Does anyone have a Support Worker??

SHYGIRLAJB · #1 25th October 2017, 14:40

Hi everyone...

I have an appointment to see the Mental Health Team on Friday , to obviously discuss my mental health issues ... I know the meds I need sorting ... My counsellor mentioned about what else do I need help with .. She happened to mention about a Support Worker ... I had one of quite some years ago . I think their main aim was to get me to the local Mind Centre and that was it . It didn’t help they changed Support workers and they ended up dumping me just like that once they found out my Psychiatrist discharged me ... So I’m really not sure , as I’m worried in case it happens again ...

What do you do with your Support Worker and do you feel like it helps you ?? ..

Cheers TIA

Mo34 · #2 25th October 2017, 16:07

I had one a number of years ago. Mine was mostly to help me leave the house, do things, get into volunteering etc.. I met him about once a fortnight and we'd often go for a coffee and a chat or he'd come along with me to stuff like the volunteer bureau or CAB or whatever. I got on really really well with him which probably helped but it also forced me to chat to and open up to a stranger - not in the way of counselling or a GP etc.. but in the way you might do in a social situation with ppl. So for me that was enormously beneficial (even if it didn't feel like it at the time). I was fortunate that I saw him for a long time (not to the pleasing of the mental health team I might add). I found it to be the only positive thing I've received from the NHS.

SHYGIRLAJB · #3 26th October 2017, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo34

I had one a number of years ago. Mine was mostly to help me leave the house, do things, get into volunteering etc.. I met him about once a fortnight and we'd often go for a coffee and a chat or he'd come along with me to stuff like the volunteer bureau or CAB or whatever. I got on really really well with him which probably helped but it also forced me to chat to and open up to a stranger - not in the way of counselling or a GP etc.. but in the way you might do in a social situation with ppl. So for me that was enormously beneficial (even if it didn't feel like it at the time). I was fortunate that I saw him for a long time (not to the pleasing of the mental health team I might add). I found it to be the only positive thing I've received from the NHS.

Thanks for your input

SHYGIRLAJB · #4 26th October 2017, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregarious_introvert

I have a social worker, but not a support worker. I got referred to various mental health charities a few years ago (when I was still completely agoraphobic) but because of the funding cuts, they had all withdrawn their support worker options.

I have known others who have had support workers and it seems that you get an hour or two per week, to help you do things which you might otherwise not feel able to do (walk round the park, visit a café or whatever). It seemed to help them.

Thanks for your input

SHYGIRLAJB · #5 26th October 2017, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinny

I had one when my children were toddlers, but not through any mental health charity, it was through a charity that supports families. I found it massively helpful and wish I had one now. It would be great to have someone to meet up with who understood my issues, I suppose a lot of people get that from family or friends, but if you don't have that network a support worker is good.

Aww thanks for your input

.... I do get support from my family too ...The problem I have is motivation... My counsellor thought it may give me that push to do things again ... I dunno ..

Utopia · #6 27th October 2017, 17:53

Nope... I don't even have as much as a close friend.

Merritt · #7 28th October 2017, 13:08

I see mine for a couple of hours per week. It's really helpful to have someone to talk to, in a fairly informal non-therapy way (although they should be trained to help with that sort of thing too). We usually go for a coffee somewhere, and it's generally the only socialising I do each week. I'd be very isolated otherwise.

If you're worried that your support via NHS will be taken away again, it's worth talking to your support worker about it, as they might be able to help get you into more long term support with any charities that offer that kind of thing. Or they might be able to help you with any benefits you're entitled to but aren't receiving, which you could use for funding your own support (this is what I do. The previous charity went out of business, but I get enough to afford paying someone privately)

SHYGIRLAJB · #8 29th October 2017, 18:01

Just an update really ... The person whom I saw never mentioned about a Support Worker anyways ... I think he is only going to change my meds ... It didn’t help his English was kind of hard to hear (he is Indian , Pakistani) ... Plus he was half an hour late, his desk was dirty from the people before me ... It felt like he wasn’t listening, as he mentioned if I had bad thoughts , I said about wanting to go to sleep and not wake up ... He then asks about if I’m getting enough sleep ...

The conversation kind of went like that ... He asked about what meds worked best ... To be honest I couldn’t remember and if they worked why would I have been swapped to something else. He wanted me to come off my meds sort from 30mg to 0 mg .. I am not sure on that , as I have had a bad experience before , terrible side effects ... I explained this and he shook his head and said I won’t get any side effects from just coming off these current meds ... Yes the meds I had before were pretty bad .... He told me about my new meds and then said that my anxiety will not go ... I will always have it due to my Aspergers Syndrome.... Meh , great just what I wanted to hear ((not)) ... He has left me more anxious then ever ... No wonder I have got constant headaches .