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Stories Submitted thoughts and stories One thought, one voice, one mind
Stories Submitted thoughts and stories One thought, one voice, one mind
One thought, one voice, one mind |
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activism | anger | bipolar disorder (manic depression) | education/learning | employment (+) | hearing voices | housing | male | meditation | schizophrenia | seeing things differently | self harm | sense of self | spirituality | suicide | supportive spouse/partner
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Author: Peter Dunlop Published: 28 August 2006 In his recovery story Peter focuses on the use of hope, positive thinking and self belief in facilitating his recovery. The time has come for me to tell my story. I am schizophrenic and bipolar, I have no job and no money but I am not sad and I am not lonely. I am happy without any despair and have lifted my head above those labels. I have been to hell but I am still here. I am lifting myself out of the dark that had trapped me for so long, I am realising my potential after suffering in that dark room of despair. My journey has just begun after almost 18 years of being trapped. I have been able to achieve stillness through meditation and prayer. My voices are becoming stilled where once my mind was an open book of words and my voices sounded like a brass pipe band. A year to this day I was self-harming; my voices in my head were commanding me to commit suicide. I grabbed a knife and slashed both my wrists and the blood started to flow. I was in pain and dying, not from the blood loss but from my head, from my disturbed and upset past. All the pain, all the anger, all the frustration, I could not let it go. I was so angry and yet no one was at home. My mum and dad did not understand and the so-called professionals did not care that I was still trapped in that dark room of despair. If only people knew, if only people cared, about what it felt like being trapped in a rabbit snare. Life is so precious but why do we waste it? Why do young men kill themselves and why do we suffer in despair? We are not mad but is it society that is mad for letting us down? Is it society that puts a knife to our wrist, to let the blood flow from our hands? Now my thoughts are focused and clear, I realise what I want and have been able to drop and discard the rubbish, the noise, and the dross. I am finally beginning to realise what is good for me and what is bad. Doors are opening where once they were closed. I see more positively and have recaptured that spring in my step where I am beginning to love myself and the world around me again. I have just completed an HNC in Social Care and a nine-month work placement at an Adult Resource Centre for people with learning disabilities due to my strong compassion for helping people that are less fortunate than myself. I have also got a new girlfriend who has been a great support to me. I have followed my heart, not my brain and that is what has led me to this point today. I am currently organising a parachute jump for two mental health charities in Perth and hoping to raise money for transport. An opportunity has also come my way where I will get a new flat and will be moving out of my mum and dad’s house, allowing me to regain my independence and self worth. Life is exciting and exhilarating, it is no longer sad and dark. Life can be full of love and happiness, you do not have to be in pain and unhappy just lift your head up to the sky and try to discover happiness. I am not naïve, I am no fool, I know life is hard but what I am trying to say to you is that there is hope for everyone; we all have a plan and we all have a journey, don’t waste your life becoming a fool. If you’d like to share your thoughts or experiences of recovery then contact us on 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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