A personalised recovery journey: Alex* at Priory Hospital Solihull
Priory Hospital Solihull has helped me to take things step by step, and I want to keep building on that as I move forward and continue working on myself.
“I can do things better now, and I do think I’ve made a lot of progress here. My mental health is better and I’m ready to take the next step.”
Alex* tells us his story
Before my admission to Priory Hospital Solihull, I had experienced multiple hospital stays. My mental health had been difficult to manage, and I often struggled to stay engaged with services or continue taking medication consistently. This led to repeated relapses and admissions, and I found it hard to build trust with professionals supporting me.
When I arrived I began working with the multidisciplinary team to understand my goals and what I needed to move forward. Early on, it became clear that there were additional factors influencing my experiences. Following further assessment, I was diagnosed as an individual who is on the autism spectrum. This helped both me and the team better understand how I process situations, communicate, and respond to the world around me.
With this understanding, my care was adapted to better meet my needs. Over time, I was able to engage more consistently with support and began to build more positive and trusting relationships with staff.
A significant part of my recovery has involved working closely with the occupational therapy team to build my independence. This has included developing confidence in making everyday decisions, improving my personal care routine, and learning how to manage my finances more effectively.
Previously, I found it difficult to manage my finances and was vulnerable in situations where I felt unable to say no to others. Through support, I have developed a better understanding of money management and feel more confident in setting boundaries and advocating for myself.
I have also made progress in managing my daily routine. Using visual aids and structured planning has helped me to maintain my personal care more independently, and I now rely less on support from staff.
As my admission has progressed, I have become more stable and independent. I have built strong relationships with the team and feel more confident in managing my mental health. I am now preparing to move into a step-down placement, where I can continue my recovery closer to my family.
I feel proud of the progress I have made and ready to take the next step towards living more independently in the community.
*Name has been changed to protect identity