The Best Recovery E-Book

Abdirisak Mohamed Hussein

• Herausgeber: novum pro Verlag
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 342

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

The Best Recovery is about the long history, different times, and experiences that the author has been through in Somalia and in England. The author explains how different events developed over a long period of time as well as the upheaval that the Somali people have been subjected to due to the longstanding conflict, dictatorship and the bad leadership that paralysed the real existence of the Somali people. The author explains how he became one of the people who was severely affected by the upheaval and the adverse situations he had to face as a refugee in the United Kingdom where he developed and sought help for mental health issues. He almost lost hope after a long struggle, but with the dedicated help of medical professionals he managed to turn his life around.

Leseprobe

Contents

Imprint 2

Chapter 1 3

Chapter 2 63

Chapter 3 129

Imprint

All rights of distribution, also through movies, radio and television, photomechanical reproduction, sound carrier, electronic medium and reprinting in excerpts are reserved.

© 2022 novum publishing

ISBN print edition: 978-3-99131-492-9

ISBN e-book: 978-3-99131-493-6

Editor: Hugo Chandler, BA

Cover images: Amazingmikael, Sergey Mayorov | Dreamstime.com

Cover design, layout & typesetting:novum publishing

www.novum-publishing.co.uk

Chapter 1

This story is based on my past experience and it describes how I have been through difficult times and yet tried to make the best out of different situations, which did not give me an easy life at all. Despite having to endure hardship mainly stemming from being a refugee in a foreign country; that too advanced my way of life. I never gave up hope that things would improve one day and that I would achieve some of my goals. What I am trying to explain here are the events that this difficult time brought me and how I survived against all odds and thus today, I am able to reflect on that terrible past and the impact it had on various aspects of my life.

I have had many different experiences, each with its own memory, and something needs to be said about how one needs to strive for something one can learn from, or about how one can benefit from someone who can describe their experiences; using them as a lesson to assist you in your life. Writing about such things is important for you to have a point of reference every time something goes wrong; so, you become more aware and cautious and try to avoid future failures and learn what leads to them. Your experience should be enough for you to learn from and be aware of challenges you may come across in the future; and how you manage them wisely. Certainly, every change that affects you causes you to value the time you spent, and the pool of knowledge you inherited from those changes.

Human beings react to adversity in different ways and while some maybe discouraged, others may be encouraged because what seems to be merely adversity may lead to a new life and destiny that is very different and better. It is life and attitude that affects or changes people’s lives. I regard myself as someone who has taken a new initiative and did not give up but, instead was committed to changing the way I lived and then continued aiming for a different and more meaningful life than I had before. That is why I never worried about the past and what I was going through; as I took a lot from my experiences; seeing it all as something that was destined, which I had little control over.

I am not angry at the amount of time I lost because I have recovered and I’m feeling a lot better than before. I have managed to wake up to what has happened to me. I have improved my life in terms of health and education, and I have achieved an Honours Degree with the Open University. The most valuable thing I have today is the legacy of experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. As they say, experience is better than knowledge and I will rely on it to guide me through the difficult times I may encounter along the way, throughout my ongoing journey. Generally, I am pleased that I have made important achievements and still keep going.

I want to present events here that in many ways analyse the many events I have lived through for many years. The reasons for this are often attributed to poor leadership practices in my country that have led to widespread displacement and the dire consequences that have resulted in severe hardship for people who have fled their country. I may not be able to finish everything in this story, but I will say as much as I can, I will recount the long history of my life so far and the community I belong to. Although the writing of this book is a new experience for me, I will try to provide a number of real-life reports that can be taken seriously.

My purpose is finding out about these issues for everyone who is interested in human rights to know what the situation of this nation is and the difficulty they are in. It seemed right to me that people should have enough information to deal with such issues, in order to at least provide support or share this information, to address the problems that have plagued the Somali people in general; and in particular, those seeking asylum around the world. It is possible that these people are not fully aware of their plight and the governments in which they are granted asylum are not well aware of their situations, primarily because they do not have real representation or services acting on their behalf, which reflects the special needs of these people.

