Michael was at his lowest point when his physical health took a turn for the worst.
After an accident that left him with a fractured spine, Michael was diagnosed with a rare degenerative neurological disorder, hereditary spastic paraplegia, along with spinal osteoporosis.
Lying in a hospital bed in Tatura for 12 weeks coming to terms with the reality that he would slowly lose control of his legs, Michael felt despair.
On the same day Michael’s sister had also been diagnosed with hereditary spastic paraplegia. The siblings faced a crossroads.
“You can either sit around and whinge about how you are and what you've got, or just go away and live life, the best you can. And that's what I do,” Michael said.
“(But) the sad thing is, one of my sisters got diagnosed with the same condition the same day and got very overwhelmed with it.
“She's taken her own life. Because she got depressed and it was just too much.”
During his convalescence, Michael happened to come across a pamphlet for the mental health support group GROW.
Attending GROW has helped him to manage his mental health.
Michael has been attending GROW for six years, and is now the organiser of the Mooroopna group.
The GROW program is a 12-step process of personal growth, mutual help and support.
“It's peer to peer or a peer support group. So everybody is in a group of members, people with the lived experience of mental illness, which helps a lot,” Michael said.
That’s why he’s still with GROW so many years later, because the support group helps him to stay in control of his mental health.
“You’ve got to look after your physical health, and a lot of people do that. They go to the gym, or they walk or run or they'll go bike riding,” he said.
“But a lot of people forget about their mental health, and you need to look after your mental health.”
Joining a GROW group is free — you don’t need to have a referral or a doctor’s diagnosis. Groups are confidential and members can choose to remain anonymous.
And for the first three meetings, new people may bring a support person to help them get over the first hurdle.
This story orginally appeared in Don Magazine. You can find the full publication at https://www.sheppnews.com.au/features-and-magazines/don-magazine/
