About

Dearest Someone, is a blog dedicated to sharing personal stories of mental health and wellbeing.

My name is Ella, and currently I’m 24 and I live in Birmingham. I grew up in Essex, with my wonderful family. I moved to Birmingham in 2011, and in 2014 I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). My journey through using mental health services began when I first accessed counselling in my final year of university, and although it has at times been incredibly tough, it has been rewarding and incredibly helpful in allowing me to understand my own experiences, and it really means a lot to me to be able to share my experiences with others.

When I was younger I used to spend ages writing, as a way to get things off my chest, I’d write poems, lyrics, and countless word documents filled with thoughts, experiences and general stuff. I was never cool enough, or organised enough to keep a daily diary, but I really found writing to be a way to help me make sense of things, and to help me offload. I began this blog partially as a way to say things that I wouldn’t be able to say out loud, but also for my friends and family to understand what I was experiencing. (A very public way to do that I know!)

The response this blog has received isn’t at all what I expected, and I’m so grateful to be able to share my experiences, and to have the opportunity to speak to and support others. Since starting this blog I’ve been able to work with several wonderful organisations working to end the stigma of mental illness, and I’ve been able to put the skills and knowledge I’ve learned through those opportunities into my daily work and life.

I hope to continue sharing my stories with others, and releasing my feelings. I regularly follow and track similar blogs, and individuals and it is a very positive action for me – I’m hoping that this blog will help to raise mental health awareness – offering support and a sense of understanding.

Please do get in touch, and I hope you enjoy reading what I have to say! 🙂

 

Thanks for dropping by! 

 

Ella Robson
Ella Robson

 

 

41 comments

  2. Thank you for finding and following my blog I will follow in return my words are written for the same purpose. Recently I was diagnosed ptsd due to a long a disastrous marriage plus other reason.. I am learning about ptsd

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    • Morning – thank-you for this comment! I think it is fantastic that you are writing with the same purpose (though I know it sucks that we’re in this situation.) I’ve found that writing is a great way to release emotion – but I don’t know if you are similar to me in that sometimes you do not know whether you should publish certain things.

      However, I’ve found that the more I write about my own experiences then the more I understand what I am going through. Through reading others blogs (such as yours) I’m aware that PTSD is such a complex, confusing thing – we all deal with things in different ways, yet we are going through such a similar situation. It really is great to see others sharing their story – so thank-you 🙂

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      • You are so right as I read your reply, to come across someone so understanding, I wish I was talking to my sister. Getting her to understand what was going on with my body has been a challenge.I will gradually put more up, mine has been more to do with a long marriage with 35 yrs of d.v.

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      • I’m sorry to hear about your story – I only hope that you find some way to articulate what you are feeling, I find that at times it’s more difficult to tell those you care about, or those who are close, exactly how you are feeling – for me this is because I don’t want them to feel like they’ve let me down. It’s hard when you have to deal with the blocks that your own mind is enforcing, then finding the words or the way to express yourself to those who are close is so much harder.

        Just keep writing, and maybe once your ready (or your sister is ready) you will find a way to make your sister understand. Maybe show her your blog? 🙂

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      • One day I might show her my blog. If you go back through my blog you will find some of my memoirs with out the nitty gritty. It is my life since settling in a new home, chapters as I have written them. I am not looking forward to doing the old stuff in my life but I know it is going to come. You are very kind

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  3. If you’re going the therapy route, I’ve heard fantastic feedback from people doing EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) for PTSD. I haven’t tried it myself as the idea makes me feel a little strange and there’s nobody trained in the process in my area, but like I said, I know quite a few people it has helped.

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    • Thank-you!

      I’m currently undergoing counselling – I have been since February last year and it really has worked for me! The thought of EMDR makes me feel a little strange too haha!

      I’ve been lucky enough to be diagnosed whilst being at university so the support I’ve received from both my GP and the mental health and wellbeing team at my university has been incredible!

      It’s tough as it means I have to deal with only being able to have a session once a week etc. but it’s done me a wealth of good so far! 🙂

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      • *sigh* I miss weekly therapy. My therapist just told me I’ve got about ten sessions left and then it will be only an as needed thing. I think that is when I go downhill even more, feeling like I am losing support and that people think I am doing better than I actually am, as if they don’t see how truly messed up I still am.

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      • Maybe see it as a new journey once you finish your therapy? This is giving you the chance to start afresh and see how you work with certain things! If you really struggle then see if it is possible for you to get more sessions! 🙂

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      • Hello! Pretty random comment from me I know haha – but I was re-reading through some comments on the blog and saw this one about EMDR – I’ve recently been offered EMDR and your comment has made me feel a lot more confident!

        All the best! x

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      • Yes but in many ways “therapy” can be a trap as it systemises support into containorised boxes. When I walk with my dogs with the people I support and they identify with my Serbian rescue dog because the dog reminds them of theimselves and their lives and fights and survival then I know that therapy is alive in the everyday if we but have the aweareness to recognise it and one another! love John

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  6. Thank You Ever So Much For Following My Blog 🙂

    I enjoy coming over to yours to read and catch up on articles, it helps me realize that no-one is ever alone. You do a fantastic job 🙂 xxx

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  7. From what I read so far, your blog is wonderfully refreshing, and evocative in how forward your thoughts are shared.
    All the best to you Ella

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  11. Hi Ella. Thanks for following my blog. I hope that you find things to enjoy there.
    You have a worthwhile theme running through your blog here, and I wish you well with it. I will be back to read through more posts.
    Best wishes, Pete.

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  14. Thanks for this honest and informative article, Ella. I have a relative who suffers from PTSD, and know what a difficult disability that is. One of the worst things about it are the people in the ‘helping’ professions, who do not believe it is a genuine disorder.

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  16. Ella,

    I appreciate your honest struggle with mental illness, raising more questions than providing answers. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder over 20 years ago and at times something strikes me that comes out of the blue, something I’m not prepared for at all.

    I do believe as you do, that writing is very therapeutic. I look forward to reading more of your work and hope you will check mine out as well.

    Be well,
    Tony

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    • Thanks Tony 🙂 sometimes I feel pressured to provide answers, but that’s the irony isn’t it? If I had the answers then maybe I wouldn’t be feeling/dealing with the stuff that I do. I often find that writing for me can help me figure out stuff, I guess it’s a way for me to map what’s going on and then try and resolve bits, other times it’s definitely just an outlet! I’ll definitely check out your work 🙂

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