 Written by Sam P
Peer Support Worker, The Wellness Initiative It is a big question to ask myself, how “has being a Peer Worker changed me as a person?” I guess the best place to start is to first give a bit of context. I as a person have always been anxious, I don’t even really remember when it started and as anyone who experiences anxiety knows, it truly sucks. I spent a lot of my time avoiding situations that caused me anxiety and the list of things to avoid kept growing until before I knew it I was completely isolating myself. I would only ever be at home or at work. I remember people asking me to go out places for fun and how that sick heavy feeling in my gut would grow with all the negative thoughts about traveling somewhere or being around people. So, I would always make an excuse, eventually people stopped asking me to go out and my Isolation slowly grew into depression without me even realising it. My depression and anxiety eventually led me to seek help in the hospital, this was when I was introduced to a Peer worker for the first time. With their support, I set goals to break my isolation which resulted in me joining a Dungeons and Dragons group, something I had been interested in but too anxious to try. This resulted with me forming lasting friendships I still have to this day. The experience of achieving my social goals awakened a newfound drive in me to overcome my anxiety not just for myself, but for others too. On my last day with my Peer Worker, I expressed my desire to follow in their footsteps “I want to be a Peer Worker”. Despite the challenges, I worked on myself, polished my resume, and applied for jobs while pursuing skills at Tafe. When I received the offer to work at The Wellness Initiative, I was overwhelmed with emotion and not ashamed to say; I had a good cry, knowing I could now use my experiences to help others. Starting as a Peer Worker So, I’m now a Peer Worker, and anxiety is still there bugging me with thoughts but they're not as loud as they used to be. My new role started with me doing a few buddy shifts with another Peer Worker so I could watch, learn and ask questions but eventually after a few weeks I got to go and meet my first participant solo. I was really anxious on my way to this first support but as soon as it began, and I started learning about my participant's goals, my anxiety gave way for excitement. Suddenly I was talking to this person about all these exciting ideas and prospects and all the time feeling this profound empathy for my participant's struggles and barriers as I had been there in their place not so long ago. Empathy is such an important thing to have for a Peer Worker. Every participant I get the honour of meeting has their own journey of recovery. I truly find the strength my participants have found in themselves inspiring. It’s something we can share, bond over and celebrate together. That really brings me back to the question I asked at the beginning, How has Peer work changed me as a person? Working alongside my participants I have learned and experienced so much. Everyone has their own story to tell, and having the privilege to listen and share in these stories has opened me to a world of possibilities I never could have imagined. One particular moment stands out as a testament to my personal growth. When a participant asked to go swimming at the beach, my initial anxiety surged! However, instead of retreating or making excuses, I chose honesty. I admitted my lack of strength in swimming but expressed my genuine desire to support them in this goal. This vulnerability and openness marked a significant shift from my past self. Rather than creating a barrier, this honesty sparked a constructive dialogue on how we could fulfil the participant's wish while respecting both our needs. As a result, we visited the beach making sure to pick a spot between the flags, the participant began to swim while I stayed in the shallow waters where I felt more comfortable. I feel this experience exemplified the power of communication, understanding, and mutual respect. That’s what has changed for me the most; doing things outside my comfort level, embracing vulnerability, and connecting with others on a deeper level whilst still maintaining my boundaries. This would never have happened in the past; my anxiety would have just not let it happen. Yes, the anxiety is still there, but it’s no longer something that stops me; it’s a tool I get to use in my effort to help others and myself in new and creative ways. Embracing this has empowered me to navigate new challenges with resilience and compassion, fostering growth and connection in both my personal life and professional journey as a Peer Worker.
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