real life stories

Sally’s Story "I have suffered with depression on and off since I was 18 but never felt I could talk about what I was going through, because I believed people would reject me if they knew. For years I struggled to cope with my illness and used all my energy to hide it from my friends, even my husband, because I didn’t want to upset them.  About five years ago things reached rock bottom for me. I was suffering another severe bout of depression, worse than the all others before and I had planned my suicide in meticulous detail. I had written a note and got everything in order but instead of taking my life, something made me phone Aware. Finally I was able to talk to someone and despite being in acute distress that afternoon, Aware got me to a calmer state of mind and arranged for me to go to hospital. When I came home I went to my local Aware support group. At the group people talked freely about depression and I was listened to by people who truly understood my illness - this was the first time in my life I had had such support. From then on I didn't feel so isolated and on my own. Now I am well again and have returned to work. Ultimately Aware gave me back my life and my children’s life and that is why I try to help Aware bring depression out into the open and to get people talking about it without fear or shame.”