0:00:02 > 0:00:06One in four of us will face a mental health illness
0:00:06 > 0:00:08at some point in our lives.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10We may know the statistic,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13but what do we really know about those who live with challenging
0:00:13 > 0:00:17conditions and the working lives of those involved in their care?
0:00:19 > 0:00:23This series will bring them together to tell their stories.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Whitchurch Psychiatric Hospital in North Cardiff
0:00:44 > 0:00:46first opened its doors in 1908.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49It was designed to accommodate 750 patients
0:00:49 > 0:00:52with a range of mental conditions.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56In the early days, it was an unknown, unseen world.
0:00:56 > 0:01:01The 20-acre site housed a theatre, a chapel, even a farm.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Life inside the asylum was a contained and controlled existence.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10Patients came here for treatment and stayed for years.
0:01:11 > 0:01:16The stigma attached to a stay in this hospital is still felt today.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24The thought of coming into Whitchurch Hospital can be daunting.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30It has got long, echoing corridors
0:01:30 > 0:01:33that can't help but scare you a little, I think.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38It's a prejudice, I guess, that we have to try and overcome
0:01:38 > 0:01:41in getting people, sometimes, to come into hospital.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48I actually trained outside Cardiff.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50And I moved here with the job when I qualified.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52And I came in through the front entrance,
0:01:52 > 0:01:56I was walking down large, empty corridors that echoed.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58You could hear people talking in the distance.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Quite an eerie experience.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02And it smelt of cleaning products.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05And I was like, "Wow!"
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Wow. Honestly, I didn't realise it was still like this.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11You slam a door over
0:02:11 > 0:02:13the east side and you can hear it
0:02:13 > 0:02:14at the west side of the hospital.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20You have got this very old, almost quite custodial building.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22You've probably seen the big locks on the doors.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25I suppose, if you were director and you wanted to film a film
0:02:25 > 0:02:28in a psychiatric hospital, your imagination would probably
0:02:28 > 0:02:32not be that far away from the corridors and the wards
0:02:32 > 0:02:33in Whitchurch.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42Daily life at the hospital has long found its natural rhythm.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46There are nine operational wards here, with a staff of 500.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51We prepare food for about 160 patients.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53And the food now is going to be picked up
0:02:53 > 0:02:55from the porters,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57and they'll be taken on to the wards.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00So, they do the downstairs wards first and then they come back then
0:03:00 > 0:03:02to do the upstairs wards.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05It's a mad rush from 11.30 to 11.50.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08It is really, really... You know, it's mad.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11But we've got to do it, just to keep the food hot
0:03:11 > 0:03:14and get their food on time.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19- What have we got today then, David? - Shepherds pie, sausage, chips.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23- That OK?- Yep.- Hope you enjoy. - Thank you.- Ta-ra.- Bye-bye.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29But the hospital is now facing its final days on this site.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Modern psychiatric services in today's Wales wish to leave behind
0:03:32 > 0:03:36the stigma attached to treating patients an Edwardian asylum
0:03:36 > 0:03:38for good.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41Wards are being closed and patients are being moved to new
0:03:41 > 0:03:44purpose-built accommodation on the other side of the city.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48But in the midst of this movement and change, the hospital in
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Whitchurch is still opening its doors
0:03:50 > 0:03:52to those who need its services.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58Colin Thrupp is 51 and lives alone in Ely, in North Cardiff.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Yeah, Cardiff boy, educated at Willows High School.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06Left school to work with my dad as a plasterer.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Then I went my separate way, doing my own thing,
0:04:09 > 0:04:14went to London, working, Germany. Auf Wiedersehen, Pet thing!
0:04:16 > 0:04:21I was non-stop active. Morning till night.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Just getting up for work, getting home from work, go fishing.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Down to the beach, or something like that.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30I was always doing something or other.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37I always swore blind I'd never drink. Famous last words.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41I don't know what on earth possessed me to start.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Since I didn't even drink until I was 40.
