Welcome

to “Liver Life Cafe” Stoke-on-Trent

Working in collaboration with People who suffer from some of the many forms of depression will know only too well just how hard it is trying to cope with such a terrible affliction. Some of those dark clouds can persist for days, weeks and even months. They interfere with our work, social life, and family life. That feeling of sadness, hopeless and loss of interest in things that we used to enjoy and that made us happy, have all but vanished. The abuse of alcohol as a form of self-medication for depression is widely known. But what isn’t dealt with or spoken of, is the often-traumatic mental fallout a person can suffer from a liver-related medical condition or following a liver or organ transplant. Guilt becomes a major factor. This website is about raising awareness of this often-neglected condition and to offer support and a great understanding of this debilitating condition. The support group meetings are to be held every two weeks. The first meeting will be for those who have a liver condition and are presently seeking medical treatment. All family members and carers are welcome to all these meetings as their input too can be of great value and benefit to others. The following meeting is for those who have undergone a liver transplant and who may now have some underlining issues. These may include ongoing health concerns or some delayed mental health issues.

So, what’s this all about then? So, the lucky ones who have had their liver transplant, may feel like they’ve been reborn. You’d think a person would be elated and full of happiness and joy. However, for some, there is a deep feeling of sadness that they now feel towards their donor. Who was this wonderful person who has now saved their life? This totally unselfish gift from a total stranger, can become such an over whelming pressure. A person can also often feel an immense feeling of guilt and unworthiness. In some countries this is known as, “Survivors Guilt” and for some, this condition is treated as a form of PTSD (post traumatic-stress disorder). There is often very little support available once a person leaves hospital here in the UK. The body may have been treated, but the mind is often left to struggle.