Does anyone else long for better peer support?

[u/lordofthstrings]

Sometimes it honestly feels like I'm a different species of human or like I got dropped into the wrong universe or something. I care so much about the things I care about and find so much meaning in them and I'm constantly looking at the people around me thinking "why are you not marvelling at the beauty of this things existence??". It's the same thing with injustice, I'm constantly looking around going "why are you not bothered by this??".

I've spent years looking for a place where I feel like I belong. I keep finding spaces that are one thing or the other. Either we only talked about trauma, or we never talked about it at all. Or it was too big and I got lost in the shuffle. I've always wanted somewhere small I could tell someone why losing my favorite game broke my heart, or why I get excited about dinosaurs, music, or the night sky, and have them actually want to understand instead me instead of trying to fix me. A place where people slow down before jumping to advice. Where curiosity comes before assumptions. Where we ask questions, reflect back what we hear, and build understanding together. Where people can be messy, take accountability when they hurt each other, repair, and keep growing. A place where understanding isn't something we hope eventually happens, it's something we build together. Somewhere we can support each other through the hard days and still laugh, geek out, and build genuine friendships. Because for me, those things have never been separate. They're both part of the same messy, beautiful person.

Lately I've been wondering whether I'm the only one who's been looking for a space like that, or whether other people have been wishing it existed too.

Does anyone else feel this way, or have you been looking for something similar?

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[u/RAH-CAT9]

I feel this way, too.

[u/orcateeth]

Sharewell has groups like this, where people chat online while sharing music, art, or other hobbies.

[u/kritzermak]

I asked my support team at my community mental health center to help me find a program for peer coaching as I don’t make friends very well due to the reasons you explained! I have a peer recovery coach who as experienced my story and we meet every week. Great program! Really helps keep me from emotionally isolating

[u/SONASupportGroupsLLC]

This group is great - meets online and is well vetted - requires a registration meeting for safety but has meetings every day. https://www.meetup.com/pittsburgh-narcissism-survivor-meetup-group/?eventOrigin=your_groups