0:04:45 > 0:04:50Ten years down the line... a lot of differences made.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55Now battling depression and alcoholism, Colin's only hope
0:04:55 > 0:04:59is a two-week detox programme as an in-patient at Whitchurch Hospital,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02for the second time.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04I probably start three o'clock in the morning,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07when I wake up with the shakes, uncontrollably.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09I can't sleep because of it.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12I have to have a drink to be able to go to sleep again,
0:05:12 > 0:05:14to get through the night.
0:05:14 > 0:05:20Upon waking, first thing again, drink. And drink and drink...
0:05:20 > 0:05:21Oh, shit!
0:05:23 > 0:05:25I haven't got keys. Duh!
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Can you let me in, please?
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Thank you.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36You know, time for number eight.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42We are now at 6:15...ish.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44'Detox is my only route to get out of it.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48'I can't wait.'
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Been there once, done it once. And my birthday approached.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58And I felt the urge to celebrate it with a drink.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00No chance, hooked again.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Can't wait to do it this time, and it will be the last time.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Because I won't need another one.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13There is a large overlap between mental health problems
0:06:13 > 0:06:16and addiction problems.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20So, the two go hand-in-hand together and it is important
0:06:20 > 0:06:23that we don't forget the one when we are dealing with the other.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Neil Jones is Colin's consultant and will be responsible,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29along with his team, for Colin's care.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33The Adfer Detox Ward is one of the busiest in the hospital,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35with 12 beds which are almost always full.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39The waiting list to treat those dependent on alcohol or drugs
0:06:39 > 0:06:40is ten weeks.
0:06:40 > 0:06:47I mean, certainly addiction is classified as a disease,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51part of a spectrum of mental disorders.
0:06:51 > 0:06:57The people who I see who have clear addiction problems
0:06:57 > 0:07:02are much more likely to have disorders
0:07:02 > 0:07:07such as depression, anxiety disorders.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Here we go.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Monday has eventually arrived.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17Off to the hospital now, happy days.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Couldn't come quick enough.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27What are we, about 10 o'clock? In the morning.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31And that'll be my fourth can.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36And after today, no more.
0:07:38 > 0:07:39Great.
0:07:41 > 0:07:42Another one bites the dust.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45I will miss drinking.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49There is the way it makes me feel.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57It makes me have a little bit of a party feeling,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59if you know what I mean.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Makes you think you can talk to anybody
0:08:03 > 0:08:05and you can let your hair down.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07You don't feel embarrassed.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Whereas, when you are sober, you do, and you think,
0:08:12 > 0:08:14"Nah, I'll just sit here, say nothing."
0:08:16 > 0:08:19But that's the only thing. You get over that.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22You too, darling. You take care, yeah?
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- See you when you get back. - Yeah, we'll get back on there.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27- See you soon, baby.- Yeah. Nice one.
0:08:33 > 0:08:34Here we go again.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48People who drink regularly
0:08:48 > 0:08:51and become addicted or dependent
0:08:51 > 0:08:56have developed such a tolerance to alcohol over time
0:08:56 > 0:08:58that if they stop suddenly,
0:08:58 > 0:09:00they become severely unwell.
0:09:03 > 0:09:08So, somebody like Colin may have experienced really quite
0:09:08 > 0:09:12major risks if he were to stop drinking suddenly.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Not the greatest level in the world of hospitals.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Yeah, a little bit of a scary place, I suppose.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Just take a deep breath and get on with it, you know?
0:09:24 > 0:09:27It's for the best and you know you're going to come out the other side
0:09:27 > 0:09:28and be a whole lot better.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41A disused ward in another part of the hospital is home to
0:09:41 > 0:09:43the North Cardiff Crisis Team.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Staff here work with people who are severely mentally unwell
0:09:47 > 0:09:51but can be treated at home, rather than in hospital.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Well, it is quite strange, actually, because the ward on which
0:09:54 > 0:09:59the North Crisis Team is based, West 1A, at Whitchurch, is actually
0:09:59 > 0:10:03the ward which I was the consultant for when I first arrived in Cardiff.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Looking back, it seems quite shocking that people were
0:10:06 > 0:10:09still in 2002 in a dormitory
0:10:09 > 0:10:13in an old mental health hospital built in 1908.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17But actually, then, I think, "While we've stayed in this old sort of
0:10:17 > 0:10:22"Edwardian building, the work we are doing from it is very modern."