I hope this message reaches out to anyone concerned who can resolve such issues and offer advice and guidance on dealing with them. You will always need advice from someone who is experienced in managing and changing these negatively affected situations. I think this kind of request is possible when there is someone who has thoroughly researched the information contained in this book. The only way an idea can succeed is when there is someone to help implement it, so the people who need it can experience a difference in their lives. Certainly, people are grateful to everyone who contributes to the change they are so desperate to attain, sooner or later.

This is the first time I have tried to write a book about the many experiences I had at home and abroad. I have written many interesting articles and stories before and participated in creative writing sessions at the hospital where I work, and that was where I was inspired to write a book for the first time. So far, I have not been able to determine how interesting this story will be for many readers, but I hope it will be like many other short stories written in the past. I am confident that this story will resonate with many who share the same plight, together with other readers who would like to know or pay attention to what is going on around the world.

What needs to be said is that I should be in a different situation than I was in yesterday and not try to be in the best situation all the time because that probability is very small. I say this is my experience that shows that a person can achieve his or her goals if they take action and persevere in endeavours to achieve success in life. It is not about being the best instantly, but it is about being better than you were yesterday, so you can gradually build up to the best life you are dreaming about, and that simply changing your mindset can pave the way for you to change the world around you to the best of your ability.

I also had to share my general feelings towards the Somali leadership with people, to show them how they have damaged their credibility by depriving their people of their basic rights and the essential services they deserved or in other words, how they have abused the power in their hands in every role and responsibility they have held; wherever they are in this world. It is not something that a conscientious person can refrain from talking about, opposing it or hiding the truth, so people can then dare to change this negative situation.

The world has always needed someone to reflect on the realities and work with those who share the same ideology to face any challenges from those who hate positive change and are more prone to corruption. It is not easy when you are against oppression as you may be going against those who are somehow enjoying the sufferings of others, simply because they have a vested interest in what is happening, but I am sure that helping one another is a very good human trait that can help to overcome such common problems and if everybody does something, it will add up and be good enough.

It is possible that many people with such a feeling are concerned about how they could raise awareness and reach out to other people about something that is beyond their comprehension; but what they are forgetting is that if one person shines a light in the dark, many people in the community will gather around that light and may then see things a bit more clearly with renewed hope and joy. It is up to those who have the courage to take the first initiative, be a good example to their community and become an inspiration for the next generations to come to follow suit and be the real source of change and progress.

It is human nature to resist oppression and resent anything that comes with it. Often, people think that politics belongs to certain people and that you should remain silent forever, no matter how badly politics affects your entire life and in fact your real existence. People need to react to their surrounding circumstances and the plight and effect it has left on their livelihoods, and they should stop worrying about themselves all the time; but instead choose to take tangible action to make their lives better. You need to work on ways to remove all the obstacles that lie in front of you and avoid being indifferent to the harsh realities that surround you and do something; instead of watching as further destruction looms around the corner.

Although, I cannot summarize my experiences one by one, there is nothing more important that I can relate other than this: People always focus on showcasing their achievements and strengths, but it is more difficult and painful when you speak about a history of many failures; both personal and public. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed saying something about my history, no matter how good or bad it was; and I want many people to know that they can get over many hurdles in life and finally achieve some of their goals if they don’t lose faith and manage to avoid becoming despondent or giving up hope. I can assure anyone with a bit of courage that they can change many situations and make a difference to theirs and other people’s lives.

It is very difficult for anyone to predict the future, but you can take confidence in the fact thatif there is a problem, you are not alone and you should share your problem with others. It seems to me that it is possible that there are many people who do not have anyone to support them or to call on them,in order to present their experiences and find a solution that works. Insuch a situation, everyone seems to be in dilemma people need to realize that they need to work with someone when things go awry. It is not easy to navigate such a large scale problem on your own, without being able to deal with tasks together with others who can help by sincerely sharing burdens.

