Toby's Story
“The staff really went the extra mile. Looking back, that was really special.”
Things went from bad to worse
“I've been homeless for a long time, and things went from bad to worse when I found myself in the Hospital after being beaten up on the streets. I was assessed to have a personality disorder, alcohol dependence and a brain injury. After this, Response took me into their supported accommodation.”
I had delusional beliefs
“When I was ill, I had delusional beliefs - I had an unshakeable belief in something untrue. I thought that Wales was a fantasy world, full of Celtic Warlords, and I became fixated on this. This sounds incomprehensible, but at the time this was very real to me - and no-one could shift my belief. But, the staff at Response supported me on a trip to Wales which showed me what Wales was really like. The staff really went the extra mile. Looking back, that was really special.”
I have purpose
“After this, I slowly brought positive things into my life. I reconnected with music, history and reading, and the staff supported me to buy novels and music on the internet. I had new past-times, which meant I didn't need to drink. I write this a year on, and I still haven't picked up a drink, I live in accommodation with a lower level of support, and most importantly, I have purpose.”