0:10:22 > 0:10:23And, you know,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27maybe that's a good thing, that things can change from the inside.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29And even though the shell of it is the same,
0:10:29 > 0:10:34the modernity of the services within it have developed.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36- Shall we start, then?- Yep.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40The Monday morning meeting brings the entire team together to plan
0:10:40 > 0:10:41the week ahead.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45Shall we start with Tracy? Do you want to just give us some feedback?
0:10:45 > 0:10:46Yeah.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Staff work intensively over a short period of crises
0:10:49 > 0:10:52with the patients or service users in their care.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56They assess them at home or in hospitals and police stations
0:10:56 > 0:10:57around the city.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Many might be suicidal or a risk to others.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02So, sharing information is crucial.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06We have got a maximum capacity of 25 people, so we've got a big
0:11:06 > 0:11:09board in our office with everybody's names, their particular details,
0:11:09 > 0:11:11when they're going to be seen, what the risks are.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13And that board can get full.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17And you've got 25 people who would otherwise need to be treated
0:11:17 > 0:11:20on an acute psychiatric ward if it weren't for the Crisis Team.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24And they are in the community and they are your responsibility.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27We see people suffering with severe mental illnesses
0:11:27 > 0:11:31and major mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia,
0:11:31 > 0:11:35bipolar disorder, drug-induced psychosis, severe depression,
0:11:35 > 0:11:40but we also offer service to people who have more moderate to
0:11:40 > 0:11:43severe depression, anxiety conditions,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46acute stress reactions or adjustment reactions sometimes to things
0:11:46 > 0:11:48that have happened in their life.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50He was only in for about four days. I think when we saw him
0:11:50 > 0:11:53he was withdrawing from alcohol.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56He is still low, but there is definitely improvement.
0:11:56 > 0:11:57He is not drinking.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59He said he is struggling, but he is not drinking alcohol,
0:11:59 > 0:12:00and I believe him, to be honest.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Everybody involved in our service gets together,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05the doctors are there, the nurses.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07We have represented from community mental health teams
0:12:07 > 0:12:10who often refer to us. We had people from the Crisis House,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13which is a service available for people who are in a social crisis
0:12:13 > 0:12:17and need somewhere to live. They get representatives from the day units.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19You've got a lot of professionals involved in somebody's care
0:12:19 > 0:12:23And it is important we get our decisions right.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26But she has been with the baby for the past six months.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28That's the point, Paul. What are they going to do?
0:12:28 > 0:12:30They don't even say what they're going to do.
0:12:30 > 0:12:37- What is Child Protection going to do?- Let me explain.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40It can get quite heated, but that is a thoroughly positive thing
0:12:40 > 0:12:42and I don't think any of us would have it any other way.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45We work with people who care about their job
0:12:45 > 0:12:47and are prepared to stand their ground.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50So, it can be quite interesting. And it can be quite long.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52You need quite a lot of coffee,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56but it's...it's a very important part of our week.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07So, this is one of the main corridors in Whitchurch Hospital.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10The wards are arranged in a horseshoe shape around here.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15This ward is empty now. There is nothing in there. East 4.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18It's a rehabilitation ward for people suffering from severe
0:13:18 > 0:13:20enduring mental illness. They have moved now.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23They're in another part of Cardiff, in a new build.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26So, an empty ward. A bit spooky.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40At the front desk, Sam and his colleague
0:13:40 > 0:13:43from the Crisis Team have asked for access to the assessment room -
0:13:43 > 0:13:47a person in acute crisis is on her way in and they need to
0:13:47 > 0:13:50decide if she needs admission to hospital or can be helped at home.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53So, here we are, this is the assessment suite.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57This is where you we see people who come up for assessment.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02So, we tend to sit over here and people sit where they like.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05And so we'll go and see this lady shortly
0:14:05 > 0:14:07and ask her to come in and we will have a chat with her
0:14:07 > 0:14:09and see where we can go from there.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12There's probably not much we haven't heard now
0:14:12 > 0:14:15in the Crisis Team about what people can be subject to,
0:14:15 > 0:14:19so this is deaths of close people, relatives of people who have
0:14:19 > 0:14:22been murdered, terrible physical assault,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24you know, sometimes occurring over years.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28I mean, one of the very common themes is that of childhood
0:14:28 > 0:14:30sexual abuse.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35And, you know, this is a very common occurrence,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38unfortunately, in our society, it seems.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42And people have psychological consequences of that.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48And I am just continuously amazed at how resilient people can be
0:14:48 > 0:14:53and how they can recover and move on from such terrible experiences.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59You build bonds with people and they recover and you don't see them
0:14:59 > 0:15:00again, that's good.
