Struggling: TW suicide

For crisis interventions @creative_writer , short term focus is key. However, over time, it's about finding what you want, and working towards that.

As far as I've come, I also have down days. Hence, I want to normalise this and for people to know it IS okay to have down days, and it IS okay to reach out.

I'll be wrapping up soon. I will chat tomorrow though!

@tyme honestly sometimes it's not really as much about talking but having someone there physically there with me that I can lean on and feel safe with, but it's something I've never had and I hate needing it now. Because sometimes we don't need words to describe the pain.

I hope you have a lovely night 🙂 . Will speak to you soon.

I feel so unimportant and replaceable.

hey @creative_writer, I'm sorry that you're feeling this way ❤️

What do you need to feel differently today?

@Former-Member ❤️ . I need to stop feeling so worthless because this worthlessness is making me feel like if I left right now, people will just move on and forget about me.

hmm, it sounds like to me, you kinda know where you want to go. And that's to stop feeling "worthless". Is that right @creative_writer?

I'm wondering if there's something you can do today to help make you feel a little bit less worthless? Even something "small". What do you think?

Something we try to do in peer work is to think about what we're moving to, instead of what we're running away from. When we run away from something, we can stay completely tied to that things and think about it everyday. But when we think about what we're moving towards, then we can figure out what we need to get there, including what we need to think about ourselves. Not sure what you think about that idea?

@Former-Member sometimes reminding myself that I am studying social work to help people helps me see a purpose. I think right now I feel like I am not actively doing anything to help people. I think there is a part of me that misses volunteering as a crisis supporter, but my brain has been too messy to do that. Lived experience can be a double-edged sword, it can help you understand other people but it's easy to become affected by others' trauma. I've spoken to SA survivors on my shifts before, but only one really affected me the most and retraumatised me.

wow @creative_writer, you are going to be such an amazing social worker ❤️ Your experience will help you empathise and understand others in such a powerful way.

Hmm, I wonder if you could use what you know to jump into other peoples threads sometimes and offer support, when you feel up to it? Do you think it could be an accessible way to feel like you're helping others? I think you have so much to give ❤️

And I hear you, I'm studying social work too and even in this role, I am worried about the impact of others experiences on myself. Somethings I've done or noticed to help with that are

• Knowing there are areas of social work that I don't want to work in. Ever. And that's ok
• This is my first MH job and I've had to really go back to basics with my mental health in order to maintain it (eg. eating well, exercise, taking breaks)
• Even in this role, I set boundaries and check in on myself with what I'm up to each day

Aww @Former-Member ❤️ . You would make an awesome social worker too! I could definitely jump in threads whenever I am able to.

It is really important to be self-aware of what areas of social work I don't want to go into because it would be too triggering and not good for my mental health. Though I am also conscious that completely eliminating the potential for triggers might not be possible in the social work field. I want to be able to not feel triggered so easily.

❤️ awww @creative_writer!! Look at us!

Yeah, this is something I've been thinking about a lot too. I feel like in a lot of areas of social work, triggers may come up. Even if we chose to not work in specific areas. The idea of being less impacted them is so powerful. I can see you taking control of that, even if it takes time ❤️

I know for me, I used to find parts of this job so triggering. And it's taken a little while, but I've slowly learnt to cope and manage that, but also put in boundaries. It's been so nice to have the realisation that I'm not alone is dealing with any of it. There are always colleagues and managers there to chat with.