FIBRO-CONNECT TS. LETS CONNECT THE DOTS.

As some of you know I ended up in a Mental Health Unit in Darlington recently.

I'd been on a down hill slide for months and I kept it all in. 

Not telling anyone how much the pain and fatigue was getting to me.

Knowing that depression and anxiety was right behind at every dam step. 

I felt for over a year after being on medication for fibromyalgia, that my mind wasn't my own, it was under a cloud I couldn't shift,

Like I was just muddling through one day to the next on cloud 9. 

Some days, I couldn't lift my head off the pillow, and the headaches I'd wouldn't wish them on anybody.

The pain resonated through the body in waves and didn't let up.

I was in pure pain and the tablets often didn't take the edge of it. 

But I kept smiling and ploding on thinking I can do this, I'm Stephen, I can handle any obstacle thrown at me.

Well not this time !! 

I also felt there was no-one to talk to face to face, who knew what I was going through with the fibromyalgia. 

Lots of groups on Facebook etc, but no-one I could sit and chat to and relate, and see if they had remedies that worked.

Someone I could call when I was restless and couldn't sleep and agitated.

And who understood when brain fog and confusion took over. 

And people who have fibromyalgia can relate to most of the above.

As fibromyalgia can effect each person differently, some more severe than others. 

I've lost my taxi after 24 years, this was my life, I'd met so many wonderful friends through these years, some became like family. 

This had a massive impact on the start of the depression,

Felt like I'd lost many people in one go.

I lost my job in the community due to fibromyalgia, I simply couldn't perform the job I was employed to do.

Once again depression was kicking in deep and the pain combined was unbearable.

I nearly lost my life, fibromyalgia nearly took everything from me.

And I felt I had nothing left to give anymore.

Feeling useless after being so active in the community.

Three weeks in a Mental Health Unit helped me to find myself again.

It was the pain, I was wanting to stop,

NOT my life,

But the depression took over with its ugly head.p

Well I'm fighting back.

I will never rid my body of it,

But I can sure as hell help others who have been so low as to try suicide.

I will be your go to person.

The one you can chat to face to face.

Or call when you down. 

I will also have my good days and bad days, will have days when I can't or won't have the energy to move,

But if I know I'm going to possibly save someone's life, I'll drag my arse out that bed to help.

This way people can come and chat and we can help each other.

Yes a face to face chat with someone fighting and someone who's been at the bottom of that dark dark hole. 

I've been told to slow down by so many people, I guess I best listen.

But they didn't say stop lol.

So I'll carry on the best way I can, and that's doing my best, make sure fibromyalgia doesn't take someone to the bottom of that hole again.

Because if I can help, I will 100% 

I made a presentation on my computer to show people and educate people who don't know what fibromyalgia is, 

Educating family members on what we are going through on a daily basis.

I'm connecting the chain to depression and anxiety as they seem to go hand in hand. 

And my promise is to continue helping our community at a slower pace.

I truly think what's happened to me, should never ever happen to another fibromyalgia warrior in my community, If I can help, I certainly will.

So my town will have a voice in me, a very loud voice to help make sure we as a town never lose a person to fibromyalgia depression.

Took me to the brink to realise I couldn't reach out to someone in my position in my town, face to face.

So I'm taking a leap of faith and ploughing what little money I have left to make this work.

I've bought a website and email address,plus domain.

Got phone number set up and ready to launch.

I've applied to be a community interest company.

So any money raised goes straight back into what we are GOING to achieve.

100% transparency at all times.

This is my new path in life.

Not my intended course,

But one I've been placed on to help people

If its my calling, even a painful one, then so be it.

I Stephen Picton will never give up trying to help my community, yes at a slower rate, but still here.

I'm actively seeking a mental health course also, this way people will see I'm 100% committed.

So first thing is an office,

Office chairs and furniture.

I've got a laptop so all good there.

A lovely couch and tea n coffee free to use.

This is where the funds are going to help me set up.

So please share and donate if possible.

Thank you so much