Depression, trauma, & the realisation that thoughts don't define us
In my early twenties, I bought my first home, newly qualified as a nurse, excited for the life I was building. But that dream quickly turned into a nightmare. My apartment became a target for violence, drugs, and crime.
For nearly two years, I lived in constant fear—waking up every day wondering, What will be destroyed next? Will I make it home safely today? The stress and trauma spiralled into severe depression, until I truly believed there was no way out.
Then, in one pivotal moment—seconds from an irreversible decision—my sister’s voice broke through the darkness. It was enough for me to see the truth:
Just because I had the thought, didn’t mean it was true.
I had been trapped in a cycle of fear-based thinking that felt like reality. That realisation changed everything. I took back control—not just of my mind, but of my identity. And that’s when life truly began to shift.