Mandy’s story
Mental health advocate
Where/what has been important to you in your mental health journey? Why?
My school. I had depression and anxiety in my secondary school years. I could not get along with my classmates and was also bullied by one of them. I often felt helpless during this time of my life.
How has mental health affected your day to day life?
I could not maintain close relationships with anyone because of my mental health condition. I struggled to get along with my family and friends.
How would you describe yourself? What are your labels?
Introverted: I realised that I generate my energy from within. I love practicing mindfulness and being in nature. I could always reclaim my inner power by doing mindfulness exercises.
What gave you hope during your recovery?
My recovery process was a painful, but rewarding experience. I met a counsellor and we discussed my past traumatic experience. I realised that I had been repressing much of my anger and was used to avoiding my negative emotions ever since I was a child. During our sessions, I cried a lot to heal myself and to release my emotions. I would often feel much better afterwards.
Tell us about your life now.
I am more aware of my feelings and how mental health problems could affect me.
What has your mental health journey taught you?
I learned to practice self-love and stopped searching for it elsewhere.
