When I moved from Kent to Norfolk to be with my partner, I was looking forward to a fresh start, but instead, soon I found myself struggling. I left four different jobs because they were all taking a toll on my mental health—whether it was the loneliness of long-distance driving or the unpaid on-call hours. Eventually, everything became too much and I had a complete mental breakdown that left me unable to work for three months.
During this time, my mental health spiralled. I wasn’t eating or drinking properly, and my sleep patterns were all over the place. I felt like I was either constantly awake and anxious, or asleep and unable to face the day. This had a big impact on my relationship with my partner, who not only supported me emotionally but also shouldered the financial burden. She even helped me fill out forms and communicate with people involved in my care because I just couldn’t handle it.
Strategies for coping
I didn’t think reaching out to a service would help much, but then I got connected with Jennie at Equal Lives through my mental health support worker. Jennie was amazing—she helped me break everything down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Whether it was figuring out how to save money or tackling household bills, she made everything seem less overwhelming. Jennie was easy to talk to, and our conversations were always relaxed and relatable, which really helped ease my anxiety.
Practical advice
The advice Jennie gave me was straightforward and practical, and I was able to put it into practice right away. I learned how to budget, reduce my expenses, and even start saving money. Although I couldn’t change my phone contract, I managed to cut down my weekly food bill and checked with my landlord who confirmed that my house was insulated correctly. The most significant change was that I gained the confidence to become self-employed as a guitar teacher—something I never thought I could do before, but now I absolutely love it.
Tools and confidence to succeed
Thanks to Equal Lives, I’m no longer constantly stressed about money, and my day-to-day life feels much more relaxed. This has had a huge positive impact on my relationship with my partner, and now that we’re better at budgeting, we even have some extra money to enjoy life together. The support I received didn’t just help me in the moment; it’s given me the tools and confidence to handle the challenges of self-employment and life in general.
I’m really grateful for everything Jennie and Equal Lives have done for me. Their support has made a lasting difference in my life, and I feel much more confident in my ability to manage both my finances and my mental well-being. I’d definitely recommend their services to anyone going through tough times—it’s made a world of difference for me.
*stock image used to protect the identity of the individual used in this case study