The Motivation behind Social Service: A Personal Journey

Seventy-five years old, I may be, but my mission to serve the greater good and make a difference through social service continues unflaggingly. What motivates me is a deep-seated compassion and a desire to help those in need, without ever expecting anything in return. I believe this innate sense of fulfillment is a powerful driving force for social work.

For over four decades, I have focused my efforts on helping families and individuals cope with mental health challenges, primarily bipolar disorder. As a social worker, my primary goal was to assist the parents and families of the children under my care in identifying their overarching objectives that went beyond mere reunification. My joy came from knowing that the families had succeeded in achieving their goals, such as reuniting a child with their home, helping them overcome substance abuse, and addressing anger management issues.

However, my journey as a social worker came to an end. My life took a different path, one fraught with challenges and obstacles due to my bipolar disorder, a serious and debilitating illness. At age 20, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition that required lifelong treatment. The mood swings from extreme depression to mania created significant disruption in my life, making it impossible to complete my education, maintain a job, or nurture meaningful relationships.

For 35 years, I fought tirelessly against these challenges. Daily medication and numerous hospitalizations, including repeated ECT sessions, became a part of my life. It was not until my 57th year that I met a psychiatrist who prescribed the correct medications that brought about a period of stability. With my "Mount Everest" conquered, my life lacked a clear purpose. Without the fight against my illness to motivate me, my motivation to live began to wane.

At age 65, I found a new purpose and a renewed motivation in participating in a local peer support group dedicated to people with bipolar disorder and their caregivers. Recognizing the wealth of knowledge I had gained over the years, I began to offer my experience and understanding to fellow members facing similar challenges. This new mountain to climb provided a fresh sense of purpose, and I embarked on a new journey of social service.

My path has not been easy, but the fulfillment I derive from helping others has kept me going. I have been answering mental health questions on Quora and have written over 3,500 answers, becoming a valuable resource for those seeking guidance. Today, I am surrounded by nearly 500 members from all over my country who participate in my peer support group. We communicate daily on various platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp, striving to solve each other's problems while collectively increasing our knowledge and support.

Through these experiences, I have come to understand that the work I do goes beyond simply providing aid; it is about building a community of support, understanding, and mutual growth. The deep satisfaction I gain from helping others is what keeps me motivated to continue my social service journey. It is a testament to the belief that even in the most challenging moments, there is always a way to make a difference.