Pouring my heart out through poetry that deals with very personal experiences of mental health issues, abuse, love and being part of the queer community, has been cathartic as I grapple with the impact bipolar disorder and PTSD have had on my life.
I’ve written poetry for years and one day just decided to collate it all in a book titled ‘Transmogrify, A Young Woman’s Shout Into the Void’. It took a year and a half to put together 147 pages of poems, some that delve into the dark times and others that bring hope, to show both sides of the mental health spectrum.
I went with self-publishing and held book launches at Sappho Café and Bar in Glebe, and Mind Café in Narrabeen where people with lived experience can meet for coffee and a chat. This involved some public speaking which I’ve not done since high school and felt a little confronting but ultimately empowering.
Maintaining my mental wellbeing occasionally calls for hospital stays and it was during an admission that I connected with Flourish Australia’s Marrickville service. The team have been so supportive and encouraging, telling everyone about my book and assisting with Centrelink paperwork. It’s been life-changing to get involved in groups they offer, supporting my goal of becoming more socially active.
I’m grateful for their help with preparation for a new job I’ve just started in Disability Support, like practicing for the interview. We celebrated together when I got the job! It’s wonderful to now be part of a work culture so supportive of mental health and I can lend an understanding ear to many of my clients who are on their own recovery journey because I can relate to what they’re going through.
I encourage anyone who’s been putting off a life goal to just apply yourself and get it done! Anyone can publish a book like I have or achieve whatever they’re passionate about. Just don’t be held back by expectations of yourself that are less than you deserve!
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