No matter who you are, where you are and what you are, mental health can affect anyone.
I have come from a working-class family, who have become very successful in property. So, growing up I had a decent life, until one day my Mum left. I didn’t see or speak to her for almost 10 years.
That’s when my depression started. I was taking drugs and partying all the time; I worked for my Dad, and I kept turning up late because I was high or intoxicated. He ended up sacking me and I failed to get work, so I started dealing and was feeding my habit of taking cocaine. It got so bad that I lost everything and ended up homeless.
I managed to get some money together by getting five iPhone 6’s on contract and selling them at cash convertors as new, for half the money. I then got a flat and managed to get by, by dealing. Eventually I ended up with debt, so I moved away to escape.
Over a 6-year period, I was in a mental home, prison and had 3 suicide attempts. After all I’ve been through, one thing I can tell you that will save and cure you in time, is to be patient and find a reason to wake up. It’s as simple as that. I don’t care if it’s getting up to shave for 5 minutes or make a cup of tea for 3 minutes. Doing little things consistently over time will lead to bigger and better things. We all need a reason to be around, and I hope you have that little something to get you going.
I changed my outlook by doing things, anything I could, waiting and looking for new opportunities. I know it’s not as easy as that at times, and it took me years, but then one day it happened and now I’m doing good in life. Of course, I still have my days, I still think about the past and it clouds my mind.
My illness is triggered by the trauma of my mum abandoning me, and I know that we all that one thing, but I can promise you, life will come to you. Maybe not today, or next month, or maybe next year, but it will you. You’ve just got to do your best every day.
Brotectors have been incredible and helped me over the years. Even the little conversations got me through another day. I hope you speak to someone at Brotectors if you need any help.
Thank you for reading my story.