Marcus Farr

Returning from the brink of suicide to successful family man

Vital stats

Age – 31
Problem areas – Self-esteem, confidence, frustration, reading, writing
Completed Dore – January 2004

Background

Marcus had always been verbally intelligent but everything went wrong when he tried to put things down on paper. He was diagnosed with Dyslexia in the 80s and although he had help throughout his schooling, his reading, spelling and writing abilities were terrible. At the age of eleven he was moved to a 'special needs school' where he stayed for four and a half years. Far from a tailored learning programme, Marcus was taught alongside children who were deaf, dumb and Down Syndrome. He began to mirror his surroundings and effectively gave up on his own learning. His abilities, self-confidence and self-esteem began to deteriorate faster than ever and he left aged 16. Marcus had very few friends and spent the next seven years unemployed. It was at this point he hit rock bottom and considered suicide.

“It just doesn’t work to put children in one category, I am living proof of that.”

Marcus’ journey

Marcus first heard of Dore on the ‘Tonight’ programme where Wynford Dore was describing his daughter’s story and her suicidal feelings. Marcus immediately identified and had the confidence to reach out for help. The first thing the Programme made Marcus realise was that he wasn’t stupid after all and from that point his confidence and self esteem grew and grew. For the first time in his life Marcus began to believe in himself. Meeting other people who had similar experiences also helped Marcus build his social skills and release the frustrations that had haunted his former life. He completed the Programme in just over a year and began applying for jobs that had once seemed out of his reach.

The future

Now happily married, Marcus is a proud father to his nine-month old son. He is successful in his full time job and leads what he describes as a ‘normal, happy life.’ He lives with his Dyslexia but since Dore doesn’t let it dictate his life and encourages others to do the same. “When I think about what I almost gave up it makes me so sad…life is for living and that’s what I intend to do with the rest of mine,” said Marcus.

“Dore helped me believe in myself for the first time in my life…now I wouldn’t swap it for anything.”