Anonymous 2

World Mental Health Day 2019

My husband was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer one week after we got married in October 2016.

After six months of chemo, a subsequent stem cell transplant failed, and the anti-rejection drugs paralysed him. After five months in hospital he was discharged home and I had to do everything for him. I struggled on my own for 18 months before I “cracked”. One day at work I had an intervention from my line and task managers as they were very worried about me, so I sought help from my GP. I was prescribed antidepressants and counselling.

The cracking point for me was when I thought about driving in front of a lorry to end all my anguish.

Thankfully I didn’t, as my husband is a lot better although he is now on haemodialysis due to kidney failure. I still have the occasional “bad” day, but I have good friends that help me talk through it and make sure I go out once a month for some “me” time.

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