The Samaritans

chern0byl

Have considered volunteering for quite a while and have decided to do it. Has anyone else done work with them before, and any advice for me?

The only concern i have really is that i could possibly make a persons situation worse with something i say or by the end of all call, feel like i have done sfa for someone.

Thanks for any info.

star gazer

They would give you training before you go on and your main function would be to listen rather than to try to be a professional therapist with a small amount of training. Still it is undoubtably a challenging position to be in so getting as much info as possible first is a good idea. jo@Smaratins.org
112 Marlborough Street,
DUBLIN 1,
Republic of Ireland
Phone: 01 872 7700
http://www.samaritans.org.uk/talk/large_map.shtm#DUBLI

porno

hi joe
im geraldine from athlone
is there any co dependent groups in ireland im divorced since dec and am remarrig in aug 06 to a man who ostly great but when drunk abuses me and never admits its his fault or that he has a drinkproblem, im so afraid of been on my own i have no friends not any real ones i feel so alone i have 5 kids 4 live with me my e mail is Geraldine_mcevoy@hotmail.com im 43 this is not coming from porno

star gazer

http://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/
It also has the irish section. for people affected by other people's drinking
www.solo.ie single parenting group
www.aware.ie www.grow.ie might be useful and email the samaratins for help also.
If you would like to discuss what's going on for you, this forum might help you find some answers.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=127

PS. Jo@samaratins.org is a generic email address of the samaratins for anyone who wants to contact them that way.

people could probably volunteer for most of the above organisations if they wanted to.

Hmm_Messiah

A problem some people have with joining the Samaritans is that its non directive to an extreme, so no matter what situation is described you can't suggest any course of action (other than giving detaisl of other resources available)

Don't get me wrong, to have some one listen to you without judgement is a great resource in itself, but I am just aware of preople's frustration as volunteers.

I am open to correction here, but I also know that while it is "anonymous" that is slightly misleading as records are kept : "Jane Doe" rang on such a night etc

I'm not sure if the posting from Gerldine is genuine , or in the wrong place. But for what its worth - codependence is a term useful to counsellors but is often unhelpful to people in your situation, you are NOT co-dependent, you are in an abusive relationship.

When the r/ship is abusive what is needed is help to remove yourself from that situation. If there is a Women's Refuge locally contact them . Your husband may in many ways be fine man, and the abuse steming only from his addiction problem. If you can recognise that, he might also, after you've removed yourself from the threat, be able to see a need for treatment as somethign "good" with benefits. If he does remeber the abuse he may well be too horrified by it to admit to it, with counselling he'll be able to face these things with the knowledge he is now changing them. Al anon can be very helpful for your own needs (you each have separate needs for intervention)
One worry with all of this is confidentiality, and great fear that your life will become public knowledge;- A professional is duty bound to keep confidential what you seek help with. I know there is some times a concern re volunteer groups as you might know a person there etc , and some can even just re-inforce the "codepending" cycle of getting no where.

You are being abuse. You have to take action to stop that. After doing that all other difficulties faced will be part of a process of things getting better. Its hard to see from one side of the tunnel, but you deserve happiness and safety and good health. Professional people will help you through what overwhelms you, or what board posters are not experienced enough to tackle

porno

I am genuine

Hmm_Messiah

well like i said u need to do something now
and don't say I don't understand what its like, how difficult, scary etc, because
- I do