I am confident that in time, there will be more people who understand how to manage the refugee crisis and that those in similar circumstances will be able to change their way of life to suit the socio-economic situation of the country. It takes a person a while to see how you can adapt to a new way of life that is different from yours and it takes a lot of adaptation to establish your role in the community while striving to benefit from existing opportunities in all aspects of life.

As there are no credible community organisations that serve the interest of all and can play a positive role in guiding people along the right avenues in which they can demonstrate their talent and actually show their true potential; people need to be self-motivated and more educated to adapt to the country they live in, without abandoning the good tradition of helping each other; as working together in any difficult situation we face in any time, is the only way to succeed.

I thought that it was a serious matter; that the plight of the Somali community needs to be addressed by anyone with conscience and that those who are unaware of it should be informed of the circumstances they are facing or living under in this country. People need to find a way out of the mess they are in and yet it seems that they are not collectively prepared to make the necessary changes, which require an effort to be made sooner rather than later. I think it is a huge task that needs to be done with a lot of awareness, and it is necessary to find people who can do this and help their people.

Today, I feel that many people who fled this country have no one to truly represent them and their needs. If properly managed, the newcomers who came here would have tackled a lot of losses better, and their lives would have been well secured in every way. I acknowledge that such people have experienced a great deal of irresponsibility and that it has been truly difficult for them to adapt to or become part of society. Certainly, if they had had full support, they would have been better able to manage a wide range of issues and could have been self-sufficient by now. People who are successful in this way will be more likely to be the ones who others try to emulate or who aspire to reach the same level as they did.

Over the years, I have had many different experiences that have forced me to refocus my mind on what I remember about the different times we had to deal with in trying to really face the difficult circumstances. I am not sure how my book will look, but I have to say something about my past so it can be a source of information for the people and will then be able to provide a lot of useful information and really benefit a lot who do not have any idea about Somali history and the different situations that people have been through and survived. I also have to admit that there are always people you can turn to when you are in trouble, whether it be medical or otherwise.

What really encouraged me to say these things were the people who generously supported me in times when I really needed it; and it became a lesson for me to see the role that these valuable people play in your life and in whatever progress you make. No one can easily forget what people stand for you in such times, but it is better to share these positive feelings with others so they can see the benefits of supporting each other, and how it can change someone else’s life and health. It is very likely that many people are unaware such good people exist; someone who they can rely on when difficult situations arise in their lives. I want to set an example for many people who are somehow discouraged from believing in anyone or don’t think that there are human beings who are eager to help those in need.

I also know that the relationship between patients from my community and professionals is somewhat disjointed and that there may be a lack of awareness of what is really happening and a lack of support for what these patients are experiencing. So, I am trying to illustrate that in order to fill a gap or make a connection between these two areas the two groups need to work closely together; especially in respect of the patient’s need for healthcare. I gather that one of the reasons why many patients do not seek treatment is the perception they have about some medication having severe side effects.

Actually, another reason is that they are not supported regarding the social aspects of their problem; for instance by not being provided with enough activities to occupy their time beneficially, such as education, training and employment opportunities, in order to regain their lost confidence during illness and lead an independent life. This account of my experience brings back many memories and instils in me a lot of interest and a desire to relive many experiences that had their ups and downs. You and others who can learn from this information will have reference point for you to look back on when things go wrong in your life. However, what is written here is supposed to be a remnant of a nation’s experience, and as you read it more sticks in your mind than when you just heard the story, which can be easily forgotten.

When I talk to people about my community, I do not find many who have had a reasonable adjustment in this country and in every aspect of social life. They are far behind other communities in British society. Even those who claimed to be representing their community were busy advancing their own causes and consequently let down their own community. They misused the organisations they had established in the name of our community and somehow their representations were limited to individuals who pursued their own interests, rather than those of the community. This became a wake-up call for people like me and many others who understood that there were some individuals who profited from the difficult situation their community was in, while claiming to be serving the interests of their people; but their actions demonstrated the opposite; They were failing the community.

