During my recovery there wasn't only one that stuck by me other than my mum. She
was the one person that went to everything with me. I lost a lot of
friends, a lot of family members, a lot of clinicians gave up on me and she was the
only person to believe in my capacity to heal and to recover and yeah so I guess
she's (pause) you've really been (pause - mum interjects) been useful! (laughter)
yeah do we definitely did have a moment where the light sort of switched on and
I realized I needed to stop living like this. I spent most days a week either
in a hospital waiting room, at doctor's waiting room, a psychologist
waiting room. My life was in waiting rooms and I reached that point where I
realized that I didn't want to be like that anymore that I actually wanted to
do something and I told mom when I woke up I said if he take me home I promise I
won't do anything bad again I promise I won't do it and at the time she was
really worried because I was unwell but it's been three years now
mmm since I said that out loud that I've been in serious recovery where I haven't
realized at all hmm and yes I think that was really the beginning of a turning
point yeah yeah oh yeah I did find that hope whereas before that although I was
making progress it wasn't anything that was maintained
mmm but I mean you could also take what you've learned from that bit of progress
well but having made that kind of inner decision I thought yeah okay
that's the first time you had said that and I talking yeah you know let's go
with it it's a team you know team efforts
I think perhaps as a carer to some extent I'm not too different from many
carers who do undertake this journey with their family members who have a
diagnosis and I've spoken to many latest answer thank you so much for saying what
you said because I'm in that situation or just coming out of that situation I
think to just recognize that you're not a miracle worker and you don't have all
the answers and you just just love them and support them and but also ask
questions of the experts you know you know to to get a full picture because
sometimes the full picture isn't offered to you and so I think if at any time you
think is this really the best thing you should be doing at least I ask you know
and and and get yourself more involved or as as involved as you can be in the
whole situation and become you know a really sort of proactive part of that
team hopefully and and then just go with it
you know whatever happens you know because it's like life you know you have
good days and you have bad days and we were all the same so you know as a carer
you're just part of that picture that's that's the deal that's the hand you're
dealt and it's perfectly fine you know you just it can be difficult but that's
life as well isn't it so you just go with it and that's the only advice that
I can really offer is you know love the people you love care for them stick with
it ask questions and you know and go on the
ride and enjoy the benefits yeah because there are benefits there's little you
know gifts of you see a recovery happening and you treasure those things
because they're great you know it's happening and it might take a long road
to get there you know but you know hopefully it will happen
relax about it