I was a Mental Health Nurse and Ward Manager for many years before I was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder. This sadly culminated in medical retirement at the ripe old age of fifty. I am also a Mental Health First Aid (England) Instructor, a Youth, and an Armed Forces MHFA Instructor. I teach groups how to provide Mental Health First Aid in work or at home. Prior to becoming a nurse I’d spent twenty years as a Personnel Officer and later, a part-time Human Resources Manager (HR).
Throughout my nursing career I kept my theoretical knowledge up-to-date and obtained further qualifications (1) to become an Early Interventions for Schizophrenia Practitioner, and (2) Psychosocial Interventions (Practitioner) for patients and their families. I’m now a Blogger of all things Mental Health, writing from both personal & professional experience.
That’s a short intro about me and if you wish to read more — The bigger picture — you can do so here. Further down, you’ll find links to My Journey through a psychotic depression.
In my blog and my forthcoming book, I’ll be writing about my nursing practice. I’ll tell secrets about my days on the wards and in various mental health settings. I’ll also share my parallel life experiences, including how I overcame childhood sexual abuse, bullying, and domestic violence.
Part-time study
Moneycrashers.com
While working part time in HR, I studied all the various forms of massage, alongside physiolgy and anatomy. I only passed all my exams — with distinction. This proved to me that I could study and learn. Teachers had told me for years that I was thick, stupid, and class clown so I never thought of myself as clever.
It was during this time and many months after my relationship with my sons’ dad ended, I had my own ‘break down‘. And, let me tell you, that’s exactly what it felt like; both physically and mentally, I was broken. I’d never experienced anything like it. At times, it felt like I was clinging on by my fingernails, desperate and alone. I hated the world and everyone in it.
Going to work each day offered me some sense of normality; it made me feel sane even if I was slipping into the abyss. I was made redundant and, despite fears of losing my income, I was over the moon because I was bored with HR. This gave me the kick up the backside I needed to look at full-time study options.
My recovery from mental illness
Image from nurses.co.uk
So, during my lengthy recovery, I applied to train as a Mental Health Nurse. After three long years of study, I worked successfully as a Mental Health Nurse in various settings before becoming a Ward Manager.
Unfortunately, due to my disability and ongoing mental health problems I am no longer able to work in the job I loved and even after thirteen years, I still miss it. I often reflect on some of the most amazing and inspiring patients, remembering some of their journeys and the difficult changes they made on their road to recovery. I reminisce about the good times I had with some fabulous colleagues. Tho’ there are some who — I could have taken their heads off their shoulders at times.
That’s a brief introduction about me and you can read more here, if you wish. If you’d like to follow the series of My journey through psychotic depression, you can start here.
Best wishes
It is great.
Thank you for following my posts.
For help, information and collaboration, text me on my Email or Skype are on my website.
Welcome in London to enjoy tours.
Best wishes
Wow, kudos to your GP for having the care and insight to recognize that you needed help without actually asking for it. This seems rare these days when so many GPs seem overworked and burnt out with little inclination to take on extra problems. So glad you are sharing your experiences!
Aaaww, thank you for popping by and for your lovely comments JoAnn. x
Dearest Caz, YOU inspire me beyond words!!!! I love how you use your powerful life lessons and journey to bless the whole world . Your heart is full of so much LOVE …. and I want to embrace you with my deepest love and gratitude! Love, Love, and even more Love!!!! ❤️💜💙🧡💚💛🧡💙💚💛💜❤️🧡💛💜🧡💛💚❤️
Thank you so much for your lovely words. We should all spread a little more love 💜❤️🧡💛💜🧡
I am actually writing to you Caz, because you’ve been one of those that have been admirable to what I do here blogging as an amatueur. I am grateful to you. I am grateful for your support and help. Words can make a difference, especiallly when we share common problems. Thank you, mate!
Sorry for the late response my lovely new friend Nikki – keep doing what you’re doing, and thank you again!
What an amazing story of bravery – hats off to you!
I’d never heard of Transverse Myelitis so looked it up, sounds painful. From someone that’s suffered from lower back pain for several decades I find that yoga and acupuncture are the only treatments as I don’t want to contemplate surgery.
