MHAW Week on body image - Betty and Sarah share their recovery stories!

With it being Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme being body image, we wanted to share amazing recovery stories from two patients in our care, Betty and Sarah.*

Betty from Women's DBT: 

“I was first diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa at age 13. Then, soon after my 18th birthday, I was diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

“I’ve been receiving inpatient care since I was 14. Now, at 27, I feel like I’m starting to get my life back – I’ve turned a corner towards recovery. I realise now that the numbers on the weighing scales don’t define who I am.

“Recovery to me means having a life outside of hospital where I have the freedom to make my own decisions. I believe that recovery only starts when you begin to accept yourself for who you are. I’ve learned that you can only get better if you truly want to.

“My proudest moment is having Christmas lunch with my family in 2018. I was tube-fed for many years and some professionals thought I may never eat food again.

“I now hope to be out of hospital by the end of the year and in supported living. I’d like to have a job working with children, perhaps as a foster carer, and to have my own family one day.

“At St Andrew’s I’ve enjoyed doing work placements and I like music group. I enjoy Dialectical Behaviour Therapy too, although I find it hard.”

Sarah from Women's DBT:

“I wasn’t aware of being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder as I was so unwell at the time. I have improved in the last couple of years due to Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. I wish I had been advised to do DBT sooner.

“For me, recovery is sorting out my feelings and emotions, and learning to be a family person. I’ve enjoyed the process of recovery, even though it’s not a straight path, and I also enjoy my volunteering role in retail.

“My proudest moment was my daughter having my grandson, and I am looking forward to getting home and being a wife, a mum and a grandmother to the best of my abilities.”

We're so incredibly proud of Betty and Sarah, and thank them for sharing their great story!

*Betty and Sarah are pseudonyms.