Your mental health stories

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Read about the mental health journeys of people in our community and how reaching out for support has changed things for them. Thanks to everyone who has contributed and we hope these stories inspire hope and show the importance of asking for help when you need it

Stevie’s story: Resisting misdiagnosis

1st July 2025

Stevie has had a difficult mental health journey coming to terms with her sexual identity, negotiating cultural bias in mental health services and finding the right diagnosis. But she’s now living as her authentic self and shares what she was learned along the way

Joe landscape with bush in background edited

Joe's story: The best version of myself

13th May 2025

Joe shares how her training as a peer volunteer with West Sussex Mind has helped her find community and fulfillment after a difficult journey with her own mental health

Two women kneeling on the floor with their son in the middle at a family centre with toys in the background

Jo's story: "the group is like family to me"

12th February 2025

Jo struggled with her mental health when her twins were born prematurely and with heart conditions. Subsequently Jo had postnatal depression after giving birth to her son Grayson. But since seeking support with Families in Mind, she has found community with a group that feels "like family"

Woman with long dark wavy hair with her hand on her chin looking to the side

Amy's story: Regaining clarity to cope

16th December 2024

Increasing pressure from her caring responsibilities left Amy mentally and physically exhausted. Add to this chronic back pain and the pressure to keep going – and Amy felt near breaking point. But a referral to our mental health support worker in her GP surgery helped to turn Amy’s situation around

Man with grey hair in front of a bridge at a railway station with the train to his right

Simon's story: Living with OCD

14th October 2024

Simon dispels some myths around obsessive-compulsive disorder and explains how he has learned to live with the condition and gained greater control over unwanted thoughts

Young man standing on the waterfront wearing jeans, trainers and a warm coat

Nathan's story: Developing with schizophrenia

2nd October 2024

Diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis in his teens and identifying as neurodivergent, Nathan explains how aspects of his neurodiversity have helped him cope with complex mental health conditions, develop through self-reflection – and lead a fulfilling life

Photo of young girl in Rick and Morty T-shirt against dark background

Abbey’s story: A journey towards self-love

28th June 2024

As a child and teenager, Abbey struggled to accept her autism and felt like she didn’t belong. But by connecting with other neurodivergent young people, getting peer support and educating herself about neurodiversity, Abbey is slowly learning to love herself

Woman in blue scarf sitting on a garden bench

Anita's story: becoming a calmer and more confident parent

23rd May 2024

Anita became anxious and over-protective after the birth of her second son and her family became increasingly isolated. Support from Families in Mind helped Anita to look after herself and care for her children more confidently and expand her support network

Bernie's story: staying active

13th May 2024

Outdoor exercise became a lifeline for Bernie as he struggled with his caring responsibilities

Photo of Heather Currie running the London Marathon April 2024

Heather's story: "running has changed my life"

14th May 2024

Reduced anxiety. Resilience. Confidence. Community. And the small matter of a dream come true – running the London Marathon. Just some of the things running has brought Heather Currie since she joined West Sussex Mind’s running group last year

Kasha sitting on a bench with greenery behind him

Kasha’s story: Finding peace with my sexuality and religion

12th June 2023

Kasha shares his story of coming out, his struggle to reconcile his sexuality with his religious identity and the impact this had on his mental health. He reflects on the role stigma played in preventing him getting help and what might have made his story better

Woman sitting alone in the house looking anxious

Natalie's story: learning to live with the peaks and troughs of anxiety

16th May 2023

Natalie has had anxiety since she was a child, but things really peaked over the pandemic when she grew too comfortable with her routine at home and struggled to adapt to the 'new normal'. She's learned to talk things through with friends and ask for support in situations she knows she'll find stressful

Young man from behind looking out into the distance

Lewis' story: the power of offloading

17th May 2023

When Lewis was anxious, he felt sick, distant and detached and had to withdraw from social situations. But seeking support in the run-up to his first son's birth has helped Lewis to open up to others about his anxiety and alleviated some pressure. In his blog for Mental Health Awareness Week, he explains his journey

Leah who suffers with anxiety with her son Ronan

Leah's story: becoming the mum I always wanted to be

15th May 2023

Being a first-time parent can be a challenging experience in any circumstances. But for new mum, Leah, it was a catalyst for her anxiety becoming completely debilitating - until she reached out for support

