Drugs almost ruined my life, but I turned a corner for my mum

21st April, 2017 | By Shuarnee | 2 min read

A work by Shuarnee – part of ABC Heywire

I live in a small town, where there isn’t much to do.

By the time I was thirteen, I found it boring and started to hang out with the wrong people, which only lead to trouble.

I started smoking cannabis or weed, and I suffered the consequences.

For three years I went through hearing voices, seeing things that weren’t there and having panic attacks.

I was scared all the time and couldn’t sleep.

With all this going on, I got in trouble a lot a school and was sent to a non-mainstream school for disengaged Koori teens.

I also got in trouble with the police.

I was living at home with my mum, but I would run away a lot, to escape.

I guess this was my way of crying out for help.

But it took me two years to actually get help.

I was finally diagnosed with drug-induced schizophrenia and panic disorder.

I’d nearly ruined my life.

Because I’d been stupid and naive.

I’m now on medication and it has made a huge difference.

I decided to change my life for my mum.

I want a future for myself.

I’ve been clean for two years.

I am now doing Year 12 and hoping to become a criminal justice worker.

I am glad I got my life back together.

I’m happy that I’ve made my mum proud of how far I’ve come.

I can’t wait to show her how far I will go.

To talk to someone about mental health, remember that headspace.org.au, Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Help Line (1800 55 1800) , Reachout (au.reachout.com) and BeyondBlue (beyondblue.org.au) are all good places to start.

Take a look at Shuarnee’s original Heywire entry here.

Also check the related topics:

Cannabis Psychosis and other mental illnesses