Jo's Story: Battling "The Beast" of Depression

I’m Jo and I’m 35 years old. I have two amazing kids and a fantastic partner. I guess I’ve battled with depression or "The Beast" as I call it since my teens.

Six years ago I experienced my first "crisis", which led to me needing psychiatric support, something I had never accessed before. As a result I was diagnosed with Postnatal Depression. After a very difficult period finding the right help and support, beginning to understand my illness and finding the right medication, I made a full recovery and was able to see my negative experience as something positive.

Two years ago I went into "crisis" again, this time needing a lot more psychiatric support, even to the point where I spent some time in a psychiatric unit. During this time the hardest battle I faced was realising that I needed medication again. Over time, since my last episode I had managed to convince myself that I could, get through future episodes without the need for medication. I guess I was also in complete denial about how unwell I had become.

My journey to recovery this time was a longer one.
I was allocated a care coordinator and together along with my partner, we devised an action plan for my illness.

I sought comfort from a brilliant charitable support group. I had six months of psychotherapy and was able to access a good team of doctors. I also read countless self-help books and decided to take medication.
I was also diagnosed with Cyclothymia disorder, which helped me put a lot of things into perspective.

Today I’m in a great place and I have a much better insight into how to keep myself well. Sleep for me has a huge impact on my mental health, so I try to maintain a good sleep pattern. I talk a lot more openly about how I feel to friends and family, I ask for more help and I apply distraction techniques when I feel a bit low, like doing the various creative hobbies I now have.

I am now definitely far more tolerant of myself and my illness.