Support worker is a pandemic denier

[glowbrain]

I am struggling with how to approach re-evaluating my established support worker, after latterly discovering that he denies that we are in a pandemic. I am hoping for some guidance.
I get funding for a support worker to help push me out of my inertia and isolation due to mental health issues. I have trouble communicating with people and engaging with them in general, so finding a support worker who was generally supportive and friendly was a win. He is mostly open minded person trained as a yoga instructor. However, the online yoga community is apparently over-represented in the social media bubble of Covid disinformation.
When he declared that he had a medical exemption from wearing a face covering I took him at his word and let it slide. When I later mentioned my two Astra Zeneca vaccination doses, he began offering me disinformation-type claims - indicating that my taking on an untried experimental treatment pushed by a corrupt pharmaceutical industry is making me culpable for side effects that I might pass to him and others. All in response to a disease that is supposedly no worse than a cold, and not a real pandemic. (As opposed, to say, acknowledging that staying unvaccinated and potentially incubating more covid variants makes abstainers like him concretely responsible for keeping the wider population from ever reaching herd immunity. )
I started getting into a heated riposte trying to get him to see the unscientific nonsense and irrational fallacies I saw in his words. But I knew that was going to just erase any goodwill we had.
I said that I needed to prepare an exercise we could work through together, to identify where he and I might be willing to adjust and compromise and where we each could not. I scheduled it for later this week. But I don't know that I have a way to do that that is not going to just fall over if it becomes clear we do not exist in the same consensus reality, and what counts to me as threatening risks to the community is just illusory propagandised fears to him.
I dug up some old support group literature about communication skills and mediation, but I don't really know how to apply the ideas in them.

[smallwolf]

Hello there and welcome to the beyond blue forums.

It sounds like a difficult position to be in. Some people in my family are denier side and the same applies to my work. One writes on social media and the other via the phone.

In short it is not worth replying. At least for me. It is difficult to change the mind of those who point of view is already set.

I guess the question is whether you are able to work with their point of view? Is it a deal breaker? Are they a good support person otherwise? Do their actions make you feel more at risk?

I don't think you need to try to prove a point if you feel unsafe - that is the only explanation you have to provide.

If you want to chat more....

[golden82]

hi Glowbrain,

Welcome to bb forums. In reading your post - you both have opposing views and sound very opinionated on it and your language sounds judgmental on his take on it all. If you feel that strongly then I think you know your answer. As an outsider, I would see perhaps if it is possible to agree to disagree and continue with the working r/ship you have for your benefit. If this is not possible for you both then you could try and seek another person. Good luck with it all.

[geoff]

Hello Glowbrain, and a warm welcome.

What this yoga instructor says and what he believes in, is his business, he has to do what we are governed by and if we are put into lockdown and need to wear a mask, then he has no right to make his own decision, sure he can believe in whatever he wants to, but he has to wear a mask into your place because that's exactly what we are told to do.

He has no authorisation to do unless it's because of medical reasons, but a yoga instructor wouldn't be medically unfit.

He has his own right, but the law dictates what we need to do, another lockdown which means you have to wear a mask.

Geoff.

[Croix]

Dear Glowbrain~

It sounds as if you have a good grasp of the situation the world faces, a pandemic that is highly infectious and has varied reactions, giving some mild symptoms and the opposite for others.

It does not sound to me like you lack realistic formation and planning on being vaccinated -or the benefits of wearing a mask.

It sounds more like you are stuck as to how to get your carer to be with you wihtout preaching his views to you -and if he is supposed to wear a mask then he should do so.

By all means have a talk with him, though I'd suggest you have a written list of non-negotiable points beforehand, offer them over and stick to them -it is your well being that is the most imortant thing after all.

One can get to feel very dependent on a carer -probably more than is justified, due to their constant presence and activities. this can lead to a temptation to bend to their will, not a good thing for anyone.

If you do not find after that conversation he is willing to wear any required protective gear -including a mask, and is not willing to facilitate your obtaining the vaccination you want then perhaps it might be time to lay this before his employer/funder and seek their advice.

Apart from your carer do you have any others, family, freinds, case officer or anybody else to support you in this? It is difficult by yourself.

I hope to hear from you again

Croix