Hi everyone!
It's a pleasure to be on here 🙂
A bit about my past…
I was a lost and insecure boy in primary school which led to a demotivated high
schooler with low self-worth and little confidence.
Kids can be
brutally cruel, and I received considerable bullying throughout my school
days. I was mocked for several physical imperfections (short, fat,
freckly, bald spot, high pitched voice, etc.) and this shattered my confidence,
especially around girls. I was repeatedly made fun of for being a 'cry-baby'
and that I had a very 'out there' hippie mother, a fully deaf father and an
opinionated brother who rubbed people the wrong way.
Some of this
trauma carried into my 20's, but it began to dissipate with time as I broadened
my social circles, travelled extensively, developed a sense of independence and
found my purpose.
For my whole life,
my mother has had mentally ill health and instability and my brother has had
bouts of anxiety and depression. What has perhaps been most confronting though is the
battle my dearest friend has with an eating disorder and manic depression. I
have been present throughout her experiences with self-harm, substance abuse
and a number of suicide attempts.
On top of coming to
grips with my own insecurities, I have healed by helping those close to me come
to terms with their own demons.
---
A bit about my present... Currently I work FT in an area I'm not passionate about and have been
looking to reorient my career into the mental health sector. Outside of work I am passionately
involved with several community groups as a facilitator and event coordinator
in the men's work / youth facilitation / meditation / sharing circle spaces.
Due to COVID-19, my FT job has hit the pause button for the next little while,
so it's a perfect opportunity for me to explore different interests and find
new ways to be productive. That's where Beyond Blue comes in.
It's a rough time for everybody, but some more than others, and I feel
fortunate to have time, space, energy and empathy to
use this platform and help others in need.
There is a drive and a hunger within me to be a vessel for positive
change in others, so I want to offer some of the tools and techniques
I have picked up throughout my journey.
My aim is to co-facilitate a space where people feel safe to be
vulnerable and share openly, all judgment is left at the door and everyone has
a chance to be seen, heard and held in a strong container.
Thank you!
Nico 🙂
