Jane’s story

I worked for years as a foreman in the construction industry.

I was proud of what I’d made of myself after coming from a very humble background.

But I was always worried about what we would do when I stopped working, because my family rely on me.

“My kids didn’t recognise me anymore. I felt like I’d reached rock bottom.”

We’d always been able to help our family, treat the grandkids well and give them a good Christmas.

I felt worthless knowing that all the wonderful things I used to be able to do and give them weren’t going to be financially possible anymore. That was really hard to accept. It seemed like everything was piling on top of me and I felt totally hopeless.

Eventually, my wife and daughter dragged me along to the doctor. She introduced me to Thistle, and things started changing quite quickly. I was nervous going to Thistle for the first time. I had to get my wife to come with me; I would never have come on my own.

I didn’t have any hope when I first spoke with the wellbeing practitioner.

I was a wreck, and I burst into tears because I wasn’t used to talking to people. I was always feeling down and low and really slow, and I just couldn’t see things improving. But she made me feel so at ease. I managed to go the following week on my own and I gradually got to like it.

I then started on the Lifestyle Management Course where I met other people who were in similar situations. It went for 10 weeks continuously, and I never missed a week. I started to come out of my shell a wee bit. It got to the stage where I was looking forward to going rather than dreading it. I was surprised how quickly things were changing, and how my health was improving. I began to feel a bit like my old self again.

Visit Us

Centre of Wellbeing, 13 Queen's Walk, Edinburgh EH16 4EA

Hours
Monday–Friday
9am–5pm

Phone
0131 661 3366