0:15:00 > 0:15:05It's the ones with high emotional impact that you remember.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07The ones you hear the news and it floors you
0:15:07 > 0:15:10and you have to go for a walk and you can't focus for a bit
0:15:10 > 0:15:12and you can't sleep for a little while.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Everyone... They are the people that you don't forgot, you know.
0:15:16 > 0:15:17Um...
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Yeah, it is a hard part of the job.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31OK, what I need to do is just take a quick breath test from you.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Just to see where you are. OK, how are you feeling of the moment?
0:15:34 > 0:15:38On the Adfer Detox Ward, Colin's medical assessment begins.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41He had his last drink two hours ago.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43You have done this before, yeah?
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Once or twice.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49'As soon as the client arrives, we will breathalyse them.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51'What will often happen is the person
0:15:51 > 0:15:54'makes the choice to change and then'
0:15:54 > 0:15:56the morning of coming in, for instance,
0:15:56 > 0:16:01or the night before even, they have a good old binge to say goodbye,
0:16:01 > 0:16:02say goodbye to the alcohol.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05OK, as you can see, it is going up quite high.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Hardly surprising.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12'We like to get a comprehensive history'
0:16:12 > 0:16:16of the clients. You know, we like to know their background,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18any problems that have happened.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20When did you first start drinking, Colin?
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- When I was 40.- When you were 40?- Mm.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27'There is normally some sort of reason for a person having'
0:16:27 > 0:16:29become dependent on a substance,
0:16:29 > 0:16:35whether that's sexual or physical abuse from childhood
0:16:35 > 0:16:37or post-traumatic stress disorders.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41Or whether it's a sudden lifestyle change in later life,
0:16:41 > 0:16:46such as the death of a loved one or a divorce or retirement
0:16:46 > 0:16:50or something a person is finding difficulty to deal with,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53so that they then increase their use of alcohol.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57Was there anything in your life that was happening at that time
0:16:57 > 0:16:59which was difficult or stressful?
0:16:59 > 0:17:01A couple of bereavements.
0:17:01 > 0:17:06- It was approximately that time. My parents.- Your parents died?
0:17:06 > 0:17:09And my in-laws, as well.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10I see, OK.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14'Basically, it started after the passing of my parents.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16'It wasn't long between both of them.'
0:17:16 > 0:17:19And without that, you just take a downward tumbling,
0:17:19 > 0:17:21thinking, "Oh, now what do I do?
0:17:21 > 0:17:24"Where are they when I need 'em? Not here."
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Well, the withdrawal symptoms are obviously as a result
0:17:29 > 0:17:33of the body having become physically dependent on the alcohol.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37So, there will be certain symptoms that are quite classic.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40So, you'll often have a tremor.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44'So, we'll obviously ask the clients to put their hands out
0:17:44 > 0:17:46'and watch to see if they are shaking.'
0:17:46 > 0:17:48OK, and this one.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53'There'll be a lot of sort of tactile disturbances.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55'It can be anything from sort of pins and needles'
0:17:55 > 0:18:02to an actual feeling of spiders or ants crawling up and down the skin.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04- Any sweating?- A little bit.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- Do you mind if I feel your forehead?- Carry on.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11I suppose, what you have is a lot of different receptors talking to
0:18:11 > 0:18:15the body and basically not being able to function.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18So, as a result of that, the body will almost
0:18:18 > 0:18:20go into a state of shock.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23You're probably not surprised, but you started withdrawing.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25I'm going to give you some medication for that, OK?
