Believe in yourself

"Recovery is up to you, the key is to believe in yourself and take the first step" Wife, Mother and Student

A story about a woman determined to help herself get better

"My physical health has never been great; as a child I could never sleep or eat well and I constantly suffered from stomach pain. When I was 18, I had mild pulmonary tuberculosis.

Unfortunately, my doctor was incompetent and I suffered in pain for a long period of time. After my physical health got better, I was diagnosed with a mental illness.

Although initially the doctor misdiagnosed me with schizophrenia, it eventually turned out that I had bipolar disorder. My mental illness kept relapsing, and I was in hospital for three months. However, I held strongly to the belief that, as soon as I got better and was discharged, I would be alright.

The forth time I had a relapse, I stopped being worried about how people looked at me, and decided that I didn't have to look down on myself because of a mental illness.

Instead, I accepted my illness and looked for a good doctor and now even my physical health has improved.

I strongly believe this will be the last time I relapse. I used to cry a lot and feel angry and lonely. But now, in taking medication and maintaining my wellbeing, I don't have any illness.

Now I have goals and wishes. I am studying English literature and psychology and, although I am already 54 and it is a bit difficult to study, I am extremely proud of myself.

Even better, I have a husband who loves me, and a beautiful daughter.

Recovery is up to you, the key is to believe in yourself and take the first step. I hope my story will help people gain hope and inspiration and that it will encourage people to be proactive and have the right attitude to face their illness."