Getting up again
He's smiling and happy now, but two years ago it was a very different story. Read how one young person got through his struggles with body confidence and depression.
I wouldn't talk to anyone but I would smile so people wouldn't ask questions
Ever since I can remember I've been a fairly big guy and really quiet. I have never been overly popular and in year 5 I started to get bullied because of my size. After a while I began believing them and I started to become really withdrawn and depressed.
My family noticed the change in me and encouraged me to seek professional help. I began seeing to a psychologist for the next 2 years. After this, I started high school. I was all good for a while but last year (year 10) the negative thoughts started to creep back in my head.
I didn't really know who I was and thought I was gay (I'm currently settled on bisexual). I told one of my close friends about what I was feeling and she told the whole school. The next day, the guy who I liked at the time started going out with someone and it really broke me. I wouldn't talk to anyone but I would smile so people wouldn't ask questions. It slowly got worse and I began to self-harm. I got really close to killing myself.
When I was at my lowest point, my best friend told my school chaplain and, since then, he's been a great help. I started with counselling again and now I've stopped harming myself. I'm at the happiest I've been in two years. I'm doing pretty well at school, I have a really supportive group of friends and I'm always happy :)
It does get a lot better, now I’m always having fun and joking with mates, it feels awesome! My advice to anyone is to get help if you need it and find a few friends that you can trust that you can share with cause it really isn’t easy; but when its over, it’s worth it.