[Miss Laura]

Hey guys, I receive support from a peer support worker allocated to me by the Community Mental Health Team. I get on really well with her, I have no issues there. I saw her last week and like the last few times I'm struggling to get out how I'm feeling instead ill say I'm fine (My Mum died in July so obviously not fine and my Uncle died 2 weeks ago so obviouslynot fine!). Or I'll say hey ho and stare into space. I hate silence though so I find inate rubbish to talk about. Sometimes I feel she would be better talking to more important interesting patients. I see her every 2 or 3 weeks so I do have stuff to talk to her about but I'm struggling to do that.

I guess I'm venting at myself but maybe someone has some words of wisdom I could use

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[Scooter9]

I was in the habit of saying I was fine whenever my pdoc asked me how I was doing.

But I gave that question a lot of thought and figured that she's not asking like a friend of mine asks, instead she's asking to really find out what's going on. In other words, why would she, a doctor, be asking me how I am if all I'm going to give her is a superficial answer?

I thought about it some more and now I answer with the most current issue first. I'll talk about my anxiety, my depression, how I'm coping etc. I talk for something like 5 minutes when she asks me now, and I'm an introvert that doesn't talk much.

Do it for yourself. Say what you're feeling. Don't hold back. She's asking because she really wants to know.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I am a peer support specialist for a few years….tell them truth. She cares

[HALLIEBETH87]

you dont go into peer support if you DONT care-ya know? We are different than Ts because we have a diagnosed mental illness that we can be open about.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Can you keep a little notebook listing things that have gone on and how you've been doing?

[Miss Laura]

It's hard as we are out in the community so we meet in town and in cafes. Especially now our schools will be off when we next meet due to school holidays. Plus it's busy in town with people preparing for Christmas so it's really busy. I struggle at the best if times to say how I am feeling let alone now. I use notebooks but struggle to say I have my notebook would you look at it. Its different when I'm in a room alone with then as I know it's safe to talk.

I don't want any Tom, **** or Harry listening into my conversations.

I understand the role she plays as I'm a volunteer Peer Support Worker (no qualifications just experience with training and from my previous full time job) but that doesn't mean anything to me clearly.

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[MuddyBoots]

Is there anyway you can ask to meet up in a more private location? If it can't be a private office or your home maybe an out of the way park nobody goes to or the back of a big parking lot?

[Miss Laura]

The centre of town is always busy I might see what she can suggest thanks guys

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