Hannah's story: finding a space where people understand

18th May 2023

Hannah has been experiencing anxiety since childhood, which was exacerbated by having undiagnosed autism and ADHD. As a young adult, she sought help and has found connection and mutual support by going to social groups run by West Sussex Mind's youth mental health workers

Late diagnosis of ADHD: Kayla's story

15th March 2023

Kayla wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until her early thirties and spent many years internalising other people's negative perceptions of her – with a detrimental effect on her self-esteem and mental health

Picture of blog contributor Stevie Amuzu

What LGBT+ History Month means to me and my well-being

7th February 2023

Stevie reflects on inspiring figures in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and what connecting with the community has meant for her mental well-being

Person with colours of LGBTQI painted on face

Towards self-acceptance: Izzy’s story

3rd February 2023

Izzy wrestled with accepting her sexuality for many years and her mental health continued to suffer. Here she reflects on her journey towards self-acceptance and better mental health

Woman sitting on bench looking out to sea

Expressing myself through singing: Beth's story

16th November 2022

Beth speaks about her the positive impact joining the West Sussex Mind singing group has had on her mental well-being

Improving mental well-being creatively: Julie's story

17th October 2022

Julie joined the West Sussex Mind pottery group, one of our social activity groups, and says that the social contact and trying something new has had a positive effect on her well-being

Older man sitting on a bench with his back to the camera

Finding meaning again: John's story

24th August 2022

After an operation that went wrong, John felt depressed and increasingly isolated. But reaching out for support with our over-65s service helped him learn coping strategies, find meaningful contact and enjoy life again

Being my true self: Stevie's story

5th September 2022

After many years of shame and guilt, Stevie blogs about how denial of her true sexual identity impacted her mental health and how she has finally found peace as a gay woman

Becoming comfortable in my own skin: Marilyn's story

5th September 2022

Marilyn speaks about her struggle with depression and loneliness and the positive impact joining the West Sussex Mind singing group has had on her mental well-being

Grappling with bereavement and sadness: Dorothy's story

20th September 2022

Dorothy felt isolated and extremely down after two close bereavements in her family. But she has found friends and understanding by attending our over-65s support groups in Bognor and taking part in our activities

If you would like to share your story, contact the communications team at West Sussex Mind. Email communications@westsussexmind.org

Your mental health stories

Stevie’s story: Resisting misdiagnosis

Joe's story: The best version of myself

Jo's story: "the group is like family to me"

Amy's story: Regaining clarity to cope

Simon's story: Living with OCD

Nathan's story: Developing with schizophrenia

Abbey’s story: A journey towards self-love

Anita's story: becoming a calmer and more confident parent

Bernie's story: staying active

Heather's story: "running has changed my life"

Kasha’s story: Finding peace with my sexuality and religion

Natalie's story: learning to live with the peaks and troughs of anxiety

Lewis' story: the power of offloading

Leah's story: becoming the mum I always wanted to be

Hannah's story: finding a space where people understand

Late diagnosis of ADHD: Kayla's story

What LGBT+ History Month means to me and my well-being

Towards self-acceptance: Izzy’s story

Expressing myself through singing: Beth's story

Improving mental well-being creatively: Julie's story

Finding meaning again: John's story

Being my true self: Stevie's story

Becoming comfortable in my own skin: Marilyn's story

Grappling with bereavement and sadness: Dorothy's story

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Your mental health stories

Stevie’s story: Resisting misdiagnosis

Joe's story: The best version of myself

Jo's story: "the group is like family to me"

Amy's story: Regaining clarity to cope

Simon's story: Living with OCD

Nathan's story: Developing with schizophrenia

Abbey’s story: A journey towards self-love

Anita's story: becoming a calmer and more confident parent

Bernie's story: staying active

Heather's story: "running has changed my life"

Kasha’s story: Finding peace with my sexuality and religion

Natalie's story: learning to live with the peaks and troughs of anxiety

Lewis' story: the power of offloading

Leah's story: becoming the mum I always wanted to be

Hannah's story: finding a space where people understand

Late diagnosis of ADHD: Kayla's story

What LGBT+ History Month means to me and my well-being

Towards self-acceptance: Izzy’s story

Expressing myself through singing: Beth's story

Improving mental well-being creatively: Julie's story

Finding meaning again: John's story

Being my true self: Stevie's story

Becoming comfortable in my own skin: Marilyn's story

Grappling with bereavement and sadness: Dorothy's story

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