Alfredo Zotti

Online Volunteer helper for sufferers with mental health problems

Today marks the 15th anniversary since my journey as a volunteer helper started, fifteen years ago. I remember that I was writing on an American websites for people with various mental problems. It is on this website that I met many interesting people like Judy Wright and my friend Lewis and Dr Bob Rich. Writing on this website gave me the idea to begin to help others online and so I did going to other websites and eventually creating my own on Wordress.

I would like to reflect on these years, what I have learned, how networking with people that had a problem like me helped me and how far I have come today. It is true that this effort has contributed to my recovery in more ways than I can begin to identify. It has provided knowledge based on experience and has given me the ability to look at myself through the struggles of other people that were similar to mine. But attempting to help them I have had to help myself.

Being an helper is a difficult position that I guess I have approached not from a position of authority but from a position of equality and mutual aid. It is true to say that we were all helping each other.

Before I start rambling on I would like to get some feedback from my friends about this journey so I will wait for their reply before starting to look at this journey.

I would appreciate it very much if Dr Bob Rich, Judy Wright and Lewis could offer some feedback here not only to help me refresh my mind but touching on some important topics that deserve to be highlighted.

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4 responses to “Online Volunteer helper for sufferers with mental health problems”

  1. Judy Wright Avatar
    Judy Wright

    Alfredo, when I first met you on the depression website, I remember you had very strong feelings about dealing with mental health issues and there were people there who didn’t agree with you. You were doing a lot of research into the causes of mental illness and talked about your early experiences with suffering from Bipolar and the things that helped you get better.

    Of course, we’re both older now and probably have changed our perspectives, but something I’ve noticed for myself and probably for you, too, is that connecting with others seems to make all the difference. I suspect that focusing on your music has been a way to connect, as it has for me. You make friends in the process of making music; music can communicate in ways that our own words can’t, sometimes

    Another important factor in healing is having the courage to ask for help when we need it. And when we are helped, we are more able to help others. And really, whether we’re being helped or are the helpers, we are connecting.

    That’s all I have at the moment, but I look forward to hearing more from you!

    Reply
  2. alfredo Avatar
    alfredo

    Thank you Judy, you are absolutely right in what you say. It does not really matter if we are the helpers or those that receive help. What is important, as you say, is to connect with people and begin to discuss things and open up whenever this is possible.

    Absolutely right what you say, that what is important is that we are connecting with others because humans are social beings and most of our problems, in today’s world, particularly for people with mental problems, are the alienation we often experience, as many hide themselves and their ideas and the lack of communication and expression.

    I remember that I learned a lot from you Judy, and you were a great support for me.

    It is important to remember that there are so many other people in our situation and that they too can help us with their stories simply by connecting and communicating. Networks of people engaged in the attempt to help themselves and others can lead to recovery.

    Reply
  3. Cheryl Zotti Avatar
    Cheryl Zotti

    I agree with you, Judy, connecting with others makes a big difference. Music is very helpful to me.

    Reply
  4. Leonard Hemmings Avatar
    Leonard Hemmings

    Thank You Alfredo, Firstly I would like to Congrats on your beautiful.wonderful recent book, titled MUSIC THERAPY ,it’s a great summary of life living with Mental Health and how to work with this process.
    Your blog is very well needed and will be a great benefit to the people in our Community that is suffering with this Illness,Great Work Alfredo I RESPECT ✊ AND ADMIRE YOU FOR ALL YOUR BEAUTIFUL GREAT WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

    Reply

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