Recovery In-Sight … what do our customers say?

Our customers are - staff supporting mental health service users, and mental health service users and family member carers.

Here is what voluntary sector staff in Hertfordshire said about how useful they found the In Sight course and its relevance to their work:

1. “Understanding the highs & lows, and how to identify changes in mood and behaviour”.
2. “Very useful - CBT aspects, self-help”.
3. “Lots of useful and helpful tips and strategies”.
4. “Everything”. “All”.
5. “I found a lot of the information useful and it has made me think of new ways of working”.
6. “It will give me something practical to help them”.
7. “All was useful and relevant. This In-Sight programme has lots of good ideas. I would love to do the full training and for the group to run closer to my area”.

Staff commented on what they will do as a result of following the In-Sight training:

   “I will use the knowledge gained to understand my clients better and support them more”.

  ”Use some of the worksheets when working with clients to help them gain insight into their illness”.

  ”Coach staff. Work effectively with clients”.

  ”Talk to the clients in a more helpful way”.

   “Having a more open mind about what bipolar is, and its effects”.

Testimonials from trainees after they followed the In-Sight course:

(1)  KF - A person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who completed the course:

“The course could not have come at a better time. Two and a half months before the start, I had tried to commit suicide. With additional medication I was coming out of a depression by the beginning of October (when the course started). It was extremely helpful to hear from other people like myself in various bad periods in their lives and how they were coping. The coping strategies for both high and low moods were very useful. The relaxation method I brought into use very soon after this was implemented. I do this every evening and I find this has improved my sleep. The handouts we received are numerous, in depth and in my opinion have covered every aspect of the illness and the way to recovery. I consider myself to be extremely lucky to have been included in this in-depth course and our trainers have been inspiring”.

(2)  IB – A person with depression & M.E. who later trained as a trainer:

“I would recommend the course to others. It offers a self-awareness thus offering a choice of more control over ones life. It also increases confidence which leads to increased assertiveness. I would like to add that the course should be offered in different parts of Hertfordshire so that it is more accessible to people with transport difficulties. May be offer it as an In-Sight Programme for mental illnesses, rather than just for bipolar disorder”.

(3)  JC – a carer for her mother with bipolar disorder who completed the course

“I am very glad I attended the course. The training has been in a very relaxed friendly environment. I have learnt a lot about the illness and that normal lives can be achieved. As a non-diagnosed candidate, but I have my mother and ex-partner who are bipolar, my understanding of the illness is so much better and given my own life a better quality as a result. I have many of the symptoms as given on the mood chart and can now relate to these and curb far better in appropriate reactions, especially with the use of the mood-thought diary. I still have difficulty with planning the week ahead but a pending move will be filling my time in many different ways. I have suffered greatly as a carer/daughter for my Mum and also as a partner whilst there was an undiagnosed condition. I am slowly recovering as a result of this course”.

(4)  LF- A person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, who later trained at a trainer:

“ When I started the course, my mood was fluctuating between -2 and +2 (mild depression to hypomania) and I felt I could be heading for an episode. The course has definitely enabled me to keep on an even keel. I spoke to my consultant, and with the help of the Behaviour-Thought-Mood chart could explain myself better to him. I had a change of medication (during the course) and with the help of the course, I have had a stable mood for some weeks. I am putting the course into practice and I feel far more confident and stable … I would recommend the course as it teaches to live a healthy lifestyle, whether you have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or not”.

(5)  HO - A person with a diagnosis of depression and M.E.:

“The course made me look at the activities with which I filled my week – all to do with helping others and leaving little time for me to deal with suppressed feelings of hurt, disappointment, frustration and anger. I had dealt with a recent loss and felt that I should just get on with life as I couldn’t or shouldn’t feel burdened by this for too long, but it was simply pushed aside. Looking at my weekly diary and actually recording how much (or little) sleep I had showed me that I needed to make changes as this frenetic level of activity was too exhausting. I have now been diagnosed with M.E. which also explains the tiredness but I did nothing to relax.

I made a lot of changes and although these were not without pain and sadness ie. Ending a relationship of seven years approx I realised I felt a weight had been lifted.

I still have to learn to recognise mood changes and now know to especially watch for “hormonal” behaviour at certain times of the month as a pattern of highs and lows emerged here. I feel more accepting of my M.E. now it finally has a name as I have struggled with it for the past 20 years and was only ever told it was depression. I was also concerned that because of my changing moods I may be bipolar but now I know more about it, I don’t believe so. I would certainly say that people will have benefited in very different ways from the support the course offers, lifestyle changes have been made, goals set and achieved, and encouragement given for the ongoing achievement of longer-term goals. If you attend, you will benefit”.

