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referred to just by a first name). Some people create a fictitious surname. You can be upfront

with the audience about these issues if you want.
Another alternative is to make up a name. In fact, you may consider ‘making up’ or

obscuring parts of your story as well – altering details, names, venues or even states can
allow you to speak from a little distance. Many people do this in written materials especially.

Of course, dishonesty is not generally desirable but small changes in details can allow you to
retain an essential honesty to the experiences you are speaking about, while also being self-

protective. Again, you may wish to disclose to your audience what has been changed and

why.

If you are willing to use your full, real name, it is a gift to other consumers – suggesting

that you are willing to face the prejudicial attitudes without shame. But like any form of
public exposure, the decision is completely up to you.

The power of the parable
Working out what it is that you really want to convey

There are many different ways of telling our stories. The most obvious model in the context
of mental health seems to be:

“I was very sick (or I suffered enormously or I acted very strangely), then I accepted help,
and now I am better (or coping better).”

This style of storytelling can be appealing because it is chronologically ordered, culturally
legitimated, conveys a sense of hope and often is met with positive feedback – especially if

we had fallen to a very low point and can construct our story as one of heroic ‘overcoming’.
But it’s worth stopping to consider what people get out of hearing such stories.

Unfortunately, the take-home messages of stories like this are likely to be (a) how dreadful
your experiences were, (b) that the path you took is the path other people should take, and/or

(c) that you are particularly brave or special.

It’s worth considering that there are many other, often more powerful, ways to use our

stories that honour the complexity and diversity of our lives.

One way is to tell our story as a parable, with a clearly thought-out message. There is an

important difference between telling your story mainly as a truth-telling exercise, which can
feel extremely cathartic and valuable for your own personal growth, and telling your story in

a way

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