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Stories Narrative research project stories A Working Life
Stories Narrative research project stories A Working Life
A Working Life |
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bipolar disorder (manic depression) | coping strategies | employment (+) | exercise | female | hobbies | hospital | housing | impact of events from childhood/adolecence | medication | mood swings | music | sense of self | support from friends | supportive spouse/partner | volunteering
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Published: February 2006 This story highlights how volunteering and engaging with the wider community can impact on recovery. I think my recovery started when I left home. I found living there very stressful and I wasn't taking my manic depression medication regularly, so my moods were fluctuating a lot. My psychiatrist gave me the choice of going to the Rehab hospital and I went. It’s a cottage where you live with other people who are ill, and you learn how to cook and clean, and to take your medication at regular times. When I was first ill, I was on a different medication than I am on now. I had, what I think they call, a psychotic episode - brought on by the stress of university exams, moving house into town and getting a job where I didn't know anybody. After five months in the Rehab hospital I managed to get a house on my own, and this gave me a chance to work out what was bad and good in my life. I had started some studies at a National Schizophrenia Fellowship project, and this led on to other voluntary work. I was still visiting the day hospital and seeing a Community Psychiatric Nurse, but we agreed in the end that I didn't need to see her any more. The voluntary work made me get out in the morning and gave structure to my day. I've found that routines are very important and help me take my medication. It has also been helpful to meet people from out with the mental health area. I did many voluntary jobs and it helped that I could gradually take on extra hours. I also met my husband at my voluntary job so it's been good that way! My psychiatrist is really good. I was seeing him before I moved away from my parents, so I've been with him a long time. He knows me very well and we trust each other. He prescribed my current medications and I haven't been into hospital since I started them. I've also learned ways of coping. Talking to people has been very important, having contacts with whom I can discuss my problems and anxieties about work or life; people like my husband, work colleague, neighbour or support worker. I often drop in and have a chat with my neighbour or talk to my work colleague about stresses that we both have. It has helped to learn, particularly from people out with the mental health area, that their anxieties are not so different from my own and feeling part of the community is important to me. I've also learned to avoid too many stressful events happening at once as this can make me ill. When I first got ill, a psychologist friend of my sister helped me to understand why I was ill, and how it was just a collection of stresses put together. Forcing myself to do something can be helpful, like writing a letter to my sister. I find listening to Mozart calming and my husband and I both enjoy listening to classical music. Hobbies and interests have helped, also exercise. I find walking to work, aerobics, the gym, or cycling reduces the anxiety. It is also quite important because the medication that I'm on makes me put on weight, so if I keep exercising, it keeps it under control. I'd like to cope better and not be so hard on myself. I'm on the way of achieving this but I often feel I'd like to talk to somebody - in a counselling role - but they're not there. The support workers are not often trained in counselling. I would like to find a way of not needing a support worker. My anxiety level is certainly down, and my moods and my depression have been controlled. I still take medication but I don't get so high or so low. I get days when I'm a bit down, just like anybody else, but I now have coping strategies to deal with that. I am now doing paid work (part-time) which makes balancing the bills easier and gives me and my husband the opportunity to go on an extra holiday. This story was written based on this individuals interview for the SRNs narrative research project entitled, 'Recovering Mental Health in Scotland'. More information about the project can be found in the Narrative Research Project section of our website www.scottishrecovery.net. If you’d like to share your own experience of recovery please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 0141 240 7790 to discuss. Click here to go back to previous page |
Story Tags
activism community/socialising/inclusion coping strategies creativity depression employment (+) exercise female hospital male medication medication (-) peer support (informal) and befriending seeing things differently self knowledge/learning/growth self management sense of self support from family support from friends support from mental health professionals supportive spouse/partner taking control talking therapies voluntary mental health services volunteering Story disclaimer
The stories presented here are for information only. They are meant to inspire hope and show that recovery can and does happen. The stories highlight various examples of recovery and we do not advocate any of these experiences as the ‘right’ way to recover. Recovery is an individual and unique process, each person must decide for himself or herself what will work for them. Please carefully consider any decisions you make about your own recovery and consult with someone you trust if you feel unsure. See our Submit Your Thoughts pages for details on how to submit a story to us or you can contact us.
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