Writer & Musician from Melbourne, Australia. Passionate about the environment, mental health, and good vibes.
Our planet’s climate crisis is at the forefront of many people’s minds since David Attenborough’s latest documentary was released. I watched “A Life on our Planet” on Netflix a few weeks ago and it was brilliant. The realities of our planet’s degradation are bitter and terrifying, but Attenborough conveys a sense of hope and purpose; “there is a path to sustainability” he says. “We are all set to win this future.”
I can’t even count the number of times I heard my school talk about “setting me up for my future” throughout my senior years of high school. They offered careers counselling and we went to careers expos, we had assemblies and talks about university, we filled out a booklet about our goals for the future, and the list goes on. So, when I finally stepped into the big wide world at the end of this 13-year long education tunnel, you’d think I’d be prepared for anything and everything, right? Turns out, the one thing I was prepared for was university, and that’s about it.
I find the homewares section of big stores like Target and Kmart to be a really interesting place. All around me I see people buying things they don’t need, or already own, all because of the way the products are marketed. I’m no stranger to the allure of the mass-produced clutter that stocks the shelves in these places, but I’m starting to see things a little differently, and I’d love to share my thoughts with you.
I was diagnosed with anxiety and derealisation/depersonalisation in 2019, my last year of school, and I’m really proud to say that I know a lot more about myself and my mental health issues than I did back then. I started off that year with daily panic attacks and derealisation episodes, a terrifying mindset, and more tears than I’ve ever cried before. If you're interested in hearing more about my experiences overcoming anxiety and derealisation in year 12, you can read the personal essay I wrote here, but today I wanna talk about some of the techniques that have helped me cope with these mental health challenges since then.
“You know why? You’ve got a stupid head.” Not something you expect to hear from your school counsellor. My eyes were puffy and red, still leaking tears down my blotchy cheeks like a broken tap, but despite myself, I laughed. It was totally ridiculous. In the state I was in, I wouldn’t have been surprised if I’d thrown myself to the floor like a sobbing toddler, but sometimes you don’t know what you need to hear until you hear it.
A sprout, Young and curious, Gently tentative. It grew with us , As we danced with our words, Feelings, hands. Leaves unfurling towards your sunshine