What past life experiences, physical traumas or genetics do you believe have had an effect on your mental health?
One of the things that maybe makes me a little unique is that I was born with a rare condition known as brittle bones disorder. By age 12 I had fractured my bones over 150 times and to date I have suffered over 200 broken bones!

How did the effects on your mental health appear in terms of symptoms?

Perhaps even more than the physical trauma, for me the biggest challenges were on the mental side. Wondering if I would ever be able to lead a normal life whilst being confined to a wheelchair and unable to participate in life in the way that I wanted to. This would lead to feelings of frustration, hopelessness and low self-esteem. 

The condition limited me especially during childhood because I had to undergo numerous surgeries and missed out on a lot of fun moments. I remember the intense sense of frustration I used to feel, at having to watch from my bedroom window while my sisters and all the other kids in the neighbourhood played outside in the sunshine.

When and why did you decide to ask for help to get relief?
I saw the biggest changes when I stopped comparing himself to other ppl. I never really had any formal therapy. I guess I developed coping mechanisms to get me through the tough times. What also really helped me was having a super support network, be it family or friends who always believed in me even when I didn’t fully believe in myself!

What methods helped you individually get/feel better?
My faith in God, meditation, reading and helping others through my work as a motivational speaker and content creator has been enormous for me.

Why did you decide to go public with your story? Who were/are you hoping to help and how?
We are lucky to live in a period when mental health is being discussed more openly than perhaps at any other time in history. I hope to add my voice and #SameHere🤙Story to all the other positive influences out there, and to give anyone that is in a dark place hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

How did people react when you went public with your story?

I am fortunate that I get to share my story regularly through my work as a motivational speaker and content creator. For me, my satisfaction comes from knowing that my work has the potential to give someone a shift that could positively impact the trajectory of their life!