Charles' Story

 Recovery by Charles

When I first came into the care of Arahura Trust I was unwell and couldn’t concentrate properly, not knowing that I had been suffering from this mental Illness I use to think that I was being pursued by some kind of Powerful American Empire. I have this mental illness called Paranoid Schizophrenia and I use to think that people are stalking me and trying to attack me I knew that I wasn’t 100% ok and felt quite unstable at the time. I felt lost and lonely at the time, didn’t know what to expect.I was offered a residential support option , and they invited me into my new home at Arahura Trust where I have been for just over 2 years working on my recovery goals. I have been studying also during my time here, I had done a Certificate in Retail and Business last year in  which I  graduated and this year I am currently studying a Diploma in Business level 5 which is a great thing for me as it could bring me many and new and exciting opportunities. Next year I am hoping to do a Degree in Business Management (Applied Communications). So I can go out there and try to achieve some kind of major Success.

Also while I’ve been here I have given up  marijuana and I have been off it since November last year 2011 which is a really good achievement for me because I have now realised ‘that it was one of the main causes of my mental illness that I have been diagnosed with. And I have also known that ever since I gave up that drug I have been becoming more and more well each day that goes by and that my mental illness started to ease off and gradually go away.

(Charles is now looking for a suitable flat with some friends to continue his journey)