[ToeJam]

Been able to stay out of hospital for about a year now and with respect to previous education and training I am trying to get back on the horse and start a voluntary job (about 2 1/2 hours a week).

In my last admission I'd had a bit of an issue with one of the ward nurses and I enlisted the help of an advocacy service to help in the complaints procedure. As this year has progressed it dawned on me that I could perhaps work within that role and contacted them about a voluntary opportunity.

Have since done the training and I'm now waiting for them to get back to me re times allocated on ward.

I've had mixed feedback from friends and family with respect to doing this; some believe I'd be terrific at it... and others think it would be the worst thing I could do. The latter has admittedly resulted in me having a bit of self doubt... Hmmm, that might be a bit unfair... I guess I'd be stupid not to have some worry with respect to going back onto the wards as a peer advocate (one of the recrocites (sorry for bad spelling) of the position is to have had some experience as a service user)... but yeah, for the past couple of weeks I've been in one long panic attack.

For point of reference my dx is aspergers with severe depression and anxiety... though I'm sure others have been in this position with many other issues.

Curious if anyone can relate, have proceeded regardless (in whatever mental health related role that might entail)... and perhaps have positive experiences as a result?

I volunteered in social care for the local council at a drop in centre for adults with MH issues for about 18 months. There was no training or supervision or any other sort of support, but it worked out great. I ran a craft group for 2hrs/week (plus prep time at home and buying supplies), and later on I started to do 1:1 outreach work (again, no training). I was hospitalised for a week in the middle of it and they were great letting me take 2 weeks off. I could've had more if I wanted, but I didn't need it. The only issue was that I had a panic attack before each shift for the entire 18 months, but I was able to push through it and get myself there each week. I stopped volunteering there because I moved away to complete a Uni course. I've actually struggled way more with uni (and had to leave) than I ever did volunteering. I never found that I was triggered by what other people were going through, but I do get triggered in IP environments, so I know that I couldn't volunteer there.

Wishing you all the best! It's normal to have doubts, but that doesn't mean it won't be a success

*Willow*

[lkg2188]

I volunteered at lifeline for a short while here. Got the training. Got the certification. Was finally ready to man the phones solo.

I wish I could say it worked out for me but I got triggered (by relationship stuff) and had to quit shortly after (admittedly this was during a phase of medication madness - I was a walking disaster on ziprasidone but I digress)

My point is, know your strengths and weaknesses (in hindsight I didn't do this part at all - I was quite gung-ho about it �� and didn't think too hard about my motivation other than 'im doing this to save the world' or something like that)

Truly assess what you want to get out of it. Build on your strengths, protect your weaknesses (hey, you may be able to overcome them but to be realistic it's good to have a plan B).

I think after all that all we can do is accept whether it was meant to be or not.

Hope that helps ☺️

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((( TJ )))))))))
I think you would be great at this