It was hard for the community to comprehend that they were now facing similar injustices to those they thought they had left behind back home. They were still having to deal with corrupt people who benefited out of their tragedy. They had had negative past experiences of authority and yet now, they faced a similar plight in the United Kingdom(UK) which was very confusing for them. Even if they tried to seek professional support they had physical access issues and an often faced discrimination; falling prey to those who capitalised on their neediness and used them for personal gain by doing slapdash work that was not up to standard, was often biased, based on favouritism and lacking in honesty and professionalism.

Some people might not like to hear such a clear statement, but I am sure that most people will welcome it because those who needed to be served with honesty but are not satisfied might appreciate this sort of problem being brought to the surface; whereby some people take advantage of newcomers, without their knowledge, but neglect the majority of the population; who deservedly have the right to get the satisfactory service they are entitled to without having to show some sort of loyalty to any particular individual or group. Unfortunately, many people do not get support for their problems straight away if they are deemed to be in the wrong group or somehow different from the local loyal members.

I want to encourage more open-minded people to access the services available freely and not to be disillusioned about the shortcomings or prejudices of those who provide such services. The Somalians should not allow themselves to become discouraged and consequently not contact them for help. There is a belief that local people are wary of foreigners but in my experience the foreigners are people whose skills are valued and who work tirelessly for people by using their knowledge to benefit anyone in need if the right approach is made. As with any human being; everything rests on the relationship you develop with the person you are dealing with. Communication and paying full attention is the key to success.

It never occurred to me that I would have to criticize people so harshly, due to their rampant corruption; as they attempt to use people to advance their personal goals; to the detriment of those most affected by the plight of war and displacement both inside and outside the country. It is unfortunate that people who pretend to be serving their people devise strategies to deal with their needs, but then divert much needed resources to themselves.

It is certain that people are subjected to subtle obstacles and reasons that prevent them from participating in the benefits of the society they are part of, by distorting the truth and creating non-existent fears and illusions to manipulate them. It is terrible that such devious people create situations that their compatriots are fearful that they will be unable overcome and handle on their own; which leaves them feeling overwhelmed and then they become despondent because they fear for their futures. So many people feel stuck and are not in a position to grasp their real situation.

I don’t think that there are many people who stand up to such degrading treatment and mention how certain people are making profits out of their suffering and yet there is no one who will dare to retaliate to that kind of humiliation. As is customary in our culture, it is difficult to confront those in authority who have the means to intimidate or use finance to dismantle one’s cohesion so that it is not possible for people to oppose their mischief. It is not easy or even possible for one person to sum up the widespread misery that people have experienced in the situation or demonstrate exactly how they will somehow be able to cope with the manipulation as without coming together to face the challenges, it will be beyond their capability.

I am sure that anyone who has the opportunity to read this book will actually appreciate what is written here and will have a lot to look forward to despite the harsh realities faced. Despite not being satisfied with how things are happening, they can still try to change things from now on and move on, developing different coping mechanisms. The only way to make a difference in any society is when its members share information and exchange experiences so that they can one day recover from the trauma that is affecting everyone. It takes a lot of time and effort to make such collaboration work.

It is undeniable that the experience of the Somali nation is unmistakably true but no one is still dedicated their time and effort to raise awareness by pointing a finger at the injustices being perpetrated or standing up for complete change. The world needs to act to alleviate the suffering of this community and deal with it humanely before it is too late. It is important to respond in a humane way when people are overwhelmed and unable to stand on their feet without help. We believe in the creation of more productive society that contributes to itself and the rest of the world, both inside and outside the country.

We know that in this situation, many people will be relentless in their efforts to help these people in need, but what is needed is for the right people to have the right information so they can extend the helping hand that is required. Everything that is done requires a plan and people who are committed to the task and put a lot of time and effort into making it a success. At all times in life, you have to put in a lot of effort so you can overcome the challenges you face to achieve your goals and aspirations. If you dedicate your time to any task you want to change or do something about the circumstances around you; it is not easy to complete that task overnight. You have to give it time.

