Walk the "Way" my walk to mental health.
Donation protected
In 45 days time I will be walking the Famous " Camino France's " some 870 kilometres over the pyrennes and across Spain. And this is my story and why I am asking for your help.
In early 2016 after 40 years of wondering what was wrong with me and going to countless Doctors, Psychiatrists and Therapists, I had finally come to the end of the road. I was desperate to heal from what I thought was just very bad depression . I wanted to know what normal living could be like. Well that's where I was. I went and finally got a diagnosis. I was happy but also clueless as to the impact this would have on me.
I knew that I had PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) but I had no idea that I had ADHD ( attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and that this had been effecting me since I was 8. Also as a consequence I had developed BPD ( borderline personality disorder). At the time I had no idea of the impact of that diagnosis or what it really meant.
So I took the letter from my Psychiatrist who diagnosed me, to my Doctor. He reffered me on the spot to the Community Mental Health Team.
It is now early 2019. I have undergone some very intense therapy, unfortunately effected by the NHS cuts. But the good news is that I am in recovery at the moment (BPD) cannot be cured but can be managed.
The journey has been very difficult, I can say that I was suicidal since I was 16. But perhaps for the first time in my life I am not suicidal. I have hope, I have the tools to help myself. During the recovery process, a particularly difficult time. I found a film on the Internet called "The Way" directed by Emilio Esteves and starring Martin Sheen. A story about a pilgrimage that has been walked for over a thousand years, and today people walk it not just as a pilgrimage but for spiritual, soul searching or to look for something new a change in ones life.
Well through my tears I decided to do this walk. I have saved hard for this trip but am struggling to reach my target. I am hoping to raise a thousand pounds, this will help me to get to the start point and mean that I can get home after. If I am able to raise any money for my trip the plan would be to donate 50% to the NHS service where I currently spend 6 hours a week. It is a recovery college. All sorts of courses are run here by professionals and service users together, the idea is to give service users time to study and recover in a safe environment. You can find more about the recovery college at www.elft.nhs.uk/services/396/City-and-Hackney- Recovery-College.
It is possible to donate to the NHS and specify where the money goes to.
I have worked hard to reach this point and I am hoping with your help. That walking the Camino will enhance my recovery and hopefully help me to stay in recovery.
This will be my first trip out side of London or the Uk in ten years.
I hope that I will be able to Inspire others, that they can understand they are not alone.
In early 2016 after 40 years of wondering what was wrong with me and going to countless Doctors, Psychiatrists and Therapists, I had finally come to the end of the road. I was desperate to heal from what I thought was just very bad depression . I wanted to know what normal living could be like. Well that's where I was. I went and finally got a diagnosis. I was happy but also clueless as to the impact this would have on me.
I knew that I had PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) but I had no idea that I had ADHD ( attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and that this had been effecting me since I was 8. Also as a consequence I had developed BPD ( borderline personality disorder). At the time I had no idea of the impact of that diagnosis or what it really meant.
So I took the letter from my Psychiatrist who diagnosed me, to my Doctor. He reffered me on the spot to the Community Mental Health Team.
It is now early 2019. I have undergone some very intense therapy, unfortunately effected by the NHS cuts. But the good news is that I am in recovery at the moment (BPD) cannot be cured but can be managed.
The journey has been very difficult, I can say that I was suicidal since I was 16. But perhaps for the first time in my life I am not suicidal. I have hope, I have the tools to help myself. During the recovery process, a particularly difficult time. I found a film on the Internet called "The Way" directed by Emilio Esteves and starring Martin Sheen. A story about a pilgrimage that has been walked for over a thousand years, and today people walk it not just as a pilgrimage but for spiritual, soul searching or to look for something new a change in ones life.
Well through my tears I decided to do this walk. I have saved hard for this trip but am struggling to reach my target. I am hoping to raise a thousand pounds, this will help me to get to the start point and mean that I can get home after. If I am able to raise any money for my trip the plan would be to donate 50% to the NHS service where I currently spend 6 hours a week. It is a recovery college. All sorts of courses are run here by professionals and service users together, the idea is to give service users time to study and recover in a safe environment. You can find more about the recovery college at www.elft.nhs.uk/services/396/City-and-Hackney- Recovery-College.
It is possible to donate to the NHS and specify where the money goes to.
I have worked hard to reach this point and I am hoping with your help. That walking the Camino will enhance my recovery and hopefully help me to stay in recovery.
This will be my first trip out side of London or the Uk in ten years.
I hope that I will be able to Inspire others, that they can understand they are not alone.
Organizer
Simon Dalton
Organizer
England