– An account from a grateful mum
Our charming, delightful 23-year-old son was diagnosed with psychosis over 2 years ago by a highly qualified professor of psychiatry in London.
This was after he had been under the Spanish mental health department of the local hospital, who were treating him for depression and prescribing a toxic cocktail of 5 different drugs. We were terrified when he started to feel suicidal.
When our son admitted he had these thoughts, we were told that he could be sectioned immediately or, we could take him home with a higher dosage of drugs, but not to leave his side and stay with him 24/7.
We took him home and refused all the medication.
Our precious son was constantly scared and suffering persistent paranoia. It was unbearable to witness.
I made him up a bed on the sofa for during the day and we would watch TV programmes. I could go on mastermind on the subject of Hawaii 5-0!
The Covid rules in Spain had just come in and were harsh to say the least, we were not allowed out, except for food shopping.
Our son couldn’t face the thought of going outside, he wanted all the windows and doors locked.
When I did have to go food shopping, I would be talking to him constantly on my mobile phone, whilst drying tears from my eyes.
It took 4 cancelled boat trips and many more cancelled flights before we eventually got to London to see a recommended Psychiatrist.
Although the professor was very knowledgeable, and expensive my husband and I didn’t feel a warmth or a depth to the meetings, and didn’t feel any hope that things could improve.
I should say that our son had previously been studying in Barcelona for 4 years. While he was there, he was also working two jobs, often long hours.
He would go to work at the car mechanic’s at 8am, then go to college and then go to another job in the evening in a bar, then home to study.
My husband had set up a small business for our son which required him to respond to get involved, sending emails etc. This added to his pressure especially during exam times.
He didn’t want or ask for this business.
The stress that out son was experiencing while living away led him to start smoking pot to help him relax. This became a daily occurrence.
We are convinced that this was a huge factor in his diagnoses, and is proof that whatever pot it is, it’s not good and can be very addictive and cause psychosis.
We didn’t know where to turn and then my sister recommended Mandy, who had helped her dearest friend’s daughter come through some issues related to school anxiety.
My husband and I spoke to Mandy over the phone first of all and our son agreed to speak to her as he was so desperate to get better.
Mandy had complete faith that our son was not broken and she could see the real him from the moment she met him. “We just need to uncover the real you, you’re definitely still in there” was what she said to him.
A zoom meeting was set up every week between our son and Mandy, I think the cost was £80 per session.
I would leave the house for an hour. Sometimes, when I came back, they were still chatting, so off I went again.
There were tissues and water by the computer.
I noticed that our son started to have a shower and get dressed for the meetings.
He told me that he had cried, and wasn’t ashamed to tell me.
He started to have a sense of pride in himself again and I could see a small spark in those dull sad eyes of the previous months. The cloud started to lift. He was starting to believe and have trust in himself and we started to have hope that he might come through this nightmare.
His sleeping pattern had been completely erratic, often not going to sleep until the early hours of the morning and getting up at midday.
He started to gradually go to bed earlier until his sleep pattern was back to normal. This helped him to feel better about himself. He was eating well again.
At the same time, I felt that I had been covering up my own feelings. As a mum you have to be strong. My husband felt he was to blame for our son’s pain (pushing him too hard) so I was trying to be strong for my husband too, but inside I found it all hard to cope with, which was exhausting.
All that emotion and fear had built up, I was afraid I was going to explode, but I couldn’t afford for that to happen.
I asked Mandy if I could have a few secret sessions for myself.
She helped me put to put things into perspective and I felt a weight had lifted.
I looked at the situation very differently and that got me back my sanity.
It wasn’t just her words, but the way she made you think about how to see things and value a relationship. I think I had all these balls that I had to keep in the air, when really, I just needed to look at things in a different light.
My son started to use his phone again and speak with close friends. He ventured out for a drive on his own to the beach and had a swim.
I cried as he drove off, I was so proud of him. He kept in touch with me every couple of hours and I was overcome with joy when he walked through the door.
Our son started to work locally part time and then full time. He started to play sports again and meet up with friends. He was exploring his dreams with Mandy and starting to step into a future that he wanted to create.
We did this with Mandy and, in a nutshell, I can honestly say I believe that Mandy saved our son’s life. She also saved my marriage!
Today our son is sailing the Mediterranean working on a super yacht. He has travelled halfway round the world on a previous boat and couldn’t be happier. We have got our son back and he has got his life and dreams back!
We’re deeply indebted to you Mandy. Thank you with all my heart.
Since our experience of working with Mandy I have recommended her to many others and will keep doing so!
