Peer Support

Peer support is as it sounds, peers supporting eachother. 

It is not rescuing, and there is a difference, I have done both.  

Rescuing is jumping in to help others with their problems before addressing our own, in order to still get the dopamine rush from helping others while avoiding our own problems. 

Support is healing from our own wounds first, and then helping others who are taking the same healing steps we once took. 

The key is retaining our own sense of Self regardless of where the conversation goes, recover and retain it in a steady sense of presence, give unconditional positive regard, and validation though lived experience. 

Hold space and understanding knowing you are talking to another human being about their stress response being chronically over activated, and the words about why their system had been activating are secondary. 

Have compassion, be supportive, be present and allow them to join you in it. We are all in this together. 

The better you heal yourself the better you will be able to help others heal with you.