Many thanks for stopping by my Travel and Photography blog.
Truly inspiring and brave to write about yourself unguarded. Mental health is really hard and can be quite debilitating at times. But, you turned something negative into something positive…and that’s just so awesome!
Thank you stopping by and commenting.
Hi Kat, I was a RN with post grad in mental health. I had a break down after a night shift, and have never returned tto any sort of work. I know one thing, from my own personal experience I would be an even better mental health worker now than I was then. This was four and half years ago. I now have a diagnosis of Complex PTSD and as many know once you know what is the problem there are things to help. I had a superb GP who was with me through the worst time, who left to become a Psychiatrist. I was also fortunate to find a Psychologist (finaly)who is really helping to move me forward some time in macro steps but forward. I commend you for all you have achieved. I also admire your tenacity and strength. I understand the grief when life forces you to not be able to work in a position you loved. Tazzie.
Thank you so much Tazzie for your comments. Sorry that you went through a break down too, it’s a dreadful experience isn’t it. I really hope that you are able to get to a place where you feel able to return to work. Your personal experiences will really help. And we need some good mental health nurses – if you’ve read some of my other posts and MH nurses – you’ll see how bad some of them are! I’m so happy to have been a MH Nurse only physical disability meant I had to give it up and it’s clear you understand how awful it is 🙁 I think you’d make an excellent MH Nurse Tazzie. Please keep in touch as I would love to hear how you are doing. Caz x
I will not be able to work for anyone again. I have to many issues such as trust, triggers reactive, I dissociate sometimes for an hour or more. I have memory lapses for large chunks of time when under any stress, or pressure. I cant fill in documents, and I have major panic attacks. I have periods where my personal care is not good. things have improved greatly I am much better than I was. I will keep in touch. enjoy reading your blog
Sorry to hear this Tazzie and I hope thing can improve more and more for you in time. Caz x
Cant wait to read more.
Thank you Eleanor, I really appreciate that 🙂 Caz x
Your story is inspiring. I too have suffered and am continuing to suffer from my mental illness. Because I look normal on the outside people dont seem to believe Im disabled. I was on disability before, but it was stripped away from me. Since then ive experienced numerous evictions, and utility shut offs, with my husband and two boys. My husband is a Veteran with several mental illnesses, still fighting the VA for his pension. And I’m currently awaiting another disability hearing. There’s got to be better education on Mental Illness, especially for the people making disability decisions on people. I too am trying to raise awareness and end the stigma.
Oh my word, really sorry to hear this. Do you know why it was taken away? There are lots of ways to write out your application and attend their interviews. This is so terrible and I feel for you, your husband (a dear veteran) and the boys, honestly. Do you know when your hearing is? Can I contact you another way? I know what you mean about those that sit on the other side of the desk – they do need training, and you’d think they were giving the money out of their own pockets, the way they look at you! It’s a disgrace and I can only say from my own opinion – the benefit system has been so abused by others, we’re all treated the same. I also have a physical disability and there’s no way I’d let them get away with it.
I know it is a tad early, but I wanted to let you know that I will be publishing a post: Sunshine Bloggers Award post for: Feb 1, 2020 at 01:59 https://esmesalon.com/sunshine-blogger-award-4/ and I have nominated you. Thank you for being in my blogging arena and your support.
I hope you will be able to accept and pay this forward, but no hard feelings and pressure should you not be able to do so, I fully understand.
Thank you Esme, how kind and of course, I’ll accept.
Hi Hannah! You filled up a form to join Blogger Community at bloggingexposure.wordpress.com. I have been trying to send you an invite, but WP says that user has blocked invites. Could you please change the settings so that I can send you an invite to join the community?
Your story is inspirational. So happy I found your blog.
Aaaww, thank you Ann and I’m going to look you up too 🙂
Hi. I notice you are having trouble liking and following others, etc. Look and see if you have “discourage search engines from crawling” type of thing under Discussion, which is under Setting selected. It needs to be set up to “encourage search engines to follow.” Good luck!
