Peer help, as defined by Larousse, is based on the interaction between”peers“: individuals occupying the same rank, equal in dignity and social situation. This mutual aid approach encourages exchanges between people who have had similar experiences, allowing them to offer themselves supportive and tips mutuals.
Evoke the Definition of peer support in the context of The bipolarity, is to speak of a deeply human approach and imbued withempathy. Indeed, peer support focuses on exchanges between people who have gone through similar trials and thus sharing an intimate knowledge of the challenges associated with this psychological illness.
In the case of bipolarity, the peer helpers are individuals who have themselves experienced the ups and downs, and who have learned to navigate between manic and depressive episodes. Building on their experience and resilience, these peer helpers stand alongside those who face bipolarity, offering them listens, supportive and orienting.
Peer help, as a concept, is based on the idea thatMutual assistance between people concerned by a common problem is a powerful lever to promote reinstatement and improve the quality of life. In this support process, peer helpers (according to our definition) play a key role in helping people with bipolarity to better understand and manage their condition, while providing them with practical advice adapted to their experience.
In short, peer support is a solidarity approach which places experience and empathy at the heart of support, allowing people with bipolarity to feel supported and understood in their journey towards a more serene and fulfilling life balance. This method of support allows the individuals concerned to better understand and accept their situation, while benefiting from the experience and understanding of a person who has overcome the challenges of this condition themselves.
Mon experiment As Peer Caregiver impressed me deeply and allowed me to better understand the obstacles of people living with bipolarity, myself being concerned. My experience has shown me that theacceptance of our differences is one of the most difficult aspects to deal with in bipolarity.
For example, while a non-bipolar person can go out to nightclubs, consume alcohol or other substances without major consequences, for a person with bipolarity, the repercussions are much more important.
I realized that we are imposing mental barriers, believing that we are unable to achieve goals such as going out for a walk, doing sports or even getting back to work. However, talking to someone who is going through the same thing as us gives us Envy, courage and hope to implement these actions. We realize that this person has succeeded in doing what we are trying to achieve. What is also very interesting is to accept our difference in order to make it one strength.
As a peer helper, I discovered a passion for mutual aid and the sharing of experiences. It helped me to better understand my own condition and to feel less alone in the face of my challenges. My testimony is proof that the Peer-help can be a real game-changer for people with bipolarity, and I am proud to contribute to this momentum of solidarity And ofhope.
Let's turn our differences into strengths to overcome the challenges of bipolarity together.
Clément Baissat, founder of HopeStage and bipolar person
In fact, the bipolar people are more prone to addictions, due to their need to self-medicate to temporarily escape depression. This can cause more intense manic or depressive phases and increase the risk of addiction.
It is in this context that the Peer-help intervenes. It allows people who are bipolar to talk to others who have been through similar situations, offering them unparalleled understanding and support. Les peer helpers can share their experiences and advise on the best ways to manage the challenges associated with bipolarity, which can be very reassuring for those looking to better manage their condition.
Peer help, which is still in full development, is inspired by the model of Alcoholics Anonymous. It usually takes the form of phone calls, in-person meetings, or online meetings. The main objective is to enable bipolar people to overcome their mental blocks and to better manage their anxiety thanks to the support of a person who has already gone through these trials.
How do we integrate the Peer-help within The care path ? In fact, we consider that it is a team around the patient that will allow him to achieve his goals. In this team, there is a distribution of roles with each its advantages and disadvantages. We're going to have the psychiatrist, who has a good knowledge of pathology and medications, and who will be in charge of supervision and drug treatment. The psychologist, for his part, has more time to dig and practice psychotherapy, being the speech specialist. Finally, the third element is the Peer Caregiver.
The peer helper is a person who will rather be there on theacceptance, on the fact of being able to unblock situations that a health professional could not do. It's about having a conversation from man to man, with simplicity and ease, by transmitting a message fromhope. Peer helpers can share their experience and show that it is possible to find solutions to live better with bipolarity. This sharing of experience makes it possible to establish a climate of trust and hope by showing that others have succeeded in implementing strategies to better manage their condition.
La Peer-help can be implemented in a variety of ways, including phone calls, online meetings, or in person. Les discussion groups are also an attractive option for peer support. These groups, organized over a certain number of sessions, allow participants to help each other find solutions in order to live better with their pathology. In a structured setting, people with bipolarity can share experiences, challenges, and successes while receiving support and encouragement from their peers.
By integrating peer support into the care journey for people with bipolarity, we can create a comprehensive and complementary approach to support these individuals in managing their condition. The collaboration between psychiatrists, the psychologists And the peer helpers offers a combination of medical expertise, psychological support, and lived experience that can help bipolar individuals overcome their challenges and progress toward a better quality of life.
THEMutual aid And the sharing experiences are essential to better understand and understand this condition, and together, we can contribute to creating a more supportive and caring environment for all.