(6)  NS - A person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, who later trained as a trainer:

“From the very beginning, this In-Sight training gave me a new perspective of my illness. Firstly, it was really nice and especially useful to meet the trainers who apart from also being sufferers of bipolar disorder, were of a sound mind and were trainers, and one with a PhD, so I guess it was hopeful for me to see that one can still have a career despite this mental illness. Secondly, we as a group gelled really well and again, it was good to meet fellow people with the diagnosis and so I felt less alone generally. The course was really an insight and as I have already mentioned on the questionnaire, I have put many of these new learned techniques into practice. It was useful to see in writing both general and personal warning signs as well as coping strategies for high and low moods.  The Behaviour-Thought-Mood diary has also been a useful tool that I am still utilizing to monitor and evaluate my mood. As a whole, our group has decided to carry on meeting once a month for support which is also good and so we realize between ourselves that the group support we have found in one another may continue a while longer”.

(7)  GF - A person with bipolar disorder who completed the course:

“I was quite excited about starting the course and meeting bipolar disorder sufferers and learning about bipolar disorder. I continued to look forward to every Thursday. There have been several ideas that made an impact upon me. In no particular order:

-   every small disappointment or failure counts and adds up to the overall stress we are under

-   people with bipolar disorder ruminate three times more than others

-   Olanzapine is a mood stabiliser as well as an anti-psychotic

-   I can take any fraction of a tablet (Olanzapine or Zopiclone). Why did I think that only halves were allowed?

-   When feeling low, do things in small steps.

-   All the descriptions in the Behaviour-Thought-Mood chart are useful.

Of course, the folder is invaluable and I shall continue to use it. I am feeling very positive about the future and I feel that I am not going into the “battle” empty-handed. I know that external factors may affect my balance but I do have some strategies I can resort to. Meanwhile, I shall be very careful and attentive and vigilant! Regarding the internal factors: I am very determined to stay well and there is no higher priority in my life other than that”.

(8)  RB – A person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, who later trained as a trainer:

“When I first saw the In-Sight manual, I was worried by the amount of material. Looking at the first Module, I was reassured I would be able to follow it. The trainers soon put us at our ease and we bonded together as a group quite quickly. I thought I knew much about bipolar disorder – but only from the “high mood” aspect. It was interesting to read all the details for “lows”. I found the discipline of the Behaviour-Thought-Mood diary irksome at first, then came to value its assessment of my mood. Setting goals was another challenge – which I enjoy. Healthy lifestyle seemed common sense but it was good to have all the notes in one place. How to overcome your negative thinking was thought-provoking; in fact, each Module was stimulating and I am still reading through to get maximum benefit.

The impact on my life? I feel much more confident in discussing my diagnosis with my medical team. I was also able to deal with a mini-high mood much more quickly than before. I felt reassured about the action I had taken and was soon back on my usual level of medication. I have joined a new self-help group, and made some good friends from the course. I feel able to recommend the course to those I meet with bipolar disorder. I look forward to being able to train others, and pass on the good news I have learned from In-Sight”

(9)  GA – a carer for her son with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder

“This course helped me tremendously with the knowledge and understanding I have gained coming on this course. I felt comfortable sharing my experiences and how it affected me as a carer for my son who suffers from manic depression”.

(10)                 MS – A person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who completed the course:

“ I think it’s a most comprehensive programme for living a fulfilled, productive and contented life. Objective and constructive, its message of moderation in everything would be equally beneficial to people without bipolar disorder. I have started to put into practice the following things: routine, proper sleep, increased social circle and leisure activities, recognising mood changes and negative thoughts and feelings, and applying the appropriate coping strategies. I’ve started playing and practising the piano after a gap of more than 20 years. In the future, I am clearing the lofts and other storage space of 50 years accumulated clutter, family heirlooms, etc in preparation for eventually moving to a smaller house. Returning to the family history research which I enjoyed very much but abandoned 10 years ago is another thing I want to do.

And the impact? I can’t really add much – I want to move on. I would just like to say I think that the course is a welcome change from the largely superficial contents of a number of books and manuals now available offering the keys to happiness or magic cures for stress or depression”.

(11)                 ES – a person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who completed the course. ES subsequently took up full-time higher education to become a nutritionist.

“A friend of mine with bipolar who I met in hospital told me about the In-Sight course and said she’d benefited from attending. I was a little bit trepidatious starting it as I was worried about the 16 weeks commitment. However I really enjoyed making this a regular part of my week. Meeting up with other people who have had some similar experiences has been a great experience. It’s helped remove some of the stigma I felt. We’ve had a few laughs and helped each other with advice and support. I feel a sense of achievement as I have made every session except one, when i was on holiday and one I was ill due to labrynthitis. I even made it on time, which is something I usually struggle with. When i started this course in February I had just come through a very stressful time and was finding it difficult to commit to being somewhere the next day was a challenge. The course material is very comprehensive. I found the problem solving and goal setting Modules very useful. The best part is having the input of other course attendees and trainers. Something else that was good was seeing the improvement in others as they’ve attended this course. This has been inspiring”.

