When I was in the throes of mental distress, I did not have the insight that what I was experiencing had a name—“mental illness.” Nor did I have any knowledge of the various symptoms, diagnoses, or treatments. Therefore, I was left in the dark, alone, and struggling. Thoughts of, “Something is seriously wrong with me.” and “No one understands me.”
It was several years later that I made a connection. I became friends with two others who were experiencing the same “unknown” as me. I made a connection with my peers.
What is peer support and why is it so effective? Simply because peers have expertise that professional training cannot replicate. Mental health professionals may have formal education and extensive practice. But they may not have the lived experience.
Peers know the deep dark secrets. We know how distressing it is to hear voices. We know how anxiety keeps us immobilized. We know pain so deeply that we want to engage in self-harm. We experience the extreme highs and the lowest of the lows. We know what it is to self-medicate, using substances to numb the emotional pain. We know the feeling of isolation and alienation.
The stage of “Not knowing what is wrong with me” can be scary. This is a complete lack of insight. Enter peer support. Sometimes a person struggling with any disability just needs some reassurance that things will be ok. This reassurance comes best from peers.
Peers at The Gathering Place work with their peers in many aspects of life, three in particular. How to have hope. How to cope. How to live a life of meaning and purpose.
Hope is one small word with a significant meaning. Hope is often the first feeling lost when mental illness comes into play. Peers who have overcome the deep, dark days can give others hope—hope that things will get better. And you know, with work (a little or a lot of work) they do!
Peers can share healthier ways to cope with stress and avoid self-destructive behavior or self-harm. Perhaps going for a walk and getting some fresh air or catching up on sleep. Healthy eating. Above all, be kind to yourself!
Most importantly, peers can help peers live lives of meaning and purpose. This is a tall order. But who doesn’t want to live the best life they can? Unsure of where to start? Follow the example of your peers who can share the steps they took to get them to where they are today.
You may be reading this and feeling isolated and alone at this very moment. You may feel as if no one could possibly understand what you are going through. Maybe you have given up all hope. Come to The Gathering Place and be with others who can validate your feelings and can help you cope with your circumstances in life. Be with others who have found hope in their lives and follow their lead.
Peer support is an evidenced-based practice, meaning scientific research has proven it to be an effective treatment approach for mental health recovery. Peer support is powerful. Peer support works. Peer support saves lives!
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