A personal journey through therapy
ABOUT THE LAURIMA PROJECT
For a long time I have wanted to share my experiences of living with mental illness, particularly how therapy is helping me to make the most of my life and to manage the symptoms of trauma that are always present. I have been in the Mental Health System for almost eight years and have had a range of different treatments during this time. Therefore, I have a wealth of lived experience to draw upon for this project.
In my endeavours to make sense of my trauma and to process what I learn in therapy each week, I have found a creative side to myself that I didn't know existed. I find writing, especially poetry, and drawing to be enormously beneficial to my mental health; enabling me to express emotions effectively. I have always found writing much easier than talking, and being creative allows me to release emotions which would otherwise be trapped inside.
I hope that by sharing my writing, poems and art, through The Laurima Project, I might help others who are in a similar position to myself. I aim to expand this project over time to include useful Mental Health resources and techniques which I have learnt over the years. I would also like to invite others to share their mental health inspired artwork or creative writing.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS SITE CONTAINS POTENTIALLY TRIGGERING MATERIAL AS IT FOCUSES ON LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MENTAL ILLNESS, AND TRAUMA
Blog
Writing about my experiences of mental illness, with a particular focus on trauma and the therapy process.
Poetry and Art
Depicting my struggles with mental illness and my journey through therapy.
Resources
Links to useful mental health resources I have picked up along the way.
ABOUT ME
I live in the East Midlands with my husband and two children, who keep me very busy. Over the years I have had various roles within the education and childcare sector. I am currently pursuing my interest in mental health through writing, artwork and volunteering. I am passionate about raising awareness of mental health issues and challenging the stigma that often surrounds mental illness.
I was first diagnosed with depression as a teenager and immediately prescribed antidepressants. I then dipped in and out of mental health treatment for the next fifteen years, partly due to the associated stigma, which prevented me from accessing the treatment I so desperately needed.
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After a series of difficult personal events during my twenties, I finally admitted it was time to seek proper help. Then followed several years of struggling with different NHS recommended treatments, including medication, CBT, psychiatric support and person-centred counselling. Some of these were helpful, some of them not!
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When my NHS treatment effectively ran out, I was left in a devastating position. The treatment had unearthed far more complex issues than depression alone, yet there were no services available to support me. I know that this experience is sadly all too common, with mental health services lacking adequate funding.
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Fortunately, I managed to find a private therapist who was experienced enough to work with my issues and who was a good fit for me. I now have what I like to call a 'Messy Diagnosis', encompassing severe anxiety, depression, elements of Borderline Personality Disorder and dependent personality disorder! My therapist often prefers to say that I am suffering from trauma, which results in all these other symptoms.
My therapy experiences have certainly not been easy, but they have definitely been life-changing in a really positive way.
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