Tales from a Bruised Mind

What have you always wanted to know about me, or what have you been too afraid to ask? Well, now is the time for all to be revealed. Enjoy my little self Q&A to keep you occupied.

The Zak Q&A

Where did you go to primary and high school?

I went to primary school in Brisbane, Queensland, just down the road from my childhood home. It was a little school called Marshall Road State School. I still have a lot of good friends from that time, and I even got to see a lifelong friend from there get married last year! How time flies!

For high school, I went to an all-boys Roman Catholic school called Villanova College, also in Brisbane. It was pretty good, and again, I still have a lot of friends from there. I really enjoyed the music program in particular and was able to travel a lot as a result.

Have you had any pets?

I don’t currently have any pets, however I used to have birds as a kid. A bit strange but they were good company. I kind of wish we got to have a dog as kids, but Mum wouldn’t let us!

What car did you learn to drive in?

I learnt to drive in a few cars, but it was mainly a silver Honda Jazz. That Jazz got damaged in an infamous hail storm, and had to be written off, however, we replaced it with a sky blue Jazz – a slightly newer version – which I got to drive to school in when I got my P plates.

My first ever car that I purchased with my own cash was a 2008 Ford Focus XR5 Turbo, a car which I sadly sold last year. It was brilliant.

What’s the strangest thing about you?

I can do this weird curly thing with my tongue, I’ve got bent toes (no chance of a foot model job) and my brain is pretty strange, but that’s it!

Have you had many/any girlfriends?

I have had two serious girlfriends, one during high school and one during university and early adulthood. I try to forget about my first girlfriend (she was nasty), however my most recent ex-partner is a gorgeous soul. I miss our friendship very often.

What is something your Mum and Dad don’t know about you?

I am extremely open with my parents and always have been, I’m not hiding too much! I guess if I had to say something, it would be almost crashing late at night in the hinterland with my best friend in a crappy old Holden Barina. It was not good, but we lived!

What’s the story behind you and your brother?

My brother doesn’t look like me, and that freaks some people out, much to our amusement. My brother Ben was adopted in Hong Kong by my parents and brought back to Australia via parcel post (kidding). He’s seven years older than me and quite a wise guy, although he does talk a lot!

How many books have you written, and what are they?

I have written two books: A Ballad from a Bruised Brain and another fiction book called Paradise, Where Are You? which I will be getting printed in 2024.

What’s a secret skill of yours?

I used to be half good at golf and could hit 250+ metres on a drive. I am also a competitive Forza Motorsport player and I can sing! (also half good)

What’s your dream car garage look like?

I’d have a three car garage if I could: a daily, a weekend car and a track car. My daily would be a brand-new Audi RS3 Sportback, my weekend car would be a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and for a track car, I’d have a nice little Caterham, which is essentially like a go-kart.

Do you take medications?

Yes! Lots! I take lithium, olanzapine, sertraline and aripriprazole – all of which are for my brain.

How do you feel right in this moment?

Not too bad but not too good either. I am working on getting my mental health better, but these things understandably take time.

If you could have studied something else, other than journalism, what would you have chosen?

That’s a tricky one… I’d probably say something in the mental health field, like a social worker or peer support worker. Heck, even a nurse!

What has been one of the happiest days in your life up to now?

Another hard one, I’ve had a lot. Probably getting my dream job was a big one, or getting to drive my dream car, the Porsche I mentioned above. Or even getting to travel overseas for work and fly business class! Woohoo!

What has been one of the hardest days in your life up to now?

Again, too many to list. Saying goodbye to my Grandma was bloody tough, as was my good friend Theo. I guess, most of all, seeing that dark tunnel called depression starting to close in on me was terrifying. I wish I never have to experience that ever again.

Why did you stop playing the cello?

My family ask me this all the time, and there is a couple of reasons for it. Firstly, I sold the cello, so that doesn’t help the situation. Secondly, I have fallen out of love with it, and have instead taken up the piano again (which I used to hate very much), so I have weirdly come full circle. I do love the cello and it’s gorgeous sound, but it’s not an instrument you can easily jam with, or play contemporary songs with.

When did you first need help because of your mental health?

I first hit a big mental stumbling block when I was 16 years old. It was actually at my 16th birthday party that I began a fear of social eating situations. It was awful and kind of hard to explain, but it wasn’t good. By the time I was 17 years old, I had monthly psychologist catch ups to get me through Year 12 – arguably the hardest year of your entire schooling.

So that’s how it all began, and just snowballed gradually from there.

What was your first-ever job?

My first unofficial job was picking up balls at the golf driving range in the buggy. I worked on and off at a cafe for a few shifts, but the owners was dodgy as heck, and I didn’t want to be a part of that. My first official job was for a company called City Beach, a beach-style clothing chain. I picked orders in a hot, dusty warehouse and hated every second of it. I moved on to work for Nike, a small, unknown footwear company (I joke!).

And lastly, what’s the biggest piece of advice for your future self?

Stop taking life so seriously. You are still young. Have fun and enjoy yourself, because one day you’ll look back as a sad old man and wish you did more!

Hope you enjoyed this little segment.

Love,

Zak