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HOPE

AGrace
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

My mental health fell apart when I was 15. I lost my first boyfriend to suicide. It was a very isolating event and I quickly felt like no one understood me. It was 2 years later after a major struggle to deal with life, an attempt at suicide, and a dictionary of disturbing events (my parents separated 3 times, my mum had a breakdown, I was raped, and had 2 pregnancies terminated after numerous failed relationships) when my parents finally found the time for me to get me some treatment. I was admitted to a Psychiatric Hospital. I was 17 and I was the only teenager their, so a pretty scary place to spend 3 months. I was treated for PTSD and eventually discharged. 

 

I lived the following 16 years feeling complete emptiness. There was no amount of happiness that could make up for all the sadness. I went from 1 psychologist to the next, never revealing my entire story through fear that it would break me. Eventually I couldn't suppress it anymore. I'd been self harming and battling with an eating disorder for years. I had become suicidal once again and ended up back in hospital. I was diagnosed with BPD, depression,  and anxiety. 

 

In the past 10 monthsI've attempted suicide 3 times, I've been in and out of hospital, I've self harmed often, I've seen numerous psychiatrists and Psychologists, I've been a lab rat for medications,  and attended so many group therapy sessions I've lost count. Ive been through enough to make any human lose hope, and yet thats the one thing I've held onto. Without HOPE I wouldn't be here to share my story. If I could have given anything in the world to my boyfriend all those years ago it would've been HOPE. 

 

If I could give the world a gift thats exactly what I'd choose, "AN ENDLESS SUPLY OF HOPE". Even when you think you've lost everything there's always HOPE, so cherish it and use it every step of the way.

beyondblue’s clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

4 Replies 4

BeeGee
Community Member

What a moving story and what courage to share it with us - thank you so much.

You are a truly beautiful person and the world is a better place because you're in it.  Please don't ever stop sharing your gift of hope with others!

Jo3
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi AGrace

Thanks for sharing your story, you are so courageous and have an amazing strength to keep fighting.

Take care

Jo

white knight
Community Champion
Community Champion

Hi Agrace,

I am truly humbled to have read your story. We all here have stories to tell and we've all been through the wringer- it seems. Then you read a story like yours and get more appreciation for your own plight.

Agrace, I am a great believer of the "never give up" attitude and how to get it and then keep it. You call yours "hope" and I think that is a wonderful word for essentially the same thing. In fact "hope" is an extremely positive word for all things positive. You actually display in your story and the use of that word, a degree of ability that I think, would be so helpful for others seeking help on this forum, and other organisations where help and guidance is needed for those struggling mentally.

 I'm 58 and up until 12 months ago was in no way ready to help others. Then I was forced to retire due to my depression and slowly found I had settled well enough that I could help others. So I've been on here about 7 weeks an it is actually a form of therapy for me. In reading others posts I get more of an understanding of others struggles and this helps me.

Hold onto your hope. You are a survivor, a kind and beaut person that deserves a good future built on the strength of your instincts and your experiences good or bad. You cant change the past but you can pave your way into a brighter future. Thankyou so much for your post- it was inspirational.

Neil_1
Community Member

 Dear Agrace

  Thank you so much for coming to Beyond Blue and providing your story.  It is a very powerful story and one that suggests that you have done it tough for so long and unfortunately for you, that battle still continues.  I’m sensing you’re now in your early 30’s?

At the present time, I’m guessing that you’ve got psyche’s that you have fairly regular appointments with?   Are you finding them to be ok for you??    And your meds, have they had a recent review??

  Hope is such a powerful word and it can bring different meaning to different situations – but in the case of someone at their lowest ebb, YES it can provide a difference/a spark.

Thank you again for posting and I really do “hope” that you can come back and post again.

  Kind regards

 Neil