(12)                 LS – a person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who subsequently developed within a newly formed support group

“The In-Sight course has taught me alot about myself and how to recognize and control my moods, which includes techniques which I can draw upon in the future, as and when needed. At the beginning of the course, I stated I wanted to maybe start doing some work, and I am so pleased to now be involved with the self-help group and the work with Recovery In-Sight newsletter and communications. This has given me a focus and a challenge to my working life once again. My interest in mental health and caring has been rekindled by taking part in the Recovery In-Sight course. I would recommend it to anyone affected by mental health issues”.

(13)                 HM – a person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who subsequently took up a full-time nursing course

“I had never met anyone else with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and I felt very isolated with a complete lack of understanding of my illness. I was scared of my diagnosis. I have found a new form of confidence in myself, a better knowledge of my illness. The understanding I have has enabled me to feel much more confident with it and comfortable with myself. The interaction with the other people on the course and the trainers has been invaluable. I now no longer am ashamed of my diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and feel optimistic for the future. A wonderful course. It has changed my life”.

(14)                 IM – a person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who completed the course and is currently looking for work

“When I first heard about the course, I was recovering from a manic episode. I found the whole environment very supportive. It helped me gradually gain confidence and improve in social interaction. It was not long before I found myself embracing the techniques taught and getting involved in the discussions. It has helped me in my recovery. I have felt far more knowledgeable and empowered in recovery from this episode than the previous two which happened 7 and 14 years ago. The regular review of goals has kept me focused. The mood diaries help me understand what changes my thought patterns and how to manage them. The activity diary helps me to ensure a well-balanced lifestyle. All in all, it has been a very positive experience”.

(15)                 RW – a person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who completed the course and managed a high mood

“I came to this course a few months after my first manic episode. During the training, I found myself experiencing a similar episode that could have had more serious consequences than the previous one. The coping strategies learnt on the course and support from fellow students helped me to stabilise myself very quickly and get back on track. I am confident that I now have the tools to manage my condition, educate my support network and help others with similar conditions or experiences as myself. I would be very keen to become involved in furthering the good that this course can contribute to people’s lives. I think that it is a matter of urgency that this course and similar group therapy is made widely available for as many people as possible. In-Sight training IS (emphasis) the way forward”.

(16)                 RJ – a young person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder

“It was difficult to start to manage in a group but I gradually got to know everyone and became comfortable joining in discussions as a group. I have found the Behaviour-Thought-Mood diary very helpful and now work things through in my head if the sheet is not available. I have also had a few weeks of low mood and used coping with low moods to help prevent it getting any lower. I think I have the tools to keep better control of my mood and identifying when additional help is needed”.

(17)                 JV – a person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder

“I feel very privileged to have been able to do this course. I was someone who came in to the course having had some individual CBT but this was far more practical in its approach so that I now feel much more confident with the tools and techniques. I have also enjoyed being part of a group and have learnt things from the other participants”.

(18)                 SJ – a carer for a bipolar daughter who attended the course

“It has made me much more optimistic for the future whilst also giving a realistic view of possible long-term problems”.

(19)                 LF – a person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who attended the course

“After being on the course, I have finally accepted I have a condition which I will have for life. I am no longer going to put it on the back burner whilst I pretend everything is normal to appease other people. I accept I have a right to get upset or angry and have learned that I seriously need to let others know how I am feeling. I have learned to manage my condition and recognise the early warning signs of going high and low, the charts and my diary also helps my partner to be aware of what is going through my head. I have also learned the importance of a supportive network. In the group, we could share experiences and be open, safe in the knowledge that I was not alone. I have gained the confidence to be me – not who my mother or anyone else wants me to be. I no longer have to hide my condition and seek approval by working myself to death. I truly believe that if the course was available nationwide the NHS would save a fortune in hospitalising people or using chemical coshes. I feel that I am finally turning into a swan – watch out world here I come!”.

(20)                 VN – a person with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who completed the course

“I was very impressed with the folder which we were presented. It was well-written, easy to follow up. My husband has been very keen to hear about my day, and he would like to attend the one-day seminar. I’ve been much more open to talk to friends or people about my condition. It’s also helped me to cope with day to day problems to overcome obstacles”.

(21)                 LS – a person with bipolar disorder who attended the course

“This In-Sight programme has been so beneficial to me. This would be more than a shame if the funds were not there for you to help others like me. You have saved a lot of people from a fate, given the suicide rate. I am so grateful to all of you the way you talked to me. You have a way of explaining to me, without making me feel stupid or making a fool out of me. I always put myself down thinking that I am not that clever a person but you made me realise I am a special person. I am just as good as everyone else. It is not what you say it is also how you say it”.

(22)                 BH – a person with bipolar disorder who followed the course

“I approached the In-Sight training course with the aim of learning new skills and making new friends. I am pleased to report that I have achieved both objectives. My attendance at the In-Sight training has enhanced my life skills with respect to my bipolar. I have also made friends with a fellow In-Sight training student. Together we are working on a bipolar themed newsletter. My motto is: recovery is a journey, not a destination”.

View The team's Author profile      Subscribe via RSS