Hazel’s story is a testament to the resilience and despair many people with mental illness face daily. Since she was a teenager, Hazel faced difficulties with her mental health. She reached out to doctors and nurses for help, but they couldn’t quite understand and address what she was going through. She self-referred herself to Change Mental Health in Tayside. With our support, she created coping strategies and built resilience. Sarah helped her continue a high-quality life with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). 

 

Hazel recalls that problems with her mental health started in her teenage years. She sought help from healthcare professionals, doctors and psychiatric nurses. Initially, she was told she was too young to act on it. This early experience of dismissal created a pattern where her concerns were often overlooked.

As she persisted in her search for support, attending numerous appointments, the frustration of not being heard or properly diagnosed began to mount. She faced the painful reality of her concerns being minimised, leading to a cycle of repeated visits with little progress.

In August 2021, her mental health declined drastically and she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder type 2. Due to COVID restrictions, diagnosis was done over the phone and did not involve an in-depth interview. She was given a prescription for mood stabilisers, which she recalls didn’t help and caused severe side effects. She went through multiple medication changes. She ended with advice from her doctor to stop taking all the medication she was prescribed.

“My body went through huge withdrawals. Loads of things happened during this time. I ended up shaving my hair because my skin was on fire. I would have those moments when my whole body would start jerking. I phoned NHS three or four times, saying that I felt suicidal, but because I didn’t want to act on it because of my family, that wasn’t a good enough reason to need help. So, I got brushed off again. Only my husband and family were still trying to get me help.” suicidal thoughts

Juggling part-time employment and the responsibilities of caring for her children added immense pressure to an already challenging situation. She felt that every day presented new hurdles. Despite the suicidal thoughts, she didn’t receive support. Having her family in mind, she didn’t want to act on them, which made it not severe enough to provide her with help on time. Sadly, her struggles escalated to a critical point where she tried to take her own life.

“So I think that’s once I had actively acted and had a suicide attempt. That’s when they started actually to care a little bit. I haven’t left my bed other than to go to the bathroom for about a month. So leaving the house was a big thing. My husband explained that he’d stopped working to look after me, where the person we met with said that my husband has to go back to work and I had to get a grip and start dealing with everything.”

During this dark period, she recognised the severity of the situation. She decided to seek counselling independently and found Change Mental Health in Perth.  

 

Hazel self-referred herself and was contacted by Sarah from the Tayside team. Sarah approached Hazel with empathy and a genuine interest in helping her. During the initial interactions, Sarah ensured that Hazel felt comfortable and safe, giving her various communication options based on her comfort level. One of the most striking elements of Sarah’s support was her ability to create a safe and open environment for Hazel to share her thoughts and feelings. Sarah’s engaging and approachable nature made it easier for Hazel to open up, “She was quite chatty, so she did all the talking and I was able to finally feel easy to talk.” recalls Hazel.

 

Sarah’s active participation extended to accompanying Hazel to medical appointments, forming an essential bridge between the clinical aspects of Hazel’s treatment and the emotional support she required. Rather than focusing solely on revisiting past experiences, she explored how to improve Hazel’s situation and address her needs. This practical support was a lifeline during moments of confusion and vulnerability, ensuring that Hazel was never alone in her healthcare interactions. During one of the appointments, Hazel had her diagnosis changed from Bipolar Disorder type 2 to Borderline Personality Disorder.

Hazel was worried she would be pushed to go on medication and judged for her decision. She was positively surprised by the support from the Change Mental Health team, which understood that with her experiences from the past, she might feel reluctant. Instead of judgment, she received support in developing coping techniques, encouragement and understanding.