From Heartbreak to Triumph: My Journey with C9

Eighteen months ago, my life as I knew it came to an abrupt and devastating halt. One week, I was planning a wedding; the next, I had nothing. The breakup shattered me, leaving me at the lowest point I had ever been. I felt lost, unanchored, and unsure of how to piece myself back together.

In those dark moments, I was fortunate to know about C9 through Colin. At the time, I thought it was just another organisation, but when I took the leap and joined, I discovered something far more profound—it became my sanctuary, my home away from home.

What I found at C9 was more than just a group of people who shared common interests. It was a community of individuals from diverse backgrounds, each carrying unique stories of triumph and struggle. Some experiences mirrored my own, while others were entirely different, yet all of them carried the same thread of resilience.

C9 gave me something I desperately needed: a reason to get out of the house and a sense of purpose. Through this community, I had the opportunity to meet some of the most incredible people—people I am now proud to call my friends. Together, we shared moments I never dreamed I would experience and rediscovered passions I thought I had lost forever.

Today, as I reflect on my journey, I realise how far I’ve come. My mental health issues no longer define me; instead, I define my relationship with them.

C9 didn’t just help me find myself again—it empowered me to take control of my life.

This journey hasn’t been easy, but it has been transformative. To anyone who might be struggling, know this: there is always a way forward, and sometimes, all it takes is finding the right community to help light the path. For me, that community was C9.