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Stories Narrative research project stories JR and Sue Ellen
Stories Narrative research project stories JR and Sue Ellen
JR and Sue Ellen |
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advocacy | anxiety | coping strategies | depression | employment (-) | hospital | hypnotherapy | medication (-) | peer support (informal) and befriending | self knowledge/learning/growth | self management | service provider | support from family | support from friends | support from mental health professionals | volunteering
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Published: November 2005 This story highlights how support from people with similar experiences, family, friends, ex-partners and professionals can impact on recovery. I am an Occupational Therapist (OT) and Mental Health nurse and through experiencing mental health problems myself, I feel like I've now got a lot more to offer clients. I can bring a totally empathetic understanding of what they've been through. I became ill with anxiety and depression in 2000, but for quite a long period I was in denial that I could actually get mentally ill. My doctor put me on anti-depressants and Diazepam. When I was coming off the Diazepam my problems accelerated. I experienced paranoia and depression and I was quite psychotic for a while - I actually thought I was Sue Ellen from TV's Dallas, and my ex-partner was JR! It seems quite funny now but it was pretty scary at the time. When I was admitted to hospital, I felt I got more support from the clients than the staff. I just wanted somebody to talk to, but I felt the staff were there just to assess me and give me medication, which I didn't want. I made friends with some of the other clients and they were with you 24 hours a day, whereas the staff changed. Clients would know if something was amiss with me quicker than the staff. They could also tell me what to expect from particular medications. I was quite lucky in that I had actually done my nurse training with two of the staff, so they were able to say, “She was like this when she was well” and would recognise when I was getting better. The main thing that has brought me through is having somebody to talk to about how I've been feeling. The Occupational Therapist at the hospital was the main support, although she said that she never thought that OT’s could have mental health problems! She realised there was a problem and was quite understanding and would talk about it with me. I found her the most helpful and she actually spent time with me. My family was very supportive as well - my sisters came up for a week and signed me off work. Because I was depressed, the doctor was keen for me to get ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy), but my ex-partner knew I was against having this done. He told them that I had written an essay saying how much I hated it and that I wouldn't have it. My sister contacted the Advocacy Service and talked to the nursing staff about it which prevented it going ahead. Advocacy was good because it was helpful for me to talk to somebody who I didn't feel was judging or pigeonholing me, and I found the Advocate really approachable. They've also got a 'what will happen to me when I'm ill' programme where you can say which things you'd like and which things you wouldn't, ahead of time. I'm against having anything more to do with Diazepam for example, and that was particularly useful. My ex-partner was very supportive because he'd been through it himself with manic depression. A few of my friends helped as well - just by being there when I was feeling down or needing someone to talk to. When I was ill I found out who my real friends were, they came to visit me in hospital and supported me through it. I had lots of phone calls from various friends checking how I was and I was really happy about that, knowing that they were there. An NHS hypnotherapist helped me with my anxiety. She was a counsellor so I also talked to her quite a bit. She was really approachable and I got on with her very well. An understanding psychiatrist was also a support and I've been lucky with my GP who has been with me throughout this period. When I left hospital I was supported by an organisation that organised work placements - I had a job for three months, but I felt they were supporting the employer more than me, so it was really more of a hindrance than a help. During my illness I found that the people I was working with in health had very little understanding of what I'd been through. I was speaking to the occupational therapist in charge of mental health, and she felt that I'd be a risk to other clients if I was on medication. That was really upsetting because I had never been a risk to others or myself. I felt she was being quite judgmental. If anything, I believe I can now be more empathetic to clients and can understand more where they are coming from. Since leaving hospital I've been involved with quite a lot of voluntary work. Keeping busy stops me dwelling on things and gives me a purpose for the day. I've now got a better understanding of networks in my local area that can support me in my recovery. My voluntary work includes working with people with learning disabilities and mental health problems which I find really rewarding and enjoyable. I'm going to a job club as well to look for a job, as I want to get back into OT and mental health. I would like to do work that I enjoy doing, as opposed to doing something because I feel I have to, which was how work used to be for me. The extra money that a job would bring in would also help me do more of those things I enjoy, like Ceroc dancing and travelling. I'm still on medication but I'm hoping to reduce it further in the future. For me recovery feels a lot better. I think I had to go through everything that I have to truly appreciate it. 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. 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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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