I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when I was 29, after losing my job as a teacher in Chelmsford. Despite my psychosis, I nonetheless travelled to Rome in Italy, where I was arrested and taken to hospital to be treated with with antipsychotics.
When back in the UK, I decided to to live, for a time, with my mother in Teesside. During this period, I tried to get back into teaching and I even found a teaching job in Leeds. However, I found my new teaching position very challenging because I couldn't control the kids and by now, I was also suffering from PTSD and had become dependent on alcohol. As a result, my one-year contract with the school was not renewed and a further attempt at teaching (this time in South Korea) lasted only six months.
After briefly living with my father back in the UK, I relocated to London. Here, I was sectioned a number times and was given a depot (an injection of slow-release medication) because I would take my meds. I again became dependent on alcohol and other legal highs and was several times arrested by the police for social disorder offences. For some of these offences, I served time in prison..
Eventually, I ended up back to Teesside with my mum again and, from here, I was admitted to Roseberry Park mental hostpital in Middlesbrough, where I spent the next 6 years. I am currently going through the process of being integrated back into the community and am now focusing on writing about my struggles. So far, I have written three novels but plan to add more to the list. Hopefully, people will enjoy reading these works as much as I have enjoyed writing them..
