Tales from a Bruised Mind

Up until I was 20 years old, my life was pretty ordinary. It just wasn’t really worth writing about. I had a great childhood, I had awesome friends, my family was amazing and I had a lot to be happy about.

I was kind of wishing that it would stay that way, but it didn’t.

So here we are, in 2024.

This website/ blog is not just me talking shit with every post. Instead, to me, it’s therapy. It’s a way of coping, but also a way of being open and honest.

It’s way for me to cut through the bullshit that is social media, to show my good days and my bad days all in one place. To be open and real and as pure as I can be.

But in case you missed any of it, here is a quick recap for you, in tidy bullet point form:

• My life was fairly normal until I hit age 20 where I suffered a psychotic episode that left me hospitalised
• I spent over a year in therapy and began writing my first book
• In December 2020, I relapsed and spent three weeks in a locked and confined psychiatric ward
• I spent even more time in therapy
• I moved out of home with my brother and tried to rebuild my life
• I waited for COVID-19 to be over and then moved to Sydney to pursue my dream job in automotive media
• I took myself to hospital in Sydney during 2022. The depression was tough
• I pushed on and tried to kick some goals with my work. I travelled to Germany with work… something I thought I’d never do
• I admitted myself back into hospital in Novemeber 2023, it was where I needed to be, I was so depressed
• I moved back to Queensland for seven weeks to heal and spend time with my family. It was blissful
• Today, I am still working and thriving in Sydney, but it’s not always easy

My life is full of ups and downs because I suffer from bipolar 1 disorder. I’ve also suffered from bouts of psychosis and depression.

My life is different every single day, much like many, many other people. But it’s also challenging because I never know what my brain is going to do next.

But it’s not all depressing…

In April 2024, I self-published my first book, a memoir about my life battling mental illness. People seemed to like it.

And last year, I was invited to become a mental health ambassador for the charity Drive Against Depression.

I love it.

There are many bad days, sure, but so so many good ones, too!

Love,

Zak