Let me introduce myself to you:

My Name is Keeley, and over the next few months you are going to get to know me.... all about me, and hopefully by doing so...... I will help you to get to know yourself, your weaknesses and your strengths:

Over the years I have managed to pick up 5 diagnoses through my hospital admissions. Depression, Anorexia, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

HOWEVER, after completely opening up about being raped to the wonderful Carol, Dominique & Sharon and having their support over the years I have found a new lease on life and talking was the best thing I ever did. I can honestly now, hand on heart say that I have moved on from that aspect of my life and I am mentally strong enough to help others to do the same.

I had a psychiatric assessment 3 weeks ago and I managed to lose two of my diagnoses thanks to these wonderful ladies and my support at home!
 I no longer show enough signs/symptoms to be classified under the DSM-IV as having Depression or PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder). They were my first diagnoses and the first to go, it may well be ten years later but I still am so pleased, hopefully I can drop the others in the future too!

I am so happy to have finally recovered from them. I no longer have flashbacks, I no longer want to end my life and I can actually be sociable now and not shut myself away from everybody. If I hadn’t have spoken to these 3 ladies I don’t think I would have ever recovered from those mental illnesses. Don’t get me wrong, a scent can still make me shiver, a sudden movement or loud noise will still make me jump, I still get sad and upset, but by no means does it affect me half the way it used to. I am happy, and I am proud, to finally be able to say that domestic violence and rape didn’t ruin me, it MADE ME.

I have never felt as strong as the person I am now in the entirety of my life. My home life is settled and happy, I am settled and happy, I have regular therapy for my Anorexia and weigh-ins to check on my progress and I am awaiting a letter from psychology to discuss therapy for my OCD. I’ve hit rock bottom and I bounced back up, I started falling again and I was lifted back up. Talking about things really did save me and it can for you too.

You may feel worthless, ashamed, embarrassed, disgusted but I am telling you now, you are NONE of those things. It takes time and it’s not easy, but I promise you it is worth it. After all – you are still alive, you are here, you made it and you are beautiful. You are already half way there.