Tillogram

I won't way 'it's wrong', but it's good to have a balance. The last thing I want if for people to see me as less-human because I work in the field. It's far from it!

I still get angry, upset, annoyed and frustrated too. @Shaz51 @Till23

Yes me too @tyme

Thanks @tyme yes as you say it is PEER work, so it actually is good if people see that it's OK not to be OK some times and you can still be a helpful person even if you're not at your best. @Shaz51

Precisely. The only thing that is harder for us is when we need to put the 'boss' hat on when we monitor risks, guideline breaches etc. That's the hard part where we can't use our peer hat. Besides that.... we gain as much from the forums as others do @Till23 @Shaz51 @Appleblossom

@Till23 @Shaz51 @tyme I think when we get to show our vulnerability, it helps us connect w the community on a deeper level.
And Shazzy you may make mistakes but we all do!! You're nothing short of a superstar hun 😊

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@Till23 wrote:

I am trying to post fun things on the forums and be positive on the social threads. But it's wearing a mask for the forums - so not sure if that is helpful.

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Just wondering if you caught this one? Recovery Focused Posting

The point is that we aren't asking members to mask or pretend they're ok when they're not. It's more about reassuring the community that we're safe, and letting folks know what we might be needing - whether thats connection and company, a space to vent Big Feelings, or a distraction from heavy thoughts. It's not asking folks to hide their feelings, merely encouraing us to look at what we might be able to do differently to support ourselves, so we aren't getting ourselves stuck in rumination-territory. Hope that makes sense 😊

Yes I saw with interest that someone - could have been you @tyme mentioned that SANE was down on Peer Support Workers and there would be no overnight posts for a time while new workers were trained up. I thought mmm I wish I could help out there, could I do it? I have been looking into a MH and neuroscience course which is fully online. However I then saw in SANE express that there were currently no positions for PSW

Thank you @Jynx 😊

And you are awesome too 😎

Thanks @Jynx yes I read that around the time it was first posted and I understand the reasoning behind it, although it's easy to slip up especially when you have been expressing yourself in that way for a long time you are hardly aware. I think I am so used to masking @Jynx that I kind of do it automatically. I always have my "own" thread where I express how I am feeling such as Tillogram, however on the social threads I am more upbeat. I am aware of rumination and I know I do have quite a bit of insight so am reasonably aware of it and try to do something to stop it occurring which for me is mainly physical activity

@Till23 totally, and we know it can be a bit of an adjustment, so we are always happy to help guide or provide insight if you're ever unsure.

Ach, that automatic masking is diffcult to contend with at times hey. It can feel super destabilising to rip it off suddenly too - so it's okay to pace yourself with how much vulnerability you feel comfy sharing 😊

Yes in real life @Jynx that would definitely take a looong time, but on the anonymous forum it's much easier. You still have to be mindful of how what you say, may impact other members, so you are always filtering.

As I say I'm reasonably unmasked on my own thread but in social threads I feel it's not the right place for heavy material and it's good to have a space where things are lighter, which I think, is the social threads. I will sometimes share stuff on other people's threads or in particular topics if I feel it will help other members or add to the general conversation.