0:18:25 > 0:18:28- So, you've had diazepam before? - Yeah.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31- So, you know it might make you feel a bit sleepy.- Yeah.- OK.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36Diazepam is routinely used to assist a safe detox.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40It helps stop the very real threat of a seizure during withdrawal,
0:18:40 > 0:18:41which could be fatal.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Just here.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46That'll do.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47Here we go.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51I'm going to have to get another member of staff,
0:18:51 > 0:18:52- so we can go through your stuff.- OK.
0:18:52 > 0:18:58Not getting anything through, yeah, yeah. Yeah, no sneaky dickens.
0:18:58 > 0:18:59I know.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01- All right?- Nice one. Ta-ra.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06'I feel a bit anxious at the moment, but...'
0:19:07 > 0:19:10..it'll...come and go.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18You know, the first day is a little bit nerve-racking, I suppose.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Then it gets easy, you get to know the people
0:19:21 > 0:19:24and you just tend to start to feel a bit at home then.
0:19:28 > 0:19:35It'll be good once I'm off the drink to get more contact with my grandson.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Might even end up taking him fishing one day, when he is old enough.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43He's only a two-year-old at the moment.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Lives about a mile away from where I live.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55It will be nice to get to see him.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02I wouldn't swap today for any other.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07First day of the rest my life.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Hello, is that Mr Evans?
0:20:23 > 0:20:27Hi there. Listen, my name is Sam, I'm a mental health nurse.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31The Crisis Team offers 24-hour care, seven days a week.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Sam is on one of his regular night shifts.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Well, I'm really worried. I want to make sure
0:20:36 > 0:20:38that doesn't happen. Does that make sense?
0:20:38 > 0:20:40'People don't choose when they become unwell.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42'And we need to be able to respond'
0:20:42 > 0:20:44to that as quickly as possible,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46and to get in there and alleviate that distress
0:20:46 > 0:20:48and sort something out for them.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51All right, well, I'll make sure the team gives you a call tomorrow, OK?
0:20:51 > 0:20:52Bye.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55There is a lot of information in our database,
0:20:55 > 0:20:56so this gentleman is well known.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58He has got a diagnosis of schizophrenia
0:20:58 > 0:21:02and he can relapse and become unwell.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04And when that has happened in the past,
0:21:04 > 0:21:06he has ended up being detained under the Mental Health Act,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08he has taken serious overdoses
0:21:08 > 0:21:10and he has inflicted serious self-harm upon himself.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14If somebody is borderline psychotic and afraid
0:21:14 > 0:21:18they are going to go into hospital and they have been admitted before,
0:21:18 > 0:21:22they made put a front on things, they may do whatever
0:21:22 > 0:21:24they can to avoid admission, which is understandable.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26And they may not open up to you.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29You've got to be able to get a feel for that
0:21:29 > 0:21:33and instinctively sort of assess the risks. Not just the obvious risks,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36but get a sort of almost an intuitive feel for where
0:21:36 > 0:21:38somebody is at.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Home visits happen day or night.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43It can be a simple check on someone to make sure
0:21:43 > 0:21:45they are taking the right medication.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48'Sometimes you do need to do home treatments at three in the morning.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51'You need to travel to more lively parts of Cardiff.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55'And you always work in pairs.'
0:21:55 > 0:21:58Then it's about four or five miles from Whitchurch.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01At the end of the night, we go home.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05'You do your best to use online maps
0:22:05 > 0:22:08'and make sure you know exactly where you're going
0:22:08 > 0:22:11'and make sure you park is close to the property as possible.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16'Working the night shift, you get the whole sort of vague, bizarre,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18'detachment thing, driving around and it's all quiet,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20'you're wide awake, you're full of coffee.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23'You've got the window down. It can be interesting.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26'I quite like it, you know. And...'
0:22:26 > 0:22:29there are 24-hour kebab houses in Cardiff, so that is good.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33You try and avoid that, but sometimes you can't help yourself.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37Ten days later, Colin's physical withdrawal from alcohol
0:22:37 > 0:22:40is complete, but there is still a great deal of work to do.
0:22:40 > 0:22:45'The first few days, the client tends to just feel pretty rough.
