I lost my mum to depression when I was 12 years old. My childhood was tough - waking up every day not knowing what mood my mum was going to be in, or if she’d even want to get out of bed. She suffered from depression as well as severe anxiety.

I want to share my story because workplace bullying is a huge issue and can happen to any one of any age. I was bullied by my boss for a number of years, it included; comments on how I looked (negative comments) when we were one on one, and also in front of the team.

Being a defence wife is extremely hard, I am a mother of two, one who is three months old, I live away from my mother and brother, who i miss a lot. My husband is constantly away, and a lot of the time we cant talk at all.

I have suffered from depression and anxiety from as early as I can remember. I recall always feeling less than in the eyes of the outside world and that of family members.

I quit the degree I was studying halfway as I started to realise it wasn’t for me. I decided to work full time trying to get an idea of what I would like to do in the mean time. I felt so much pressure from those around me to be studying and I think that’s where the anxiety really came into play. The question so many people would ask was “what are you doing, what are you studying.”

I have lived with severe anxiety for as long as I can remember. My hair fell out at the age of 3yr due to the stress of my parents’ divorce. I was a very shy child and grew into a very socially anxious teenager. I had a few friends, but was riddled with insecurity and battling with an eating disorder behind closed doors.

Over 7 years ago I was going through a very difficult time of my life. I was having what seemed like the longest period of darkness that I had ever experienced, at first I thought i was having a nervous breakdown, nothing seemed right in my life.