lokanine

Im bummed the video stopped before he talked about his feelings getting hurt but rejuvenating twice the speed of a normal person

Do you work at a nonprofit? I just switched from United Health Services (large for profit mental health organization) and had never heard of peer specialists

I love the idea of having people who have actually faced the challenges of the illness because one of the biggest complaints I hear from clients is "You dont know what I have been through"

Kinda of like when a therapist is helping someone through combat related PTSD. You can engage the client in CBT and exposure and what not, but I think it is a valid criticism on the client's part that the therapist likely doesnt know what it is like to be fired upon, see friends die, etc. "Just use your breathing exercises Dale" Ya, Im sure its that easy

If thats the job you want some day you dont need a Masters

Are you planning on working SOLELY with people suffering from Schizophrenia? One of the negatives about schizophrenia is that it is a persistent and powerful disorder. You dont often get the gratification of seeing your work leading to success and a lot of the time it is just helping them manage it

Not saying that it isnt rewarding work, but you dont often get those moments of "insight" you might get with other clients that makes all your time and effort worth it

Worked with a 16 year old that thought he sold he soul to the devil, knew the exact date of the end of the earth and how it would happen, and thought Tupac was living on an island somewhere. There is absolutely nothing you would be able to say to that kid that would get him to even second guess his delusions.

In my own experience some people with schizophrenia can be VERY convincing with the delusions they have. Most are completely out of this world and unbelievable, but some have some merit and COULD be possible (though surely are not)

Reminds me of conspiracy theorists regarding 9/11, JFK, etc. They find ways to tie a bunch of information together to form (some of the time) coherent ideas about the world. And they sound sooo sure about

I remember working with a 16 year old one time that made me question whether people with some mental illness just have an ability to see the world from a perspective that most other people are not able (like a shaman, psychic, whatever you wanna call it). Sort of like a Sixth Sense "I see dead people" kinda thing. From an outside perspective, yet thats totally insane. But maybe, just maybe, there is something more to it

Dont work over 40 hours a week. Chances are, the facility you work at is understaffed and lacking resources. Reality is, most mental health facilities are. But you cant use that as an excuse to be picking up shifts or working extra hours

Firm boundaries with clients. Dont give them your personal cell phone numbers or engage with them in anything that isnt directly related to the services your agency provides

Leave work at work and personal shit at home. The second you walk out of your workplace you need to be able to let it all go and transition to your personal time. Lots of people have a tendency to ruminate on shit that happened at work. Thats no good. Forget about it. Worry about it when you walk in the door for your next shift, not before

Meditation, deep breathing, muscle relaxation, healthy eating, and keeping my home clean all help me stay healthy and at 100% for my clients. Service providers that provide gym memberships, meditation materials, yoga classes, or discourage overworking or coming in on days off are all good.

Spent 2 years at a locked-door residential facility for adolescents and currently employed at a community mental health clinic as a case work for primarily foster families