For the past few years I feel like I've been stuck in a hurricane.

You can read HERE or HERE to get a better idea of it.

I've been caught up in it for a while, but 2013 was when I found myself in the eye of the storm. Things got pretty bad. And for a long time, up until recently in fact, I was still in that abhorrent place. My mind was, and still is to an extent, a confusing place to be and it was both physically and mentally draining to never be able to completely shut off. 

I've been passed from therapist to therapist. Moved around the NHS for every kind of treatment you could think of. And that in itself is draining, but coupled with having to push myself, keep on top of my medication, drag myself to review after review after review and constantly feeling like everyone I know is treating me like a porcelain doll that might crack has taken it's toll on me. I'm twenty-one years old and I should be carefree, having adventures and spending time with my friends.

This week I was told that soon I will be discharged from mental health services.

And I cried when they told me. The past few months I've went from strength to strength with my recovery progressing at an incredible rate after being at a standstill for so long. At my worst I didn't get out of bed for days. I stopped eating. I alienated myself by pushing everyone away. I didn't do anything; I just sat. I couldn't go out without having a panic attack. I stopped going to university. I didn't do my assignments, I didn't turn up for my exams, a lot of the time I didn't even know where I was. I was completely numb.

Am I completely better? No. I still have a long way to go, I'm still medicated up to the eyeballs and the charity Mind will still be keeping an eye on me to make sure everything continues going smoothly. It's exciting but terrifying, but I finally feel like I can begin getting my shit together properly. In August I got the train alone from Newcastle to Derby (you can read about it here), something I never thought I'd be able to do. But I did.

August has been the light at the end of the tunnel for me, topped off with seeing my favourite band in existence (read here) things couldn't be going any better for me right now. I'm in an incredible place, my relationships are going well and I finally have motivation to do things again.

I'm planning on getting three tattoos in the next month to help commemorate this massive achievement, so keep an eye out on my blog or instagram/twitter if you want to see those...

And lastly, for anyone suffering from a mental illness, it gets better. It may not seem like it now, but I'm living proof that you can get better too. Just hang in there and accept all the help that's offered to you - even if you don't think you really need it.