The Dark Ages

This time I swear it's not my fault. The failure to blog. My laptop hard-drive has gone kaput and it's being replaced. Much has happened since I last blogged. Firstly, I'm back in London and settled into a new flat. It feels good to have a home again after being a couch-surfing nomad for a few months. Ah, the life of a struggling artiste! In news that's more exciting than my living situation, a couple of weeks ago I appeared on BBC Breakfast and BBC News 24 worldwide. It has always been my hope that by sharing my story I can help remove some of the stigma around mental illness and encourage others to seek help and speak out when they need help. As a result, I was asked by BBC to appear on their show after a study from The Royal College of  GPs revealed that GPs are struggling to diagnose and treat young people who are showing signs of depression. As someone who has been dealing with the NHS in regards to this since the age of 14 I had my own perspective to share. 

I received a call late on a Tuesday night and was in Manchester by 2am, then up at 5:30am to get to the studio and film. It was my first time doing live television and I was shaking like a polaroid picture. Apparently, it didn't come across and fifteen minutes after my appearance I was asked by BBC News 24 to appear on my own for a longer segment for a worldwide piece. I was less nervous the second time around. The Bermuda press also covered the story, so click on the links to read the articles from the Bermuda Sun and The Royal Gazette. 

I entitled this post The Dark Ages not only in reference to the lack of technology available to me at the moment, but also as a nod to the times I spoke about in this interview. From a very young age I felt something wasn't quite right with the way I felt. I went to my GP at the age of 14 and that's when I was first put on medication. Unfortunately, it took two suicide attempts and another 12 years to find the right diagnosis and regime of medication that would place me where I am now. Where I am now is not perfect, it never will be. I still struggle with daily life just as everyone else does, but I don't wake up every day wondering whether I'll make it through alive, wondering how everyone else gets through life when it's this difficult. If you're struggling there is help out there. Unfortunately, it sometimes requires persistence to get your doctor's attention and it can be hard to vocalise your issues, but there's no reason to suffer in silence. Screw the stigma. Your happiness and your life depends on it. 

Location: London, UK

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