Abbygirl’s story: Becoming a peer support worker to help other struggling with addiction
Recent research finds that over 137,000 adults enter treatment for substance misuse in England each year but we know that for several of our patients, addiction and mental health often go hand in hand.
We recently spoke to Abbygirl, a previous service user of the Trust and volunteer peer support worker about her journey with mental health and addiction. Since working with the dual diagnosis team, she is now supporting people who were in similar situations to her own using her lived experience expertise.
Being honest about addiction
Abbygirl has been a service user since 2015 when she was diagnosed with bipolar but feels she has had an ongoing difficulty with her mental health long before her diagnosis. from much before the point of diagnosis.
“From the age of 11, I was using substances as a way to cope. When I was 16, a head injury exacerbated by mental health and substance misuse leading to a psychotic episode in 2015. I was in and out of hospital from 2015 to 2024 until I made the change to become the person I am now.”
She shared that it was only when she started to open up to a therapist about her substance misuse that she started to see a change.
“My therapist created a friendly and non-judgemental environment for me to speak about the overlap of the issues. He was concerned about my use and referred me to the home treatment team. I told them how stuck I felt but how desperately I wanted to change. It was then I met with my dual diagnosis worker, Francesca.”
Feeling heard, understood and ready to change
Abbygirl started working with the dual diagnosis team in Lewisham. The team are dedicated to supporting those who are struggling with both their mental health and substance abuse issues.
The team's approach is to meet people where they are and support them in reaching their goals, which may not don’t always be look like a complete abstinence from substances.
“When I saw Francesca in her badge, with her lanyards and knew she had also experienced substance abuse issues in the past, it gave me so much hope. Just knowing that she was in a similar situation and now she has a big job and is helping other people, it gave me some hope that maybe I can change."
Around this time, I was also referred to rehab and I believe it was a combination of all the elements being treated at the same time that really transformed me. I felt supported and for the first time, I wasn’t doing it on my own.”
Abbygirl shared that she was deeply depressed and suicidal but now feels like her future is bright.
Learning to reconnect with Abbygirl
Since her recovery, she has seen a big change in herself and how her support network view her.
“My father, my friends and my support network are really proud of me, and they can really see the changes. I previously thought self love was about buying clothes and nice things for myself but it’s much more than that. It’s the decision to go into recovery, stick with it – even when it’s hard – and put myself first.”
She has now been sober from cocaine for 9 months and cannabis for almost 2 years.
“I now have a relationship with myself. I didn’t know who I was and I was so numb to my emotions with all the substances I was using. Now that I’m sober, I’m able to practice the tools I’ve learnt from therapy – I couldn’t take that in when I was in the active addiction, the madness I call it.”
More information about addictions
- Find out more about the Lewisham Addictions team here: www.slam.nhs.uk/lewisham
- For more support on addiction related issues: www.slam.nhs.uk/addictions
- Find out more about Peer Support: www.slam.nhs.uk/peer-support