Yikes! Actually

Oh dear - I have a bit of a dilemma.

I had to do a home visit this afternoon - last thing before going home.

The visit was to a man in his late 50s who had a learning disability and a general anxiety disorder.

I have worked very closely with this man for three and a half years. He is very nervous and has real issues over trusting people. It has taken a lot of patience and counselling to get him to the stage where he can live independently in his flat within an older persons' sheltered unit.

This evening I went to collect some forms which he needs help to fill in. While I was there we talked about things which were causing him to become anxious again.

As I went to leave, he held out his hand to shake mine and say thank you. Something he usually does, so I wasn't phased.

I was phased, however when instead of saying thank you, he announced that he loves me! Not just the "you are my social worker and you are my friend" type of love either. The statement was followed up by him telling me he would never do anything to hurt me or upset me. And he was continuing to hold my hand at this point.

Now I am pretty sure he really wouldn't do anything to hurt or upset me but it was a very difficult situation to get out of.

Unfortunately, one of this man's biggest fears is being "dropped" by services. He has had bad experiences in the past of social workers and other professionals closing his case and not following up on their promises. He has never had that from me and I suppose that is why he feels that he can trust me and is confusing that feeling for something more.

Sadly I am going to have to report this as an incident to my line manager. And the result could well be that his case has to be closed to me in case he becomes obsessive (which is a possibility). That's his biggest fear at the moment. I have to report it but I feel awful about the potential consequences.

*Sigh* another of life's challenges for me.

Seems to be that 2008 will be equally filled with them. Roll on 2009 - hopefully life will have calmed a bit by then!