True LIFEMay 2019 • happiful • 39Denise’s experience shows how ill-health can be inter-
generational, with early experiences shaping how we later cope
with life challenges. She has found ways to express herself and
to engage with the entirety of her experience, connecting to her
light and shade, and letting her feelings become messages that
educate and inspire, rather than threats to fear and avoid.
Her strength and tenacity are inspiring, and
show what is possible when people find a way
to choose support and recovery.Our Expert Says
Fe Robinson | MUKCP (reg)
Psychotherapist and couples counsellorEmma Turner’s visionary
art piece ‘Are You Sitting
Comfortably’ – answering
questions from members of
the public on topics such as
homelessness and addiction.
The story was covered by
both The Big Issue and The
Guardian.
As a result of this, I’ve been
invited to tell my story as a
TEDx talk, and I am currently
writing a one-woman play,
called Pandora, which will
confront topics such as
addiction and prostitution,
while showing that getting
dealt a bad hand can happen
to the best of us, and that
homelessness is often just one
paycheck away.
The last two years have been
pretty intense. I’ve worked
incredibly hard to recover
from my addiction and turn
my life around, and I still have
hurdles to get over. I’m 45
years old, and I’m rebuilding
my life from scratch. My
mental health can be fragile
as I come to terms with
everything.
I have bad head days
like everyone else, where I
question everything, but I
try to stay focused on the
positives – like the fact that
I have good friends who
stuck by me, I have a lovely
boyfriend, and I am free of
the addiction that wanted to
kill me.I no longer ‘cope’ with things
by turning to alcohol. I sit
with my demons – however
uncomfortable the experience.
They tell me when things are
wrong or out of sync, and
I’ve learned that, often, they
have lessons to teach me –
uncomfortable truths about
myself.
I’ve found solace in writing
and as a result have been able
to help myself and give hope
to others through dark times.I basically had
two options left:
seek professional
help and try to get
well, or carry on
drinking myself to
death. I chose to
get help“This photo was taken at an event at
Plaisterers Hall. I was really ill here,
though you may not be able to tell.”I’ve learned that I am far
more resilient than I ever
gave myself credit for. I
have a coping mechanism
that improves my mental
health, my self-worth, and
my confidence. Each day I
wake up and I look for the
possibilities – because now
that I am well and sober, there
are plenty.Read more from Denise on her
blog justagirl.emyspot.com