I am determined today to help and volunteer to serve people who need people to assist by contributing as much as wisdom and strength as I can. If you do not benefit your people with knowledge you can share with them; it means that you have deprived them of their humanity and it shows your reluctance to do your part in order to help them in difficult times. You should demonstrate your kindness when it is really needed and be genuine in giving what you can; whether it be your time or your effort. You should try to make a difference when it is necessary; but you should do it for sake of it and to be helpful.

The desire to achieve anything has to come from within; and I am willing to demonstrate how determined I am to assist people in similar situations. I want to share my experience and show in different ways how I can help them; using the hard earned skills I learnt over the years. Being a peer support worker is not just about experiencing mental health challenges. It is also about explaining the meaning of such experiences within the community you come from and describing how such challenges impacted a lot of them where they lived. The experience and skills you acquired are most useful when you are communicating with other colleagues and when you are assisting those who need the care and support they really need at times of difficulty.

This is why I set myself up working as a peer support worker in order to bring the changes that were needed on an individual level and why I dedicated myself to providing the support other service users in similar situations need. I intend to reach out to people like me who have not been fortunate enough to receive the support or healthcare I received that has led me to recover from my illness. I want my message to reach-out and encourage such people not to worry as much and to seek the support they need because it is something they have the right to receive, and no one will deny them that if they apply. I want to share my extensive experience of the various times and circumstances that reflect my resilience and efforts to improve my health and contribute to the community I belong to.

I am someone who is offering his experience for other service users to make use of in similar situations. I spent some time in different hospitals after I became unwell and during the time I spent in hospital I have realised a lot of past mistakes. I have looked back at the things that caused my health to deteriorate such as the worries I had about the war back home and the whereabouts of my family. Those concerns led me to excessive drug and alcohol use and which exacerbated my mental health. The lack of opportunities for education and employment also impacted my health and wellbeing.

Other problems that worsened my situation were being homeless for long time, which badly affected my mental health and the lack of professional support in our community. The latter was the major problem that affected my livelihood from every angle. I could not plan anything to improve my situation at all as I had lost my peace of mind. That prevented me from being able to feel mentally stable. At the back of my mind I had this constant worry, caused by the uncertainty of not knowing how the next day would pan out; and the question of whether I would ever be settled. I could not carry out a simple task due to my homelessness, which caused me to become frustrated and unstable.

I had been unwell for a long time and I wasn’t getting any professional support due to the fact that I was not familiar with the symptoms I was experiencing, and I didn’t know whether I was experiencing some degree of mental illness. I thought that perhaps all the anxiety was related to the drugs and alcohol I was using. I also thought that if I had been able to get the right support in the early stages of my illness, it could have saved me from going to hospital and spending some time there. However, I cannot deny that in hospital, I received exceptional support from professionals and I rose to the occasion and transformed myself while I was there.

Once I was admitted to the hospital, it took me a while before I came to my senses and realised what was at stake. I realised that unless I began to change and developed an insight into my real problem, I would not get far at all. I started to concentrate on the present moment and had to adjust myself the new environment. I then had to bring back myself face to face with my situation. I needed to address my situation with genuine effort and actions to follow, in order to create solutions based on reality, with the right approaches that needed to be taken in a gradual process.

I had a well thought-out idea that I was compelled to make an important decision and to implement it without any hesitation. It was quite a challenging task to bring about such a radical change. It is inevitable that you come up with solutions where you grow and learn new things when something changes. You discover new aspects of your life, and you take lessons from the past. In order to avoid stagnation, it is important for internal changes to be made almost continuously; no matter whether it involved changing the way you present yourself, developing your skills, taking a course or just changing your routine.

First of all, I had to stop smoking, taking drugs and drinking alcohol. I then started studying at the college and after I had been successful at achieving level 1 certificates in English, maths and ICT, I moved on to a higher education degree and joined the open university, studying different courses up until I completed my Honours Degree and continued for a period of seven consecutive years. That was the first time I had received such support and I seized the opportunity. At that point, I completely changed and started to rebuild my life.

