How Angela got her groove back

I had always been a strong, independent, confident person, but events in recent years turned me into someone who had become scared of my own shadow. I could only describe it like walking out into the sea and being knocked over by a huge wave coming in, and then before finding my feet again, another wave came, and then another, making it impossible to stand firm.

After close to three years, I realised I was not recovering as well as I should and I referred myself to the NHS. I was subsequently diagnosed with severe depression and very severe anxiety, which came as a big shock. I didn’t fit in with my pre-conceived idea of someone severely depressed: not eating properly, not taking care of their home or their personal hygiene and appearance. I was taking care of all these issues very well. I began a course of cognitive behavioural treatment.

Then one day I saw an advertisement for National Lottery-funded Create and Flourish’s art workshops. I phoned them to see if they had a space I could take up. They did. I had no idea of the connection between art and recovering from mental health issues, but Create and Flourish really helped me. It was only when I began feeling much better that I realised just how awful I had felt.