For Many years I struggled with My Mental Health. Over the last couple of years, my mental health had gotten worse. this wasn’t down to work or my family life because I had everything a man could ask for, beautiful wife, 3 beautiful children and a lovely home and a good job.
2022 was the hardest year for me, my battle with my mental Health was getting worse. Most days I would wake up not wanting to be here anymore. I started drinking more, the drink at the time seemed to ease the pain and took some of the negative thoughts out of my head.
At the back of 2022 my wife said it was over between us. She had been by my side for such a long time. My battle with my mental health had taken its toll on her and pushed her away, she had to put the kids first. You don’t realise how much it affects your loved ones as well.
2022, It was the worst time of my life, my family was broken, and my mental health had really broken me. I couldn’t keep on fighting the negative thoughts and how I felt any more. January 23rd, 2023, that morning I rang a help line because I needed to pour my heart out. After that call I tried to take my own life. Luckily the lady who I spoke to had called the police. That morning, a police officer Christmas saved my life.
I was taken to hospital for treatment and to be assessed by the Mental Health team. After a couple of days spent in hospital I was seen by a psychiatrist and was told I was suffering from PTSD from a childhood trauma that had affected me growing up.
Tell us about the first call you made to seek support?
Everyone knew what was going on, felt like my world was caving in. I don’t know why, I wanted to pour my heart out. I rang a local charity and cried throughout the entire conversation. She asked how she could help, in a caring tone. I just opened to her and told her that I was going to take my own life. I felt that she was listening but felt sorry for her that she had to hear what I was saying. To be honest, they could have told me anything. She rang the Police, and they saved me from harming myself. If I hadn’t made the call, I wouldn’t be with you here today.
Being diagnosed with PTSD and told by the mental health team this can be treated with the right support, this gave me some hope, but I knew I would have to work at it.
I returned to work in February. I was given the lighthouse details from my manager. lighthouse was great and put me in touch with a local therapist near to wear a lived. My therapist was amazing, she would keep me there sometimes longer than the 1-hour slot I was given each week. I just wanted to talk, that was my new medication.
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