MHAW26 - Teresa's story
Teresa has been with Advance for over 21 years, living in a supported flat. She views her time at Advance as a journey, one which we are all on together. Since being with Advance, Teresa has been able to live in a place of her own, where she feels safe. As a spiritual person, she sees her flat, and her involvement with Advance as a blessing, one which has helped her mental health.
When it comes to taking action for mental health, Teresa is an inspiration with many hobbies that bring her pleasure and clear her mind. She believes it is important to write down your thoughts and feelings on paper, as this can provide you with a way of expressing yourself and a sense of control over your emotions.
Teresa is passionate about creativity and has written poems which were published in a book titled “Advance with Hope”. Her poetry covers a broad range of topics, including ones which she feels deserve attention, such as hate crime, and ignorance.
As well as this, Teresa regularly participates in drumming, tai chi and yoga. Through these activities, she is able to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures, which is something she enjoys because she is a social and bubbly person.
While she is a very active member of the community, Teresa also feels it's important to slow down sometimes and spend time “chillaxing” (chilling and relaxing). She says it's important to “chillax in between it all” and when times get tough it’s a good idea to take a step back and think “hold on, let’s just chill”.
There are days when Teresa is less able to participate in physical activities, and on these days, she opts for things which are less physically intense. Some of her favourite things to do on days like this are woodworking and writing her poetry. She loves woodworking because it allows her to “forget everything” while she is doing it. She encourages others to find a creative outlet that works for them.
Equally important to Teresa is “togetherness”. She loves the opportunities she’s had to collaborate with Advance, feeling that they have been able to achieve great things together. For Teresa, it is important that Advance’s customers and colleagues can work together to provide the best service.
Teresa is currently working on a book of poems about mental health and her life. She has set sights on joining a women’s band and moving to Scotland. Thinking about Mental Health Awareness Week, Teresa urges everyone to write down how they are feeling, remember to chillax, and “do whatever works for you”.