Recovery Journey Together

With an Expert by Experience

What is Peer Support?

Peer support in the mental health area refers to the assistance and encouragement provided by persons who have lived experience with mental health challenges. This form of support fosters healing through shared experiences, empathy, and understanding, creating a safe space where individuals can express their feelings and navigate recovery together.

Scientific studies have shown that peer support can lead to improved mental health outcomes, including reduced anxiety and depression, enhanced quality of life, and increased resilience. Research indicates that the authenticity of peer relationships can promote hope and motivation, helping to feel less isolated and more empowered in recovery journey.

Many experience better recovery rates with peer support because it fosters a sense of community, reinforces coping skills, and encourages personal accountability, thereby facilitating a holistic approach to mental wellness.

My Lived Experience

I experienced the feeling of hopelessness of living with emotional, mental health vulnerability and not being aware of it, not able to find help for myself anywhere I looked. I have also experienced anger and absurdity regarding a misleading diagnosis (from self, society as well as specialists) which I felt I cannot use for my recovery. I have also experienced how long it took to obtain and understand diagnoses that were very helpful to me as a guide in my recovery process.

My biggest experience is with several intertwined personality disorders and everything that came with them all the way from intense fear and anxiety, to surrender to the unknown, to hope and recovery.

In the past 15+ years I had the most intense and most dedicated period in my recovery journey consisting of psychotherapy and many forms of peer support:

certified Peer Supporter

certified Peer Support Trainer

11+ years of psychotherapy

group therapy

facilitator for men's groups

Al-Anon

suicide hotline counselor