Hannah, 44, and Sean, 61, first crossed paths in 2012 as patients at Cassel Hospital in London. Their relationship evolved gradually, and today they are happily married.
Reflecting on her past, Hannah recounts how her life changed dramatically when she was sectioned in 2007. Despite previously battling depression, she admits that it wasn’t until a series of serious self-harming incidents that she recognized the severity of her condition. “I grew up in a very religious household, where admitting to being unwell felt shameful,” she shares. After resigning from her position as an HIV nurse, she received a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder, now recognized as borderline personality disorder. This led to a tumultuous period characterized by frequent hospitalizations, as she describes it, “like a revolving door.”
By 2012, Hannah found herself at Cassel Hospital, feeling that she had exhausted all other options after numerous suicide attempts. “I was referred for psychodynamic therapy, which emphasizes emotional awareness and encourages recovery within a supportive community,” she explains. The treatment involved both individual and group therapies where patients uplifted one another.
It was during her second month there that Hannah met Sean. “When new patients arrived, we were encouraged to show them around. I volunteered to guide him, even though I was so unwell I could hardly speak,” she recalls. Sean, who has dealt with severe epilepsy since childhood, was sent to Cassel after leaving his civil service job due to his condition. “I was experiencing dissociative episodes along with seizures, and it became clear that my seizures had both psychological and physical roots,” he adds.
For Sean, the idea of developing a friendship with Hannah didn’t even cross his mind at first. “I was primarily focused on my recovery, and I was married at the time, so I didn’t consider a relationship,” he says.
Over time, as they engaged in organized outings like trips to the theater and ballet, Hannah began to rediscover her ability to laugh. “For five years, I had lost that joy, but my time at Cassel helped me come back to life,” she reflects. “Sean was a terrific listener, and I found it easy to talk with him.”
Their friendship deepened, and they continued seeing each other even after both transitioned to outpatient care. “We were hospitalized together for about 10 months, but we kept attending outreach groups after that,” Sean describes.
In 2014, Sean separated from his wife shortly after leaving the hospital, and that same year, he and Hannah began to grow closer. “Before therapy, I struggled with understanding what I needed from relationships. But Hannah and I had formed such a strong bond through our experiences,” he states. It was during a group holiday to Weymouth that they acknowledged their feelings for each other. “There was a moment when he was putting sun cream on me, and I felt a spark,” Hannah recalls.
Despite their budding romance, they were cautious about jeopardizing their recovery. “We consulted our care team, and they were very supportive. Their only recommendation was to take things slowly,” Hannah shares. She was also keen to build a relationship with Sean’s seven-year-old daughter, ensuring she felt comfortable with their connection.
Once they decided to explore their relationship, they entered separate outpatient recovery groups and received couples therapy through the hospital. Although Hannah lived in Fulham and Sean resided in Ealing, they spent numerous nights together and tied the knot in 2021 after the pandemic restrictions eased. “We even took our wedding photos at Cassel, as it played such a crucial role in our love story,” Hannah adds.
Today, they live together in Fulham. Sean, who still faces regular seizures, took medical retirement in 2012, while Hannah resumed her nursing career in 2020. “I work in a hospice, something I’ve always aspired to do. It’s greatly boosted my self-esteem and demonstrates that life can go on beyond serious mental illness,” she explains.
Hannah appreciates that life with Sean is “never boring.” “He’s so engaging and always has something to say. We both understand what it’s like to be in dark places, and we support each other through those tough times,” she notes.
Sean admires Hannah’s uniqueness and emotional awareness. “She truly is her own person and brings out the best in me,” he comments.