A young Halstead woman has started her own blog to help remove the stigma of mental health conditions.

Lizzie Davies, 37, of Trinity Court, Halstead, was diagnosed with depression at just 18, having previously been in a child psychiatric ward when she was 14 after her grandfather died.

She dropped out of school when she was 15 due to a breakdown.

In her early 20s, she suffered with severe depression and in 2013 she was also told she had schizoaffective disorder.

The condition means she suffers with hallucinations and delusions, as well as having periods of mania and depression.

However, having the diagnosis helped her to cope.

“It was then I finally realised I was not the only one suffering, there were other like me, and, more importantly, I was just like them,” she said.

“It can either rule me or I can rule it."

Search for “The Halstead Hermit” on Facebook or visit thehalsteadhermit.co.uk