While I was in hospital I had a lot of time on my hands and after having a period of respite I decided to make use of that and involve all the available therapeutic activities, including education. I looked back and realised my mistakes, which helped me to turn my life around and move on to achieve my goals. I did not want to look despondent, but I said to myself – ‘you’ve got all this professional support’, which in itself is an opportunity and I decided that I did not want to waste all the various forms of support that had been given to me.

I am currently in the community continuing the progress I started in hospital which has made me a different person who has regained his confidence and is now ready to engage with anyone by offering a helping hand; and most importantly, I then focused on making drastic changes wherever possible, while making use of my experience as best I could to prevent myself from slipping back into the old ways that had not served me well and in fact had led me to fail. I realised that it was never too late to make the changes needed in one’s life and build on the past, rather than dwelling on it. I now feel that I am in control, and I don’t want to lose all the achievements I have made so far, I have learnt a lesson the hard way and would like to keep going and remain positive.

When you have had a miserable time in your past, and realisation asserts itself it is as if you get a buzz of wisdom. It feels as if your mind has just expanded, and you are open to a whole new idea that you had never conceived of before. Simply acknowledging your past mistakes can lead you along the path you need to follow to make the changes needed. You then move on to developing an insight into how things were before, and how you can turn around the situation this time in your favour; by avoiding repeating the same mistakes again.

There was a time when my mind was preoccupied with so many problems that I did not know how to handle it and then I lost concentration and started feeling overwhelmed. That then left me stuck in a place where I simply couldn’t do anything at all. It was a very painful time I will never forget. I had strayed away from real life and I felt completely lost. I am glad that things start changing for me once I began to receive professional support in the hospital. That was when I started to feel a sense of hope and some sort of calmness prevailed within me.

This has removed all of the insecurities I was having which was bothering me badly. Therefore, in order to regain my confidence, I had to acknowledge some of my failures and how they happened. One of the main reasons why I failed was that I did not seek professional help in time. In fact, not disregarding the importance of it or undervaluing it unfortunately lacked a real understanding of its benefits and how it could save me from plunging into a dark hole. It is no use living with regrets but what counts is learning from my failures.

I did not want to be discouraged from my past failures in anyway. I have taken every step along the way to contribute towards my recovery including fully engaging with staff. There are a few things I keep in mind which I picked up over the years and use whenever I am discouraged somehow, which is that I say to myself that anything worth needs dedication and hard work all the way. With that in mind, I have been able to get over a lot of hurdles and was able to achieve many useful goals. The progress I have made so far gave me the courage to continue and keep going.

My enthusiasm in life and my optimism have always remained intact; never letting anything discourage me from doing what I want to do. I believe that having such an unyielding attitude laid the foundation for me to be a self-sufficient person who always trust his instincts and abilities. It is absolutely wonderful to have such confidence but despite having all those traits, I am not complacent that I can do everything on my own, knowing that no one can stand alone and that everyone needs to have some people they can rely on in times of difficulty.

I appreciate the fact that I realise my mistakes and in hindsight I wanted to correct this with all the effort I could muster, together with the support offered at the hospital. I feel happy that after a while I bounced back and began to engage with all the available therapeutic activities. It was the beginning of a real journey towards my recovery. As they say, it is never too late for someone to recollect themselves and put all their weight into beginning again and making use of all the experiences they gained throughout the journey.

What helped me the most was the acceptance of my situation and I am thankful to anyone who gave me their support during this difficult time. I focused on what could be changed and how I would approach these important changes to improve my health. In order to claim ownership and full control of my life I had to prove to myself and anyone supporting me that I could achieve my goals such as educating myself to become self-sufficient and become an independent person relying on myself to manage my life while taking full responsibility for my day-to-day affairs.