0:22:45 > 0:22:46'They feel pretty poorly.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51'So, the main focus is assessment and the withdrawal process.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54'What we do then is we look to get them pretty much'
0:22:54 > 0:22:59as busy as possible and armed with as many skills as possible.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02So, we will get them into the relapse prevention groups,
0:23:02 > 0:23:03which is what I do.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07'So, it is looking at preparing people for going back
0:23:07 > 0:23:10'into the community and hopefully breaking down
0:23:10 > 0:23:12'their emotional dependence
0:23:12 > 0:23:14'that they have with the substance.'
0:23:14 > 0:23:18We harbour negative feelings, subconsciously, we store them.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22What often then happens is that can contribute to low moods.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Low moods is often a link to lapse.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26Do you see how it all interlinks?
0:23:26 > 0:23:30'The classes, they are tending to make you think for yourself
0:23:30 > 0:23:33'by firing questions at you. What would you do in this situation?
0:23:33 > 0:23:35'Would you cope with it?
0:23:35 > 0:23:37'Would you control what your thinking was?'
0:23:37 > 0:23:42But it does make you think whether you would or wouldn't. It does help,
0:23:42 > 0:23:46with regards to not dwelling on the fact of drinking.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50These daily group therapy sessions last for ten days
0:23:50 > 0:23:52and attendance is compulsory.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58I feel confident coming out this time.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02The first time I was here, I didn't.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04I didn't feel confident at all.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06I didn't know if I could trust myself.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Which turned out to be semi-true.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16I managed nine months without a drink.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19But that gave me false confidence then to think
0:24:19 > 0:24:22I could just have the odd one or two here and there.
0:24:25 > 0:24:26That is where I failed.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Very determined to make it work this time.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45All right. Dog, bed.
0:24:45 > 0:24:50Colin is back at home and starting a new life of sobriety.
0:24:50 > 0:24:55I have been nearly two weeks of being out and I feel a whole lot better.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59Be able to get up and do things without dreading it.
0:25:00 > 0:25:01Um...
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Getting used to being out is another thing.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10If you enjoy it in there, to come out into the big, bad world then
0:25:10 > 0:25:13and face all your demons,
0:25:13 > 0:25:17as in refraining from drinking.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21But I know I can do it.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24It is just a case of getting on with it and doing it.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26So, Colin goes home
0:25:26 > 0:25:31and he goes home to an environment that he will associate with alcohol.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34So, the hope is that he takes the skills
0:25:34 > 0:25:38and experience that he took from being dry and goes on, really,
0:25:38 > 0:25:42to build on that and make further changes
0:25:42 > 0:25:44and build a life that he is happy with.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49It takes approximately about six months
0:25:49 > 0:25:51to get rid of the shakes totally.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54You start doing little things
0:25:54 > 0:25:58like tying small hooks on,
0:25:58 > 0:25:59trying to...
0:25:59 > 0:26:02I don't know whether it is through anxiety or...
0:26:02 > 0:26:04But I put it down to the drink.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07I tend to start t o get the shakes a little bit.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11'I suppose you could look at it that I am replacing drinking with fishing.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14'Obviously, you get a buzz from drinking.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18'And when you have been fishing as much as I have in the past,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21'you do get a buzz from that, as well.'
0:26:21 > 0:26:24It is good to be back.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28'There is various things in mind at the moment, in regards
0:26:28 > 0:26:29'to my next step forward.'
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Probably go on a computer course or something
0:26:33 > 0:26:35to get computer literate.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38'Look into some part-time work or something.'
0:26:38 > 0:26:41'Try and think of something to get involved with.'
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Got one.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Almost got away.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52That was easy.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54'I know it is going to be a change'
0:26:54 > 0:26:56for the better, not drinking.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00'It'll enable me to do a lot of things that I wouldn't otherwise do.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02'I tend not'
0:27:02 > 0:27:04to see much of my family because
0:27:04 > 0:27:06they don't really want to know a drunken bum.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09But you can't fault them.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11'And I went back on the wagon...
0:27:12 > 0:27:15'..so I can have more contact with my kids.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19'Especially my grandson. And soon'
0:27:19 > 0:27:22to have a brother in November.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24So, I'll have two grandkids then.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30That is another thing to motivate me not to drink.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35So, I can take my grandkids fishing.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38And teach them what I have learned.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Another thing to look forward to.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd