I don’t know where I’d be without the support of the psychosis team

Three people kayaking on a lake in red kayaks. THere are two woman closer to the camera, facing away with brown and blonde hair and they have their oars raised. There is a man in front of them also facing away and he is wearing a light shirt and dark cap.

I have been under the care of Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) for a year and a half now. I have had the pleasure of participating in a number of activities organised by EIP including bouldering, camping, kayaking and hiking.

Meeting other people with psychosis and exchanging stories, but also just having a good time on these trips has been amazing and has really been beneficial to my recovery.

A young man with olive skin and dark hair and black glasses sits leaning over a desk as he makes notes in a book with a screen of text in front of him.

I was ready to give up

I don’t know where I would be right now without the support that EIP provides. For example, I didn’t think I would be capable of finishing my Masters after my episode, but after much consideration and discussion, I was able to hand in my dissertation last month.

I was ready to give up, but after long discussions with family and health workers, I decided to give it a go. I’ve even been approached by my project supervisor to discuss whether I wanted to do a PhD, something I never thought I would be able to do.

A young white man with dark hair uses a weight machine at a gym. He wears a dark shirt and wrist cuffs and is pulling a bar down towards his chest.

Thanks to my peer support worker, who is an encyclopaedia of exercise knowledge, I’ve also started going to the gym regularly again. He has helped me with weightlifting and boxing pad-work, providing excellent advice and motivation while accompanying me to my local gym.

I’ve really started to enjoy exercise again thanks to his support, which is something I didn’t think would be possible given one of the side-effects of my medication (anhedonia).

Support from my family has been vital

My mother, with whom I am currently living, has also been incredibly supportive, and has communicated with EIP extensively throughout the whole process. Whether it be through attending monthly family members groups or having a five-minute chat during a visit by my nurse or peer support worker, she has taken every chance to gauge my level of mental well-being in order to understand how far I should be pushed.

A room busy with groups of people from a mix of ethnicities and ages. Closest to the camera an older white woman with a grey bob haircut speak to a young asian woman with long black hair and older black man with short cropped grey hair, moustache and glasses.

She has helped to ensure I am busy and active both academically and through routine housework, which I never used to do.

We also have a system in place to prevent me from consuming cannabis and excessive alcohol, two things that greatly exacerbate my symptoms and I am happy to say that I have been sober for nearly a year now, and my symptoms are very mild and infrequent now.

 I don’t know where life will take me in the future, but I am much better prepared to persevere and overcome challenges thanks to the continual support I have received from my family, but also the team at EIP.

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