Kimberley's Story
“I experienced depression throughout my twenties on several occasions. When I was 32 I experienced a manic episode which led to psychosis. I ended up spending three months in the hospital under a section as I was a danger to myself. I was diagnosed as bipolar whilst in the hospital.
I’ve been stable for a year and a half and hopefully won’t go through any more manic episodes! Mania with psychosis is awful and the fall out after the episode has taken this entire time to deal with and attempt to get back to the person I was.
I’ve been stable for a year and a half due to my antipsychotics and diazepam. Life has been difficult trying to process and accept the diagnosis. The aftercare when you come out of hospital is shocking. I had a CPN for a couple of months who would spend ten minutes with me checking I was still on my medication. Then I was discharged and left to deal with my situation myself. I still struggle with flashbacks and nightmares from my manic episode and the time I spent in hospital.
I’m grateful I’m stable and hope to never experience anything like that again. But I’m devastated that it means a lifetime on medication that makes you gain weight and who knows what the long term effects will be.”
