Gypsie Potts is a brave young woman.
She has battled with depression and anxiety since she was 14. She turns 18 in March next year.
Gypsie has received vital treatment which has placed her back on a course towards better health. However, there were dark times for Gypsie and her family. They are taking up the challenge head on. A challenge they are winning.
Mental Illness is an illness like any other and can return or manifest itself during ones life. For Gypsie, she is positive and in a frame of mind now where she is on the road to recovery.
Gypsie is brave in that not only did she confront her illness and seek treatment, she is also determined to tell her story to others in the hope that they can seek treatment and deal with mental illness. She wants to bring out into the light that anyone can suffer. In conjunction with RUOK Day this Thursday, Gypsie has shared her story with the Times.
Gypsie was diagnosed at 14 with anxiety and depression. She has had to deal with very strong emotions, shutting out her family and not attending school due to her illness.
Gypsie has received medication and counselling to help combat her illness. She describes a cycle of 2 years where her illness was not getting better. In February this year she attempted to take her life. In March she was placed in a mental health unit for 5 days. Looking back it was the best decision of her life, where she changed medications and was able to receive around the clock treatment.
Mum Kellie said, “The day we placed Gypsie in the unit, I was the worst mother in the world, she hated me, I went back to see her and she said ‘get me out of here I hate you’. When I went back she had been able to get some sleep and more treatment. She hadn’t slept for 3 years. She slept for 5 nights straight. We hadn’t done that, it was the change in medication. When we got to the unit, within 4 hours we had seen a Psychologist, a Psychiatrist, Nurse, Doctor, Counsellor and Social Worker. In 4 years we had had a Skype session to a Psychiatrist and a Counsellor.”
It took two weeks after her attempt to receive any treatment before the bed became available.
Gypsie said, “I feel like I’m living for the first time, I don’t really remember 3 years of my life. Right now it feels like it is really possible to feel real joy.”
Kellie said, “It’s not something that you broadcast because you are living it. You are just trying to get through each day as a family. Our story could have been so different. Thank god our story is what it is, we could have been telling a completely different story. I don’t know if people understand the flow on effect for the family.”
Gypsie said, “ A friend of mine who attends boarding school recently had a friend who passed away.” This affected Gypsie deeply. She said, “People have been there and they have come out the other side, it is possible, it’s hard but it is possible.”
Gypsie struggled to acknowledge the feelings within herself, however, she came to the realisation that people do care and that people will listen.
Kellie said, “The stigma needs to change, If you have diabetes you take medication. If you have blood pressure you take medication. If you have depression you take medication to balance your brain. It is just like any other illness. It is taking the first step. For men they need to take that first step and get out and talk.”
Services in the bush can not keep up with the need. Kellie said, “We rang access line on a Thursday and we didn’t get a call back until the Monday.”
Gypsie received treatment in Shellharbour. Just 6 beds are available. Someone would leave in the morning and the bed was filled that afternoon.
Gypsie said, “It will always be there, you learn to deal with it, you learn to cope, Im very lucky to have my family.”
Trinity School Murrumburrah is assisting this Friday with a fundraiser and a gold coin donation and Gypsie and Kellie are spreading the message and fundraising for RUOK Day through the sale of merchandise. They are also selling coloured lipsticks.
Kellie said, “We just want awareness, if it is going on with Gypsie it is going on with others.”
Gyspie works part time at the moment and after our interview was heading off to see if she could get a metal plate out which helped repair her collarbone, which she broke playing Rugby Union.
She recently spoke at Hennessy Catholic College and detailed her battle with the illness. He speech has been uploaded to youtube and already received over 500 views.
She spoke about being 1 of 6 children and how her high school years would be dominated by mental health. She mentioned her struggle to attend school and the sadness and anger which permeated her life. She highlighted the fact that her own mental health mindset had convinced her that “getting help and telling someone was not an option”. She said, “I was afraid that my parents would find out about everything and wouldn’t understand. Overall I was terrified of myself and of the thoughts that my brain had daily.”
Gypsie detailed how in year 9 panic attacks began to play in to her life. She didn’t know what they were at the time but they would play havoc in the evenings. Anxiety would consume her at random. Things such as sport which she previously enjoyed, became things she would dread.
Gypsie detailed how she had entered a state of mind where she didn’t care about “anything or anyone.”
After receiving treatment and in reflection Gypsie is well aware of the assistance and support she has received. She said, “I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for my Mum and Dad. Wouldn’t be standing in front of you if it weren’t for the constant support of my brothers and sisters or my friends and teachers who have been there for me. I sincerely thank all of you. This isn’t about me, it’s about mental health. If you are sitting here in front of me and know that somethings off within you. Or you may not even understand the feelings your having. Please acknowledge these feelings and reach out to someone. Override that voice in your head that tells you no one cares and ask for help.
To those who live with mental illness, I really yearn that you can live your life in happiness because with work and support it is possible.”
The Times would like to thank Gypsie for making contact and allowing us to tell her story. It is not an easy thing to do. Gypsie must be commended for helping others when there was a time when she felt she couldn’t help herself. Gypsie Potts is a brave young woman and the world needs more people like her. More people willing to stand up and tell their story regarding mental health. Well done Gypsie Potts.
