Janet's Story

I rang Samaritans when I was really low and i didn't know what to do. I had Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and panic disorder amongst other things and was self harming to cope. I had never talked to anyone about these things because I didn't think anyone would understand and I thought my doctor would think I was going mad. I was at the point of taking an overdose and whilst talking to the person on the phone I started taking tablets. They never took any of my freedom off me and offered me medical care which I refused, they continued to talk to me even though I was in a lot of pain and struggling as they spoke to me.

I had doubts as to whether this was really what I wanted and after talking about it I was able to be sick to try and get rid of the tablets already inside me, the person continued to talk to me, talk through the options I had if I chose life and knowing that Samaritans would always be there to support me and would do everything they could persuaded me that I could do this or at least gave me a glimmer of hope, they talked to me about going to see my doctor about things and getting help there.

This was the first person I had able to be honest with, tell things from my point of view and be listened to sympathetically and not be judged, it meant the world to me and saved my life. I was not told i had to do anything and was just given different options and knew they would support me whatever I chose. They made it so easy for me to talk about things which I'd never talked about, they never pressurised me into anything and I felt comfortable knowing they did not know me. Since talking to the Samaritans for this first time, they regularly support and help me, I have been back to my GP and talked about the OCD and panic disorder and have been put on medication and already it is dramatically improving and making me feel a lot better.

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