Alex is a Clinical Nutritionist and a mental health advocate having experienced her own struggles with mental health. Over the years Alex has used her experiences to help others battling similar experiences and is now a qualified Clinical Nutritionist (BHSc) registered on the Oqea platform, as well as an Oqea brand ambassador. This is Alex’s story.

Depression and Anxiety were the first mental illnesses I experienced and I honestly can’t tell you why or how this happened. I’ve always looked back on my childhood as the BEST time of my life with such a supportive and loving family. I was taken to our family GP in year 7, as I slowly became a completely different person; anxious, sad, moody, on edge… the opposite of the bubbly child I grew up as. After many different appointments, I was placed on antidepressants which I was off and on for about 4 years.

I developed Anorexia Nervosa (AN) around the beginning of year 9, however I say developed loosely as this was a combination of many factors, 2009 happened to be the year it became prominent in my life. I remember embarking on a typical calorie counting diet (a slippery slope to an eating disorder), in order to lose some weight. This calorie counting endeavour paired with depression, anxiety, perfectionism and change created the perfect storm… Anorexia Nervosa (AN).

"Sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to start. By using the platform your support

people can reach out to you which is sometimes what you need."

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When I did want to get help I held shame about what others would think of me. It was only when I met my partner Deccy that I was able to fully acknowledge the extent to which my mental health was effecting my life and talk to someone about it. When I came across Oqea it made me think about how things may have improved sooner if I had access to a platform that would allow me to access the support I needed and in the privacy of a platform accessible from my own home. Sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to start. I think Oqea is incredible because now, by using the platform, your support network can reach out to you instead you having to reach out to them, which is sometimes what you need when you're in a dark place.

After struggling with Depression, Anxiety and Anorexia Nervosa, for over 10 years, my physical, emotional and mental health suffered dramatically. I destroyed my body for a peace of mind I never found. Living with AN definitely caused me to view food and nutrition in another light, I was obsessed in the unhealthiest way. Since this time, nutrition has remained at the forefront of my mind and eventually, this led me to use this in a positive way. I have since found a passion for holistic health and now support others experiencing their own health challenges as a Clinical Nutritionist (BHSc). I use my personal experience coupled with my education to drive my passion, relate to clients and help others going through their own struggles and using the Oqea platform as a health professional furthers my ability to help more people.