"Mental health and daily pain"

I have been suffering for a number of years with depression and continuous pain as a result of having hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia. I worked for 43 years and literally I found myself in tears at work due to the pain and would come home and go straight to bed. My illness beat me and I had no other option but to give up working. I found it hard to accept and felt a failure. I had no one to talk to that understood what these illnesses do to you. My family is a great support but I just felt I am nothing but a burden to them. I forgot how to smile.

Things came to a head and my doctor put me on anti depressants and suggested I tried meeting with an occupational health therapist. I would give anything a try and all I can say is I am happy I did. I remember my first visit, Katrina must have thought what a miserable person I was, I had no enthusiasm and I had nothing positive to say, I was just vacant. I left the visit thinking how good would it be if I just had a little bit of her energy and zest for life. Maybe if I applied some of the suggestions she gave me then I will get on the right track and that’s just what I did.

After a number of meetings I use techniques to help with my anxiety, sleep, and doing things to improve my life. I am taking small steps but enough that it is making a difference to me and my family. I feel like I am going in the right direction now and for that I am truly grateful.