I feel that there is a great deal of cultural stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness, which exacerbates their condition, causing a great deal of anger and resentment. The reason for this is that most of society has no respect for these people, not valuing them as significant people and often taking advantage of their vulnerability and treat them badly and as subhuman. It is really unfair that someone is regarded to have less importance than normal people simply because he or she is mentally unwell. I think that this one of the worst examples of discrimination that amounts to a worse injustice than any other form of discrimination.

I believe that mental illness is similar to other physical illnesses, but it suffers from a misconception that stigmatizes people who suffer from such a disorder. Discrimination against people with a mental disease increases the person’s ill health and anxiety levels and requires health authorities to intervene and change this misconception. A strong campaign must be launched to end discrimination and violence against these people. It should be launched by the health sector to raise public awareness of compassion for the mentally ill and should be given the same level of attention as other physical illnesses.

People with mental illness often feel that they are not looked after, are sometimes described as dangerous and are considered to be wrong all the time. They cannot raise their voices to express their rights and they fear being targeted. They often say that they have no one to encourage them or at least show that they are no different to other people, but perhaps have a condition they could be treated for. As a result, they refrain from airing their grievances as they feel they might not be listened to or acknowledged. These people often do not have the help they need to change or to build confidence to reduce the frustration they experience.

From my experience, I have to admit that a lot of people lack the support of a professional who knows people like me who are suffering from a mental health condition and know how to deal with it. I testify that my condition would be worse today if these professionals did not take care of me and really change my condition for the better. It is fortunate that I have received this valuable contribution from people who are skilled in the work they do, and it is a great gift to others in similar situation. I will never forget the kindness and responsibility of the people who helped me get to where I am today.

It is important to recognize that people with mental illness are vulnerable and need help, not discriminated against or ostracized, so that they do not become dissatisfied with their lives once they have been unable to manage things on their own, which is sometimes difficult. When they don’t know how to change things, they convince themselves that there is no way out and lose hope. The only thing that these people need is someone to extend a helping hand and not disregard their plight as if they don’t exist or are people with lesser value.

I think I am one of the few people who have been fortunate enough to receive good help, but it is no secret that there are so many people out there who need someone to help. This makes me sympathise with those like me who are in a difficult situation and who have no one to represent them. I have promised myself that I will stand up for those in hostile and difficult circumstances with unforgiving living conditions. I am sure that they see their situation as normal, because they have not seen anything better and have not met anyone who would take the lead and be a role model for them to emulate, to improve their living conditions.

I can tell anyone that drugs and alcohol ruined my life and were the main shackle that locked-up my brain and they were the biggest obstacle in my way, preventing me from getting on with my life. They were the main factors contributing to my downfall. I was stuck with them and could not take one single step ahead. I lived a life that was hallucinated and not real. I was unable to do anything good that could help me get out of the mess I was in. I could not think reasonably. I am glad I have stayed clean for a long time now and all I have to do nowadays is to catch up on the time I lost, and be forward thinking.

One of the ways I try to unwind nowadays is I make sure that I get enough regular exercise which helps boost the state of my mind and my confidence; as well as enjoying the endorphins that kick in afterwards. A good workout helps me to increase my energy levels, plus it helps me to shake off the feelings of the day. Another important thing I do is to try to learn something new as a way of distracting myself and is a great way to flex some mental muscles you might not have used for a while. Above all, I always try to find something to occupy my time with which is beneficial to my health and wellbeing.

I am looking forward to influencing people in a positive way; where my message is – ‘you can do anything if you just put your mind to it’. I am trying to inspire you to be what you already know you could be; with of course a little bit of effort, even though you maybe lacking confidence. Everything influences each of us and because of that I want to make sure that my experiences benefit others by explaining things in a more positive way. It is good to encourage one another in times of difficulty and hardship; inspiring each other to overcome them.

You also need to embrace change because that is what is needed to reach your goals. Always finding a way to solve a problem rests on how you learn from your past to benefit you for the future. Every time you need to apply the changes you have made so far is an example of how you can deal with new experiences that may come your way and still stay confident. You may have been there many times before, but perhaps you don’t refer to your past lessons to be your advantage point when it comes to finding solutions to current problems.