Thinking of working with drug addicts

[Sideways]

Mod Note:

Can you stay our of my thread please?

Don’t forget you can use the Ignore function to take control of what you see

 

[ms spock]

I am actually not triggered @Ecdysis.

I am being assertive. Calling someone triggered when they disagree with you or challenge your frame of reference you is a cop out.

The damage done by people like yourself to vulnerable people is immense.

I see folks stop working in themselves and try to get their clients to do the work they can't do.

I have been watching this for 40 years now.

Look up similar threads to yours and you will read me saying exactly the same thing I am saying here.

I was doing peer to peer responses because you asked for feedback. I didn't give the feedback that you wanted to read though. You cannot cope with another poster on a PTSD forum disagreeing with your choices and you want to work with addicts?

As per you request I will stay out of this thread from now on. But you don't get to "triggerwash" my calling you out.

 

[Ecdysis]

So I've started researching it and there are different levels of work in this field.

The ones I'm qualified for or would need only a limited amount of additional training for are not type of work I'm interested in.

The kind of work I'd be interested in in this field requires an additional university degree and at my age, I don't feel too old to study per se, but I feel too old to study unless it's a degree that I really, really want to do.

So, back to the drawing board. I find it so difficult to work out what field I want to work in post 50 years old.

I really liked my old field of work, but I definitely need to work out a pivot, cos of AI doing that work now.

I wonder whether that sense of purpose and motivation you have when you are young, to find a career that you can identify with and that allows you to work in a field where you feel you're doing something that you're good at and that you're making a difference by doing... Whether that's maybe a young person thing... Maybe I shouldn't be looking for something that I can identify with like that at 50... Maybe it's normal for everything to feel a bit "meh" as you get older and to not have all that motivation and purpose that young people have...

 

[Survivor3]

Hi @Ecdysis . I think what your thinking about is great. Your brainstorming and researching options and possibilities. And once you've processed that you'll have a list of realistic options. I was told by a certain person in this thread too stop pursuing a particular work path because I was too damadged and it would cause people harm!! I'm now doing very well in that field and about to move on to even better career situations.

You've got the motivation to create possibilities for yourself and to make a difference in people's lives. Keep going!!

I'm 50 and still able to do stuff, learn and perform.

 

[Survivor3]

I forgot to say... whilst I was attending a drug and alcohol clinic years ago, there was a very lovely and intelligent young woman working there, slowly training and working her way up. Whilst others working there were ex addicts and had lived experience, she did not. However through leading groups and working with clients and being trained, she became very knowledgeable and professional. So you don't have to have lived experience to work in those fields. You can learn on the job and through training.

 

[Freida]

Its an impressive idea!
Couple thoughts

Maybe think of some of the questions as what you might face in an interview None of these are meant to be snarky, but they are real world questions I could see an employer ask.

What do you get out of working with them?

What do they get out of working with you?

How much will your ptsd overlap their experiences, and are you at a place where you can manage that?

How do you set boundaries with clients?

Can you handle this work being about them rather than you (Ya, that's actually a question right off the 911 page)

Im thinking - can you make a bullet list of 5 or so things that answer those questions? Not anything long or drawn out. Just statements of how this work benefits both of you. It might help in deciding which field to work in.

Another thought (because oh ya I'm on a roll!)
How much one on one contact have you had with people in these situations? How familiar are you with their day to day life?

What about asking to sit in on some open group meetings or volunteer at a homeless shelter or just hang out where they congregate and ask them about their struggles? Tell them what you plan is and ask if they think you are on the right track.

These might give you a better view of what they need from you, that you could then use to help decide which path to take

And no - you are not too old. You have a wealth of knowledge and experience that someone just starting out can't even begin to understand. You have a background that can understand and acknowledge their struggles - which is HUGE.

I say go for it!