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Member
Member Since May 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 36
11 |
#1
Have any of you talked to a Peer Support Specialist? My job is to tell my recovery story and model recovery for people with and without mental illnesses. It is the best and most rewarding job I have ever had and I have had a lot of jobs. It is therapeutic for the peer as well as me. We help each other through situations only we can understand. I encourage you to find a Peer Support Specialist in your area.
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bizi, Nammu, Wild Coyote
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Nammu, Wild Coyote
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Legendary
Member Since Oct 2004
Location: usa
Posts: 11,197
19 2,742 hugs
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#2
I'm going to training to be one soon!! My therapist is helping me and advocating me to do so.
__________________ Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features or schizoaffective bipolar type PTSD generalized anxiety OCD celexa, prazosin, Lybalvi and prn zyprexa and klonopin |
bizi, Wild Coyote
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Wild Coyote
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Legendary
Member Since Apr 2015
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 11,872
(SuperPoster!)
9 1,766 hugs
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#3
I have been thinking about looking into it.
I always love to help people and I can see how it would be helpful to both parties. __________________ I traded it in for a whole 'nother world A pirate flag and an island girl |
bizi, Wild Coyote
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Legendary
Member Since Oct 2004
Location: usa
Posts: 11,197
19 2,742 hugs
given |
#4
My therapist is connecting me with the coordinator later today. She said I can volunteer in the day program even before training. I will probably do that.
__________________ Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features or schizoaffective bipolar type PTSD generalized anxiety OCD celexa, prazosin, Lybalvi and prn zyprexa and klonopin |
bizi, Wild Coyote
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Account Suspended
Member Since Jan 2015
Location: California Uber Alles
Posts: 9,150
(SuperPoster!)
9 5,382 hugs
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#5
Thank you for sharing your good experience with us. I am going to train to be a NAMI group facilitator after the new year. I'm very excited about it.
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bizi
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Elder
Member Since Sep 2012
Location: Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation
Posts: 5,891
11 308 hugs
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#6
At my last job we had them. I wish I could be one as I use to be a mental health social worker. But I know for a fact if social security found out they would cut my check off. I "love" NAMI. I use to go to there support groups when I lived in TN. They had a lot of events in the community. I live in OK and the NAMI here does the minimum.
__________________ #SpoonieStrong Spoons are a visual representation used as a unit of measure to quantify how much energy individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses have throughout a given day. 1). Depression 2). PTSD 3). Anxiety 4). Hashimoto 5). Fibromyalgia 6). Asthma 7). Atopic dermatitis 8). Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria 9). Hereditary Angioedema (HAE-normal C-1) 10). Gluten sensitivity 11). EpiPen carrier 12). Food allergies, medication allergies and food intolerances. . 13). Alopecia Areata |
Member
Member Since Jul 2016
Location: Santa cruz
Posts: 406
7 1,777 hugs
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#7
There are none in my area.
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Neurodivergent
Member Since Mar 2012
Location: Western US
Posts: 4,831
12 3,864 hugs
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#8
I'd love to do that. I once applied for a peer-support specialist job with the county, but I never even got an interview...probably because I was hypomanic when I applied. It's a shame---with my psychiatric history, nursing background and the fact that I enjoy helping people, I think I'd have been a good one.
__________________ DX: Bipolar 1 Anxiety Tardive dyskinesia Mild cognitive impairment RX: Celexa 20 mg Gabapentin 1200 mg Geodon 40 mg AM, 60 mg PM Klonopin 0.5 mg PRN Lamictal 500 mg Levothyroxine 125 mcg (rx'd for depression) Trazodone 150 mg Zyprexa 7.5 mg Please come visit me @ http://bpnurse.com |
bizi, Nammu
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Coffeee
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Elder
Member Since Sep 2008
Location: Scotland, UK
Posts: 5,246
15 85 hugs
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#9
I actually have something similar. In Scotland they are called Peer Support Workers. I have had mines since March and she has helped me so much. She started me on my WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) and got me into a confidence class. She always has new ideas for me and I know I can ask her or tell her things I can't speak about to anyone else. She is trying to get me to become a volunteer Peer Support Worker. I'm not sure I'm ready to gave the answers just yet :-)
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Member
Member Since Nov 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 81
14 58 hugs
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#10
Monteralis - Do you worry about the peer triggering you? How stable have you been / do you have to be to be a peer support person? It sounds like something I'd like to do if I'm stable enough to be a real support for someone else.... What do y'all think?
__________________ MtnAnnie Bipolar 1 Psychotic Lamictal, pristiq, latuda Latuda is the bomb! favorite quote from the movie, "ET" when Elliot tells his friends in the park what they have to do to save ET from the scientists, Greg asks, "Why doesn't he (ET) just beam up?" to which Elliot replies, "This is REALITY, Greg!" |
Legendary
Member Since Oct 2004
Location: usa
Posts: 11,197
19 2,742 hugs
given |
#11
In the state of Kentucky you she to be two years in recovery to do peer support. Of course there's training and certification too. I almost felt like one today lol in DBT group the lead t had lost her voice and my t asked me to help her lead by keeping the conversation going.
__________________ Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features or schizoaffective bipolar type PTSD generalized anxiety OCD celexa, prazosin, Lybalvi and prn zyprexa and klonopin |
Member
Member Since May 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 36
11 |
#12
I have been in recovery for 6 years. I chose to be off all meds at this time because the Dr. kept prescribing more medication for any little thing I told her. So at one point I was up to 9 meds a day. I definitely wouldn't recommend anyone to stop their meds, I wish I would of tapered off but I didn't. I work at the same hospital I stayed in for a year, my parents gave me to the state and I was committed there. Before working there I asked to take a tour of the hospital and more specifically the room I stayed in. I was not triggered by the hospital, my old room or any of the peers. I knew then I could do the job. After working full time for the first few months I became overwhelmed, not by the peers by the staff. I would sit in report where all the Dr.'s, Psychologists and Social Workers talk about each peer in great detail. The staff would, laugh, joke and roll their eyes about certain peers. This is what is difficult. I came to understand that even though they have been through years of school they simply dont understand MI the way I do. I would take a tour of the place first then slowly start to volunteer. I have been working for over a year now and have never been triggered, even when a peer punched me in the back. I slowly turned around and asked him what was the matter. The voices told him to do it. I told him he didnt have to listen to them, I know I have voices too. He said, "Really, I dont have to listen to them?" We started talking and he got much better over time. We need more Peer Support for people diagnosed with mental health challenges. I love empowering and inspiring people to live the life they want to. Much love and peace.
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Coffeee, Espurr1989, HALLIEBETH87
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Junior Member
Member Since Nov 2019
Location: Middlesex
Posts: 24
4 4 hugs
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#13
I have one. I am not a needy person so I kinda feel bad for my peer support specialist. She keeps complaining I don’t call her to talk between meetings every two weeks. I don’t have anything going on that I would need to talk with her about. When we do meet it’s mostly idle conversations about current events. She doesn’t really recommend anything.
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Legendary
Member Since Oct 2004
Location: usa
Posts: 11,197
19 2,742 hugs
given |
#14
The who recovery model of peer support is not to recommend anything but rather to be of support about whatever it is YOU have going on. That's probably why they want you to call. to check in basically and offer support to you should you need it. I am a certified peer specialist in the state of ky.
__________________ Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features or schizoaffective bipolar type PTSD generalized anxiety OCD celexa, prazosin, Lybalvi and prn zyprexa and klonopin |
Anonymous46341, bizi
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