It's over 2 years since I started the battle to recover form agoraphobia and depression and I want to contrast what my life is like now compared to how it used to be. In the past if I managed to get out of the house I would be so worried about having a panic attack that I would shut down my emotions and become a robot, which meant that I couldn't enjoy anything about the trip. The world would shrink to about 2 feet all around me so if I was in the countryside for instance, I didn't take in the view - I'd just be looking at the floor in front of me. I'd get no enjoyment out of life it was all dull and gray. Jump forward 2 years and life couldn't be much more different. Although I'll never be completely free from my depression and agoraphobia the help I've had has brought colour back into my life. I now regularly walk my sisters dog in the local country park, this takes much longer than it should as I now stop to enjoy the plant and animal life. I also enjoy talking to the people I meet walking dogs. This has helped me relearn how to hold a conversation which has made me feel human again. I have also become a community reporter which involves going to events, talking to people and putting their stories onto the community reporter website. A real bonus of becoming a community reporter is that I now go the theatre to write reviews on the show and through this I have realised that I love musical theatre with a passion. I don't know what the future holds for me but I have finally started to live again and I'm loving every second of it!
good news spreads
Just thought you would like to know, I have showed this story to a group of children in Sweden who are learning about Community Reporting. They loved hearing about it!!