Chantell's Story

I have lived with severe anxiety for as long as I can remember. My hair fell out at the age of 3yr due to the stress of my parents’ divorce. I was a very shy child and grew into a very socially anxious teenager. I had a few friends, but was riddled with insecurity and battling with an eating disorder behind closed doors.

I fell pregnant at 18yr and I remember thinking “I can hide at home now”. I didn’t consciously plan it like that, but it became a self-fulfilling prophecy as I ended up being housebound with severe social anxiety, which was also impacting my two toddlers.

The first psychologist I saw when I was 21yr had to come to my home, as I couldn’t go to her ~ my anxiety was too severe.

I am now 40yr old and I have to say the past twenty years have been a huge struggle for me mentally ~ but also, I have successfully raised four children on my own in this time too. I have spent time in psychiatric wards, attempted to end my life, struggled with an eating disorder and self-harm, and bouts of major depression.

In the last few years, I have tried so hard to improve my life through study and volunteering, but there have been plenty of times when I have had to run out of class in a panic, withdrawn from a course, or simply been unable to function as the anxiety just increases beyond my coping levels.

My story is a little extreme ~ I share it here not to worry those who are newly diagnosed (most people do not struggle for as long as I have, please do not worry!)...

I share my story more just to let people know that if I can make it through so many tough years of battling mental health issues, and still be here trying, then you can too!

There are plenty of days where I fall in a heap, and I will always feel just a little too shy or unworthy for this world, but there are also the rare days where I can see a glimmer of confidence within myself, and that is so worth fighting for. Thank you :)