How did I end up here!
Hello, my name is Katerini Edgington-Spathis and in 2003 I was diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder, hospitalised and told by medical professionals and social workers that the most I could expect of my future was a lifetime in the benefits system, no job and to be forever dependent on my mother’s care.
At 21 years old I was faced with the prospect of being a shadow of the person I had always aspired to be. My dreams had been crushed, my hopes gone and any desire I had to have a fulfilling relationship with another person was now unimaginable.
The system gave up on me and so did some of the people I loved. Which led me to make a choice…
Be what they expected of me… a shadow…
Or…
Prove them wrong!
It takes courage to go against the advice of doctors, nurses and social workers and the journey I have taken has not been an easy one. In 2014 after a period of stability and achieving the things I thought I never could, I made the leap from back stage to centre stage to tell the story of how I took control of my life and my mental illness and how I turned a negative into a positive.
Five years later I am an independent public speaker and an ambassador for three nation-wide mental health charities. I travel the length of the country to speak to any audience that will benefit from hearing my story. This can involve conferences, charities, businesses with mental health first aiders, schools, colleges and universities.
Education - Mental illness affects us all in a number of different ways, and in today’s society it can start at a very young age.
In schools I not only speak about having a mental illness, I also focus on being different compared to others when I was young and how that never changed all the way into my adult years and still stands today. Through telling the story of my childhood I have found that students have been able to identify with my experiences. That is why it’s important for children of all ages to be aware of their own mental health and to feel confident in who they are.
Ileostomy – In 2017 I needed surgery because my bowel ceased to work. I had a stoma created and this brought along with it a whole host of misunderstanding and at times discrimination. While I had no trouble in adapting to my new situation I realised quickly that some people are averse to talking about both mental health and poo.
I now incorporate both conditions into my presentation to demonstrate how a physical illness and a mental illness should not always be separated and in fact we need to take care of both in equal measures.
