"Made me believe in myself regardless of what life had thrown at me"

In 2013 I had a massive breakdown and devastating diagnosis. My children were 6 and 10 at the time. We are self employed so we lost thousands in income as my husband had to do everything and try and earn a living.

My consultant was Dr Sundeep. He treated me with the utmost dignity and like a person who had a brain. He got me well enough in a month to return me to my family. He believed in me as a person. I was dressed for an interview one day when I had an appt with him. He said if I was interviewing you, I would give you the job!

I live with an illness with a social stigma. I went on to secure a good job for a year's contract. I know even my CPNs could not believe I was working after being so poorly. Dr Sundeep made me believe in myself regardless of what life had thrown at me.

Sadly, the medication made me gain 7 stone in the first 5 years. I had to research the medication myself and get it changed to an older medication to stop the weight gain. It's now 2024. I want my body back. My brother, with the same diagnosis, gained 6 stone on mental health meds so eats only once a day so managed to lose his 6 stone weight gain.

I found this too hard, so in January I started eating fruit for breakfast and lunch and one main meal a day. I have lunch out once a week (my husband gives me a coffee/lunch allowance) and I enjoy bacon rolls with the family for lunch on a Sunday. I have lost almost a stone in one month. Going to keep this eating regime going until I lose another 6 stone. I want my husband to have his wife back and I so miss pretty dresses.

The nursing staff at New Craigs have been great over the years. They got to know me and my family and I found them so human. They were very compassionate when my younger brother took his life. It was a very traumatic time. I cannot say I liked being in New Craigs, but essentially they helped me get better and return to my beautiful family.

I will forever feel indebted to Dr Sundeep for believing in me, and my husband for his love of me even when my weight ballooned. Thank you to everyone who were just so utterly human throughout my journey x