Recovery Miracle | Stories from the narrative research project

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Recovery Miracle

Published: November 2005

This story highlights how belief in God, support from people at a mental health organisation, and this individual’s mother has helped in recovery.

When I first became ill, I think in those days people still sort of associated mental illness with being mad so they couldn’t see how somebody could be mentally ill but actually be aware of it. If I said I was ill, the first thing they would say would be, ‘Oh you look alright’ and I’d try to explain to them what was going on inside. It was a nightmare trying to explain to my GP the first time, sitting in the waiting room thinking, ‘What am I going to tell him?’ you know, ‘How am I going to put this into words?’

Recovery for me is just being able to enjoy things again, because obviously when I was ill it dampened my enjoyment of things quite severely. I consider my recovery in itself like a miracle. I am able to cope better now; I get on top of things rather than allow things to get on top of me. It’s really about feeling better in myself.

I’ve been with one particular mental health organisation for ten years now, and it’s since I’ve been with them that things have started to get better for me. It was quite unexpected really, I moved in and I started to realise that things were looking up for me at last. It was much less stressful and much easier than the hostel I had been living in, and I guess it contributed to me getting better. I see all the people working for the organisation quite regularly and that’s helped a lot. They are very nice people and you can page them or phone them in an emergency, so if you’re having any problems you can talk to some one about them and that has made a lot of difference.

I’m still dependent on medication. My psychiatrist said that people who continue on medication tend to be more stable, whereas people who don’t continue have to go back into hospital more often. He’s been my ‘psycho’, that’s what I call them, for quite a while now. He knew me when I was in hospital, so I go to see him and he asks me how I’m getting on and says, ‘We’ll just carry on as we are.’ I see him once a year now and he just says to come back if there are any problems and I need to see him in between those meetings, but usually I don’t. So I think the medication is keeping me stable.

Taking my medication and also having a social life, which is my Mum and people from the mental health organisation, I think that sustains my recovery really. I think perhaps I would be a bit lost without them and I may start to have symptoms again if I didn’t have them around. I am stronger now because of what I went through and maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as before but you know, maybe it would be a bit better this time around but I think I would still need help.

The thing that has been of most value to me on my recovery journey is my faith in God. I was with the Christian Fellowship years ago and I’m still a believer. It was something I pursued out of desperation when I first became ill. I became so desperate, thinking this was my last option really, and it just grew from there. When I was going through the worst of my illness I thought it was almost like a judgement of some kind, but even if that was the case it wasn’t permanent, as I found out when I started to get better again. I think that’s been the main thing really, that has gotten me through it.

Since things have gotten better for me I’ve wanted to help others with mental health problems. I feel that since things eventually got better for me that it can for other people as well. When I’m seeing other people who are just starting out on recovery it’s a chance to give back in some way, talk to them, and if any of them aren’t feeling well I can say, “Look I’ve been there”, and, “do you ever feel like this…?” I can bring hope to other people by sharing my own experiences and my own recovery.

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.

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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.

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