – if I can provide moments of support to people who are courageously walking towards their own version of living "with it", I've done my job.
Hope that answers your question, @petrichor. I'm open and welcome any questions 😊
