Writing Project by Kristen Olson

I started the project ‘Lived Experiences’ as a personal blog in 2021 at a time when I was needing reframe the way I viewed my personal recovery journey of mental distress. I had recently received several new diagnoses, several of which carried a lot of stigma with them, and was grappling with how I was coming to understand myself and the world around me. Although I had been actively seeking support to manage my unwanted experiences for the better part of a decade, it wasn’t until I learned about Peer Work and became employed in my first identified Peer role, that I saw the importance of having people within my support network that just… got it.

When I use the term ‘Lived Experiences’, I am referring to a person who has first-hand directly been impacted by a mental health condition. There are many scholars, clinicians and highly-trained people in the workforce who are extremely knowledgable about what it means to live with ongoing mental distress, but nothing can substitute what it’s like for me to have a conversation with someone who has been there.

The language that we use matters, as it can be a powerful tool in shaping how we view ourselves and the world around us. I’ve found that I have always gravitated toward written word for processing my inner experiences, and whilst outlets like journaling and therapy have been helpful, sharing elements of my recovery journey feels uniquely valuable. The articles I have written for the ‘Lived Experiences’ blog is intended to foster a culture of hope and demonstrate that people are capable of overcoming adversity and living meaningful and contributing lives despite living with stigmatising diagnoses and unwanted symptoms.

My hope is to watch this project grow and have more Lived/Living Experience voices amplified on the ‘Writings’ page. The future of Peer Work and Lived Experience Leadership is bright, and I’m honoured to be a part of the workforce that continually works to amplify the voices of those who are the experts of their own support needs so that they can go on to live meaningful and contributing lives.