Your story is so touching, Caz, and so inspiring. You should be very, very proud of yourself, and also for your sons, and how well they turned out to be. ☺❤
Aaawww, thank you, I really appreciate your kind words 🙂 x
You’re welcome. ☺
It’s really nice to meet you! Your blog seems so interesting, and there’s definitely a lot to learn from it! I look forward to exploring it! I can just imagine how proud you must have been of your achievements during in your time in school and your career! I’m appalled that any teachers would call a student stupid, or say anything similar that would be damaging to the student’s self esteem! Shame on them! Looks like you children are doing very well for themselves! You must be so proud of them!
Hahah – teachers were very cruel when I was young. At least when I went to University they treat us like adults. I’m glad you like my blog, thank you and I look forward to reading more of yours Charli. Caz xx
😂 I definitely had a better time during my university days too! I definitely enjoy your blog! And Thankyou so much for supporting mine! 😁
You welcome Charli 🙂 x
just came across your site, looking forward to reading more!
That’s really nice to hear Rosie, thank you. And I’ll be sure to check out your blog. Caz x
Actually, just realised, I’d looked at it an hour or so ago and want to keep reading yours too 🙂 Caz x
So sorry to read how much pain you’ve been through. I’m very inspired though, by what you’ve gone on to do and to share – outstanding. Later this year I’m going to be completing The Ridgeway (an 85 mile long distance path) to raise money for Refuge and I’ll carry your story with me for strength when I inevitably start flagging. :^)
Aaaww, bless you Mark. Your kind words are much appreciated. You must keep us posted with your future long distance path! Wishing you well. Caz x
very very well done for talking about Anxiety /Panic attacts .. i have Panic attacts ware i am very nausea then i am VOMITING ALL OVER ..i was abused sexually as a child . it helps sooo much too have a good cry and a very SNOTTY NOSE
my blog.http;//mark-kent.webs.com
twitter,supersnopper
MARK
Oh, I feel for you Mark. Panic is an awful disorder. And I’m glad a good cry helps. x
So glad I came across your blog and I am looking forward to reading more 🙂
Thank you Michelle, I’ve just taken a quick look at your blog too — I’ll definitely come back to read more 🙂
🙂🙂🙂
Hi,
I hope you and your family are keeping well in these tough times. I couldn’t find an email address to contact you on, so I will write on here.
I have come across your page, and I love some of the posts that have been posted! I was thinking about writing a guest post for your page on a mental health, wellbeing or lifestyle topic, as I believe that it would greatly benefit your audience. What is the process of submitting a guest post, I would be grateful of you could advise me further on this?
For further reference, you can find my blogging website here:
https://niraj.home.blog/
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards,
Niraj
Thanks for liking one of my blog posts!
Hi!
I have just nominated you for the Liebster Award:
https://prisonerbynocrimeofmyown.com/2020/08/13/my-liebster-award-nomination-2020/
Aaawww, that’s lovely Jodie. Thank you so much.
You have come this far, I should say THANK YOU FOR HANGING ON. you are an inspiration. Keep inspiring us.
Thank you Lady P, your kind words are very much appreciated. Caz
Caz, WordPress alerted me to a new post of your today where it appeared you were looking for help/support. But when I tried to view the full post, the page wasn’t there. Are you OK? Could you do with a friendly chat? If so, please get in touch.
Hi Rock and thank you for getting back to me. It’s for another blogger who would like to chat with a ‘guy’. I’ve looked and I can’t see his post from yesterday, reaching out. He may have deleted it. This is his home page.
https://owningitlog.wordpress.com/
Thank you once again for reaching out to me Rock. I really appreciate and won’t forget this — Caz ❤️
You are so inspiring for going through all this and still coming up out of the water. Thank you for sharing, and I hope the sons are doing OK?
Aaawww, thank you my lovely, I appreciate your kind words. The boys (all grown up now) are Doctors now, one in the States and one here in London 🙂
That’s very lovely. Wish you all the best💓
how marvelous, Caz – just curious – any major diffs between UK & US doctoring? surely insurance issues if nothing else, no?
Probably the insurance thing, yes. Here in the UK, you get seen with no need for any insurance, even if you’re a foreign tourist. The Hospital Trust’s will then try to get the money back from the country you came from.