Today is World Mental Health Day.

For me, today is about; sharing your mental health with others, creating save spaces and knowing when it is time to seek professional help.

My struggles with mental health started when I was 16, I was struggling with my sexuality, I was being bullied and my parents were just diagnosed with cancer.

In this time, I can only describe it like a voice appeared in my head. This voice told me that my parents shouldn’t be punished; I should be punished. This voice told every moment from waking up, to going to sleep, that I am the should that should be punished, because I was the one that was ‘wrong’.

This punishment developed into bulimia, and that voice got stronger. I was told I was too fat, too weak, and I should do the world a favour and end things.

My bulimia lasted for 5 years, I recovered on my own using online tools and resources. Eventually after recovering I realised that all I did was choosing to live with my inner voices. So in 2018 I started therapy to finally get rid of these voices. What I learnt in therapy, was that I had my own voice, and it was stronger than those negative ones I had developed over the years. I realised this negative voice was because I ever valued myself, I didn’t value my sexuality or my struggles, and  I thought because I had bulimia that I lost my right to be valued. Through finally knowing the value I have the world, I have been able to speak out, and stand up for what I think is right.

My first steps to recovery was finding online resources and tools, if I had been targeted with the adverts we get today, I would never have recovered and I wouldn’t be hear writing this today. I and so many others are targeted, and I don’t think it is right.

We need to do something about this.

I have everything in place to take my petition to the next level, I just need to get to 1000 to (ironically) get my voice heard. Please keep sharing and encouraging others to sign.

But rest assured, if I don’t get there, I will be kicking these doors down myself and I welcome you to join me!  

For more detail on my story head to my latest video