LET’S GET PHYSICAL

Tricia Byrne recalls the day a nurse in the ward where she’d tried to take her life changed it with a single phrase.

“She said I was an intelligent woman and that I could have killed myself if I’d wanted. Then she said I’ve got a feeling you’ve turned a corner.”

Four months earlier she’d divorced, gone into mental crisis and lost everything – including her strength to carry on. Living ‘like a squatter’ with just a futon as a bed because she was scared of getting in debt, Tricia, then 30 took a cocktail of drugs and left her house so no-one would find her.

She’d been size 24 dress size when she married – unable to go for a walk for fear of not keeping up.

It’s that mental struggle and understanding of how difficult being able to exercise can be that gives Tricia the right mind set to drive a physical health programme at Mersey Care’s five Life Rooms sites.

She waited three months to hear she’d got the role and ‘couldn’t believe it’ when she was told she’d be helping others enjoy the feeling being more physically active can bring.

It won’t be a boot camp approach – rather Tricia will gently explain how the first time you exercise your body will do everything to stop you. “But then as you carry on it realises you’re not going away and it works with you rather than against you” she says.

I want to help people fulfil their own health dreams.

Listening to someone’s barriers, putting yourself in their shoes will be top of the list. Tricia recalls friends telling her exercise was the key “But I had to kick my own backside, make myself do it, to realise what a difference it made. I got my life back – I even bought a bed!

She’s suffered lower back pain all her life and understands how debilitating it can be. “Back pain strips away your freedom. We work at the person’s own pace, even if that’s slow. Yes I’ll be supporting people to go from couch to 5K. But if I can get someone who had never done any walking to go to the end of the road that’s progress. It’s my dream job and I want to help people fulfil their own health dreams.”

• Tricia’s exercise videos are part of a series of films and podcasts to help you stay well at home. Go to liferooms.org.

If I can get someone who had never done any walking to go to the end of the road that’s progress.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Life Rooms physical health programme go to liferooms.org

• Find support in Liverpool: thelivewelldirectory.com