Lived Experience
This is the term for wisdom you gain from going through tough life experiences and personal challenges.
What is lived experience?
The simple act of having someone sit with you and truly do this without judging is the heart of peer support.
What is listen?
Recovery is a personal journey, meaning it is defined by this person.
Who is the individual (the person themselves)?
A peer supporter walks "alongside" you rather than leading from the _______ or looking down from above.
What is the front (or a pedestal)?
Peer support teaches that no matter how difficult things get, there is always room for this positive feeling about tomorrow.
What is hope?
Unlike traditional clinical advice, peer support is built on sharing experiences rather than giving this.
What is giving advice (or telling people what to do)?
TED Talks on peer support often highlight that healing happens together, not in complete ______.
What is isolation (or solitude)?
Making a daily plan to take care of your mind, body, and spirit is often called creating a wellness toolbox or plan for _______.
What is self-care (or wellness)?
Instead of focusing strictly on an illness or diagnosis, peer support focuses on treating a person with dignity and _______.
What is respect?
Speaking up for your own needs and choices in your healthcare is called self-_______.
What is self-advocacy?
In peer support, instead of asking "What is wrong with you?", we learn to ask this empowering question.
What is "What happened to you?"?
When two people who "get it" talk, it creates a unique sense of mutual ______ and safety.
What is understanding (or connection)?
Unlike a straight line, the journey of recovery is often described as having ups and downs, making it more like a _______.
What is a roller coaster (or a winding road / journey)?
A peer supporter acts as an equal partner, which means keeping relationships based on mutual respect and _______.
What is equality (or trust)?
Hearing someone else say "I've been there too, and I made it through" gives a person this powerful gift.
What is inspiration (or proof that recovery is possible)?
Sharing your personal story of recovery with someone else can help break down this painful feeling of isolation.
What is loneliness (or shame / stigma)?
This type of specialized phone line offers a safe person to talk to day or night when you just need a peer to listen.
What is a Warm Line?
This recovery tool involves identifying the everyday things—like music, art, or a walk—that help ground you when stressed.
What are coping skills (or grounding tools)?
When someone is having a hard time, a peer doesn't try to "fix" them immediately, but offers this instead.
What is presence (or empathy / a safe space)?
Your personal narrative belongs entirely to you; deciding when and how to share it is finding your _______.
What is your voice?
True peer support recognizes that our past struggles are not weaknesses, but become this for helping others.
What is a superpower (or strength / tool for recovery)?
According to peer philosophy, instead of feeling like an isolated patient, connection reminds us we are part of a shared _______.
What is a community (or human family)?
Recovery is not about being "fixed," but rather about discovering a meaningful, hopeful life, even with ongoing _______.
What are symptoms (or challenges)?
This principle means believing in someone's potential even when they are struggling to believe in it themselves.
What is holding hope for them?
The ultimate message of the peer movement is summed up by this simple, powerful four-word truth: "We can and do _______."
What is "recover"?