I didn’t know that I had a mental health problem for so long, but now I’m learning my patterns

Writing is very therapeutic for me and brings a lot of healing. I don’t like to talk about my past, but that is what made me the person I am today.

I’m a 43-year-old Aboriginal woman from the Wakka Wakka tribe in Cherbourg, Queensland, where I was born and raised.

My grandmother raised me from a baby. If she was still here, I’d give her many thanks and acknowledgment for making such sacrifices to raise me and her other grandchildren and for inspiring me to be the person I am today. Without her I wouldn’t be here.

I’ve always known that I was different from others and couldn’t understand why I was going through so much turmoil in my life. To admit to having a disability was shameful for me and I didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that I…