peoples jobs

[csu.claire]

so i have noticed since being on this website a lot of people are training to work in the health industry and we have at one stage needed it for our health reasons

i am currently study social work at uni i wanted to get into sw/ psychology and get into the mental health field as i have experienced it first hand

my older brother who i am very close to has schizophrenia and depression, so i have first hand witnessed some of his bad psychotic episodes, and i have had depression and self harmed

i think it is our first hand experiences that drive us into such professions as we have lived through it and want to help people who it is currently affecting

those r just my thoughts but what do u guys think ??

[random.swirls]

Hum

For me I wanted to be a Dr from when I was young prior to being ill!

However, due to being ill I didn't get the grades at school so I then turned to psychology!

After leaving uni that all failed massively and I became an administrator.

However after being ill for years I'm now working with my local mental health trust developing and running courses and soon will hopefully become a peer support worker so using my experiences to help others :)

So my new job is directly related to being ill but wanting to work with people and so on isn't!

[Too Shy]

I think a lot of people who have experience of health issues (psychological and physical) do consider going into (or actually go into!) the health professions - sometimes because of positive experiences, or sometimes negative experiences and wanting to give people better experiences.

For me, I wanted to go into clinical psychology for a long time because I wanted to help people who were going through what I had, and I wanted to stop other people from having some of those experiences. But having said that, I am veering away from that now because I don't think I want my whole life to revolve around mental health issues - maybe selfish, but I don't think I could deal with it atm without affecting me.

The emergency services in general have always fascinated me though, and I would go into the police without a second thought if I could.

[englishrose]

Hey,
I guess I kind of see it as people like us that have go e through what we have tend to be more sensitive to other around use and open and willing to help other as being able to relate to there situations. I hear a lot of people say I remember how I felt at the lowest point and I was all alone And would like to be there when other are at there low. I think service change because of people like us in the social sector. Personally I'm 6 months off my social work degree I'm going into child protection just because I tryed older people And disability service and for me I got bored the. Went to child protection and to me I was doing the work I thought I would doing as a social worker! I think the thing is to use our own experience to enhance our practice, I would never share my experiences with a service user but being about to understand and relate better will enable me to provide better support. Sorry going on xx

[blanket.]

Yep, I think a lot of people who've experienced something such as medical difficulties are inclined to then put what they've learnt first hand into their future work, to help others in the same position. I volunteer in personally relatable areas and would be interested in continuing it further but for the sake of my own health (at least at the moment) I rationalise myself out of it, as it'd be too triggering and stir up unwanted memories.

[mat]

Um. Had medical probs but don't want to be in the field. I wanted to be a pharmacist, because I like drugs I could work with drugs all day and talk about them all day.

But I'm a welder, and it being a top ranked worst job to have doesn't bother me at all..

[xlaurenx]

Well. I wanted to always be a vet nurse when i realised i wasnt smart enough to be a vet. It wasn't until i had my own problems and i was referred to camhs did I have a change of heart. At first i still wanted to work with animals but have healthcare work as a second choice. Then after I ended up in hospital and recieved more intense help from camhs did i fully change my mind and I decided to go into mental health to help others . As i have been there ( sh, severe depression, anxiety and eating problems) and know how **** it can be.

So for me I just want to help people who have been through the same as me. :)

[popsicle]

I think a lot of people are lead into it based on their personal experiences. I'm a graphic designer, but before I started studying it I was drawn to abnormal psychology. I never wanted to be a counselor or anything because it takes a lot more dedication/caring/people skills than I have, but I liked the idea of helping people receive any treatments they needed, and possibly improving treatments. And that was definitely based on my personal issues with depression, because I never wanted anybody to have to feel as terrible as I did when I was unable to get the help I needed. BUT, I was also drawn to it just because I find it interesting. I'm not sure why, but I've always liked hearing the way others think. I like to learn about what types of thoughts people have, and how that effects their behavior.

BUT in the end I followed all my fabulous dreams and went to art school. I still find myself reading a lot about psychology in my free time though.