How can peer supporters prioritize self-care and resilience?

Peer support is a valuable and rewarding practice that involves sharing lived experiences, offering emotional and practical assistance, and fostering mutual learning and empowerment among people who face similar challenges. However, peer support also comes with its own set of stressors and demands, such as managing boundaries, coping with vicarious trauma, and balancing personal and professional roles. That's why peer supporters need to prioritize self-care and resilience, not only for their own well-being, but also for the quality and sustainability of their service. In this article, we'll explore some strategies and tips for peer supporters to take care of themselves and bounce back from adversity.

1 Recognize your signs of stress

Stress is inevitable in any helping profession, but it can be especially acute for peer supporters who may have their own histories of trauma, mental health issues, or substance use. Stress can affect your physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as your performance and relationships. Therefore, it's important to be aware of your own signs of stress, such as headaches, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, or depression. By monitoring your stress levels and identifying your triggers, you can take proactive steps to prevent or reduce stress before it becomes overwhelming.

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Dr. Caroline Buzanko

Empowering Therapists and Educators to Optimize Kids' Resilience | Yoda of Anxiety & Big Feels | Busting Poor Practices
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Recognition of stress is indeed a foundational step in our own - and those we help - emotional literacy and, ultimately, emotion regulation. When we are out of touch with what is going on, we can make it hard to co-regulate with others. The signs of stress like headaches and fatigue, irritability are often ignored, downplayed, or misattributed and can negatively affect our work. For those of us in the helping profession, recognizing and addressing stress is not just a personal responsibility but also a professional necessity. I find grounding myself is a key part of the work I do to ensure that stress isn’t sneaking into the work we do.

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2 Practice self-compassion

Self-compassion is the ability to treat yourself with kindness, understanding, and forgiveness, especially when you face difficulties or make mistakes. Peer supporters often have high expectations of themselves and may feel guilty or inadequate if they can't meet the needs of their peers or cope with their own challenges. However, self-compassion can help you acknowledge your limitations, accept your emotions, and learn from your experiences without judging yourself harshly. Self-compassion can also help you cultivate a positive and realistic self-image, which can boost your confidence and motivation.

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3 Seek support and supervision

Peer support is based on the principle of mutual aid, which means that you don't have to do it alone. You can benefit from seeking support and supervision from other peer supporters, mentors, or professionals who can offer you guidance, feedback, and encouragement. Support and supervision can help you deal with ethical dilemmas, emotional distress, role conflicts, or burnout. They can also help you enhance your skills, knowledge, and competencies as a peer supporter. You can seek support and supervision through formal or informal channels, such as peer networks, online forums, training programs, or individual sessions.

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4 Engage in self-care activities

Self-care is the practice of taking care of your own needs and interests in order to maintain or improve your health and well-being. Self-care activities can vary depending on your preferences, goals, and resources, but they generally include physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects. Some examples of self-care activities are exercising, eating well, sleeping enough, meditating, journaling, reading, listening to music, or spending time with friends and family. Self-care activities can help you relax, recharge, and cope with stress. They can also help you express yourself, enjoy yourself, and connect with others.

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Dayton Williams, MBA, PMP, MSW

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?" ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, “If not now then when, if not me then who?” ~ Malcolm X
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Across the helping professions, we find self-care defined as an ethical imperative in one form or another. And for good reason. As a behavioral practitioner, there is a direct correlation between attending to one's self-care and preventing harm to those we serve. A real-world example is when the flight attendant instructs us to put our oxygen mask on before helping another. The self-care examples given above are excellent. If you still need to establish a routine, start with one or two suggestions. The goal is to find something that works for you to where you feel, at the end of the day, that you are recharged and rejuvenated. I call my self-care routine my daily practice because that is, precisely, what I do, i.e., practice every day.

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5 Set and maintain boundaries

Boundaries are the limits and rules that you set for yourself and others in order to protect your time, energy, and values. Boundaries are essential for peer supporters, who may face situations where they have to say no, ask for help, or refer someone to another service. Boundaries can help you avoid role confusion, overcommitment, or exploitation. They can also help you respect your own and others' rights, responsibilities, and preferences. To set and maintain boundaries, you need to communicate them clearly, assertively, and respectfully, and also be consistent and flexible when needed.

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6 Celebrate your achievements and strengths

Peer support can be challenging and demanding, but it can also be rewarding and fulfilling. Peer supporters can make a positive difference in the lives of their peers, as well as their own. Therefore, it's important to celebrate your achievements and strengths, no matter how big or small they are. Celebrating your achievements and strengths can help you recognize your value, appreciate your efforts, and reinforce your positive behaviors. It can also help you cope with setbacks, challenges, and feedback. You can celebrate your achievements and strengths by acknowledging them, sharing them, rewarding yourself, or learning from them.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can peer supporters prioritize self-care and resilience?

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1 Recognize your signs of stress

2 Practice self-compassion

3 Seek support and supervision

4 Engage in self-care activities

5 Set and maintain boundaries

6 Celebrate your achievements and strengths

7 Here’s what else to consider

Peer Support

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How can peer supporters prioritize self-care and resilience?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Recognize your signs of stress

2 Practice self-compassion

3 Seek support and supervision

4 Engage in self-care activities

5 Set and maintain boundaries

6 Celebrate your achievements and strengths

7 Here’s what else to consider

Peer Support

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