A new ending
When you have the courage to walk into your story, you also find that you are in a position to rewrite the kind of ending you want to experience'; even when the middle bit has been messy and possibly brutal. You can’t hide from the emotional bits, the turmoil, or the breakages but you can piece yourself back together again. and create new possibilities from the scars.
Rewrite your story
That’s what Naomi Fryers did after her mental health spiralled into psychosis.
This week’s guest is Naomi Fryers, author of A Very Long Way, a non-fiction narrative about her mental health journey in which she learns about ‘overcoming’ as a basis of proof that surviving can translate into future thriving for those committed to healing.
During the Pandemic, some of the drivers of mental ill health have been social isolation, job & financial worries, housing insecurities, and working in front-line services, and those already with mental health issues. Naomi talks about how it has affected her and what she has done to cope.
Naomi grew up a wild child and a free spirit, with a love for writing. Even back then she could lose herself in the world of her journal. Growing up she balanced writing and jobs to cover the bills. But when she got taken down by a series of physical conditions her mental health suddenly spiralled downwards, and she was sectioned in a mental hospital. It was a terrifying experience, and one that didn't end when she returned to the outside world.
It was only when she happened upon a psychiatrist with a different approach that Naomi started to play a hand in her own recovery. It was from this place of healing that she was able to start contributing to what needs to change in society, legislation and the mental health care system.
Thank you so much Naomi, for sharing your own journey so that others may see their own stories reflected, and may be given a way to create resilience in their own ability to survive and thrive, and that with the right support and coping strategies we can all find a way through our mental health challenges and create a life of possibilities.
You can buy Naomi’s book A Very Long Way on Amazon and follow her on Instagram @Naomifryers