Chris' Story: From Fragile to Strong Mental Health.
EmPower: for people like Chris (*)
* Name changed to protect identity.
We are launching EmPower Growth after a two-year period of research, testing, and piloting. We help people strengthen mental health and wellbeing. Please arrange to speak with Emma Gannon to learn more.
We cover the whole spectrum –
1. People who are in an OK space but who want to learn the skills and techniques to move them into an awesome space – for personal reasons or for career advancement.
2. People who have been in rather fragile places and who wish to take power over their own ability to recover and strengthen.
3. Everybody in between.
Chris: a Story
There is no greater self-satisfaction than watching someone else benefit from the mistakes and learnings of your own life. This is the case for me right now as I watch and speak to Chris, who was firmly in category two above.
I first met Chris in an online support group about three years ago. He lived nearby so I offered to meet up with him for a coffee. He accepted my invitation so we met at our local farm cafe.
I could immediately tell what a difficult time he was having. He was visibly nervous, as indicated by his body language, greeting, and handshake.
We spoke for hours. After a while, he opened up and all I had to do was recognise that he was going through a journey I have been on for many years. I revealed this to him, and we connected because of our shared journey.
For a couple of years, we stayed in touch sporadically in the online support group and shared a coffee every three months or so. One glorious Sunday, we climbed a Scottish Munro together, and that was the first time I saw Chris really bloom. Then in early January 2024, Chris did something new. He called me and directly asked for help. It was the first time in his life he had asked for help from anyone. Of course, I met with him immediately.
He was in a tough space. He had become unemployed. His anxiety was so bad his relationship with this wife had broken down completely. He could not connect with his daughter. He had no friendship contacts. He had started using alcohol in the evenings as his only relief from anxiety.
He asked me for help as he knew all these things had also happened to me. All I had to do was listen. Chris and I spoke for several weeks and although things didn’t get better for him, at least he was not 100% alone with his worries and overwhelm. He didn’t know where to start or what to do, but he was not on his own. That’s all I could personally offer.
Then Chris did something very courageous. He attended a pilot of our EmPower residential seminar and 12-week programme to strengthen his mental health and wellbeing. Joining the group was a challenge for Chris, as his social anxiety was strong, but he was fully bonded within half an hour. From that moment he changed.
Chris had found a group of normal people, who accepted him exactly as he is and worked as a team to find a starting point for making things better – and a good list of simple and easy actions to practice.
Chris was able to identify the types of people he needed to connect with, the behaviours he needed to re-establish his critical relationships, what he truly values in life, and a myriad of other things. He completed his 12 weeks easily and with joy.
He quickly found a short-term employment contract to give him time to think and sort out his life. He had a tough commute, and he hated the job itself, but the money took a lot of the pressure off.
While fulfilling this contract, Chris concentrated on rebuilding his critical connections – with his family, with his like-minded friends, many of whom were new, and with his EmPower group.
I heard from Chris less and less frequently as 2024 went by.
Then in November, I got a rather cryptic message from Chris. I misinterpreted it as a call for help and called immediately in a little bit of a panic.
I need not have worried. He was apologising for not being in touch with me for so long, as he was so busy with his wife and daughter. He was having fun and romance with his wife again and was playing a proactive and joyful role as a father. For the rest of his time, he was socialising with a newfound tribe of friends, with whom he shared a stimulating outdoor sporting interest. He was busy living his life to the full.
Then there was the icing on the cake. With complete confidence, he applied and lobbied for his dream job. This was the job he had fantasised about as a young boy. He no longer must take a contract he doesn’t like because his dream employer gave him his dream job. If I identify the job, I risk identifying the person, so I shan’t. Just trust me that this is such a dream-like and cool job, I am a little envious.
Chris and I don’t speak so much now. He doesn’t need to call me on one of ‘those’ days anymore. That gives me great joy.
Please help us spread the word about EmPower: strengthening mental health and wellbeing, for people like Chris.
Thank you.
Alan
Founder, EmPower Growth Ltd
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