Maddison's Story | Youth Insearch

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Mon, 11/03/2019 - 13:44

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Stories, Newsletter
Maddison is a Queensland participant who began her Youth Insearch journey in August 2018, and has attended 4 weekend workshops and subsequent Support Groups. This is her story...
 

Growing up I suffered from a lot of mental health stuff like depression, anxiety and eating issues etc. I was severely bullied in school (primary and high school) and on social media. In Year 9 it got to a point where I wasn't coping, I was completely done with everything, and I started self-harming as a way of coping with things that happened and were happening in my life. I also made a few suicide attempts because of everything at the time. 

About a month after I turned 18, I was kicked out of home. I started smoking weed, socially at first, but that led to a daily and constant way to cope with life. I then started smoking ice, and despite domestic upheavals, I became addicted. I had people in my life that I thought would be there forever. We got to a point where we all made a suicide pact together that if one went, we all went, and I got involved with a lot of scary things.

I got to a point that I wanted a change, that I didn’t want to be doing what I was doing for the rest of my life. It was at this point that I spoke up and started on the Youth Insearch program. 

After just one program I made some changes in my life. I stopped using for 37 days and I kicked out my "mates" because I didn’t want drugs in my life or around me anymore, and I now have a place that I can call my own. It was hard but honestly, I couldn't have done it without the people that I have in my life now through Youth Insearch.

After three Youth Insearch programs, making decisions to get clean, and getting the support I need, I feel like I’ve made changes in my life and that I won’t go back to where I was. I’ve started with a drug and alcohol service and want to enroll in the next student intake at TAFE to study Youth Work. I’ve reengaged with my family and have found new friends.

The decision to change my life were hard, but it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I really want to say thank you to everyone – my family, friends, and Youth Insearch – who stayed by my side and helped me be the person I am today, without judgement. I honestly couldn’t have done it without you, and I’m planning to apply to be a Youth Insearch Leader in 2020.