From Katy

Dear You,

You have an illness.

I started recovering when I truly realised I was ill, that there was something I was recovering from.  People had told me, doctors had told me, I did know, but at the same time I thought I was a pathetic fraud.  Then one day, not that long ago, I looked back and realised what had happened.

You are ill you know, it isn’t some flaw in you any more than arthritis would be. You have probably heard that a lot but it is worth saying it again and again, that doesn’t mean you give into it, it means you can get help.  I can’t tell you how to get well, I can just tell you that I am getting well and gently, very gently, remind you that there are things you can do.

Not all illnesses are correctly diagnosed first time – go back to the GP, try another doctor, talk to someone else. The things I needed might be different to what you need.  I needed a diagnosis, medication and a person to talk to.  So, if you haven’t already, think about telling someone. A friend or a professional, online, on the phone, or face to face, there are people who want to hear it.  It might be difficult, you might not know what to say and you might not be able to find the right words.   If you can’t do it the first time try again. The person I talked to saved my life.

So you, you have an illness, you can get help.  I want to help you and others do to.  You don’t have to feel like this.  Please try to get help and don’t stop trying.

Get well so you can help someone else, someone out there needs you.  Good luck you, take care x

Katy