Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to share Victoria Clare's story. Design/methodology/approach - Victoria wrote a biography of her experiences. Robert then asked a series of questions from the perspective of a mental health academic. Findings - Victoria shared stories from her life, and how her experiences have shaped her life and herself. Research limitations/implications - Narratives such as this give us an overview of only a single person's experiences. However, they allow the person with lived experience to explore their story in depth. Practical implications - What Victoria has written will give readers an insight into her life and experiences. Social implications - There is so much to learn from a story like Victoria's, especially in her approach to creativity. Originality/value - This is Victoria's own unique story. The value of this is apparent upon reading it.