Mr. and Mrs. Karolina & Tomek


Karolina - wife


How do you remember your school years, did you have mental health issues then? 

Yes, my illness started in my early school years. For a long time I could not understand what was happening to me. I was using the support of a guidance counselor, but I was still feeling left alone with my problems. During my birth there was a risk of cerebral palsy, so maybe it was connected with my early symptoms? 

The environment in which I grew up excluded me from their group because I was considered "weird". I didn’t wear normal clothes, I didn’t listen to the same music as the rest, I was constantly gossiped about and I had no one to even talk to about it, I didn’t understand what was happening to me, I was lost. It was very hard for me. 

What happened next? 

Later my condition improved. I even graduated from high school and got into college. However, after high school I had a crisis, I got depressed and because of my illness I gave up further education. I was even treated in a psychiatric ward. Later, I had various diagnoses, I was in the center for therapy. Only after some time I was finally diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. 

What happened next? 

Later my condition improved. I even graduated from high school and got into college. However, after high school I had a crisis, I got depressed and because of my illness I gave up further education. I was even treated in a psychiatric ward. Later, I had various diagnoses, I was in the center for therapy. Only after some time I was finally diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. 

What was the way to diagnosis? 

Before I was diagnosed with depression, I received help at the day ward in a hospital in Brzeg, where I participated in occupational and group therapy. Later I got individual and group therapy in a hospital in Komorów near Warsaw. At first, it was not easy for me to be away from home. I had to heal the disease by myself. Here I was diagnosed with ajustment disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. After some time, when I was attending classes in college, my old symptoms returned. I was taken to the hospital again, this time in Tworki, where I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Slowly recovering from treatment, I returned home. 

Did you get the help you needed? 

Definitely yes. I found out from a certain person about the center in Jedlicze near Łódź. Here I obtained professional care and help. This is where I began to get used to my disease. In Jedlicze, recovering from strength and recovering from health, I met my future husband. 

You can become a builder of our 
Sweet, Sweet Home! 

Tomek - husband

When the disease started, how did you feel then? 

The disease started in high school. It was hard for me. I could hardly finish the technical college. However, the disease was diagnosed - schizophrenia, and I had to learn to live with it. I took up various jobs, but I couldn't stay anywhere longer. There was no purpose in my life, there was no strength and hope, and the family did not understand what was happening to me. 

What decisions have you made about the future? 

The trip to the center in Jedlicze was supposed to be therapy for me. It was a good decision. I got used to my disease, I started to think well of myself. As part of the project, I participated in an internship as a horse-boy. The work helped me to calm down the disease, I felt appreciated. 

Love or sympathy? 

I met Karolina at the center. She was as sick as I was. At first, we were only friends, talked a lot and finally we felt attracted to each other and we decided to be together. 

You can become a builder of our 
Sweet, Sweet Home! 

Karolina & Tomek = marriage

What was your path to happiness? 

To be married, the blessing of our parents was not enough. Because of our disability, we had to fight for ourselves in court. We submitted all the necessary documents and we had to be patient. After a year of uncertainty, we got approved for marriage. 

What is your life like now, what are your plans for the future. Maybe you dream about something? 

Today we are happily married, we will celebrate our second wedding anniversary this summer. We live in a self-contained, sheltered apartment and we both work in a gastronomic facility. We support each other very much, we can count on each other in any situation. We like to go for walks, ride bikes and travel. We have our dreams. We would like to have our own apartment, permanent job and access to education. We want our disease to be in remission and to be together for better and for worse.