Making the most of lived and life experience

After a lifetime of good physical and mental health, and a varied and exciting professional career, (first in the military, and later as a police officer), things went downhill for me. Part of my duties had taken me abroad, and I continued this interesting work when I left the police. Centered around organisational change and conflict management, my work took me to places as diverse as Iraq, Uzbekistan, several African countries, and Myanmar. In these challenging and sometimes hostile environments, I now realise I had completely neglected my own physical and mental health, and at the age of 57, a series of life events (including a heart problem, and the suicide of a close friend), all added up to a point where my life took a dramatic downturn.

I didn't realise I was very ill. I'd been feeling and acting quite different, with all the indicators of severe depression. Other people had noticed, but I just didn't know it. Decisive intervention by a GP probably saved my life. I was admitted to my local District General Hospital in 'crisis'.

I still remember the shock of seeing the 'Department of Psychiatry' sign at the entrance to the hospital in Eastbourne. At first, being in a dormitory-style ward didn't matter to me, as I'd been used to 'bunking down' many years ago as a serviceman. Anyway, those first few days were a bit of a blur to be honest. My wife has since said that the staff were wonderful, but it was difficult to find a private side room available for carers and families.