Anxiety sufferer shares isolating feeling of diagnosis

A mental health diagnosis can be incredible isolated, as one woman knows so well, so one charity is doing all it can to combat that horrible feeling.

Unique way woman brings light to big issue

A woman who felt lost and isolated when she was first diagnosed with depression and anxiety is doing everything she can to ensure others don’t feel the same.

Fifteen years ago, Cat Rotondo started experiencing panic attacks for the first time. It felt as though her throat was closing up and she couldn’t stop crying.

“It wasn’t anything in particular that was triggering me. I just didn’t feel like me. I didn’t actually understand why I was crying. I didn’t understand what was going on,” she told news.com.au.

The asthma sufferer started to think she was having an adverse reaction so she mentioned it to her GP, who heard her out as she talked through what was happening.

Cat Rotondo was diagnosed with depression and anxiety 15 years ago. Picture: Supplied

At the end of the appointment, the doctor “bluntly” told her she had anxiety and depression, leading Ms Rotondo to leave in tears as she had no idea what any of it meant.

She ended up seeing another GP who had more time to explain everything to her, even putting Ms Rotondo on a mental health plan, where she found a psychologist she still sees to this day.

Ms Rotondo said there was a lot of unpacking on what depression actually was, giving her the tool kit to handle the harder times that would come over 15 years.

“If you’ve got the anxiety or depression at play, it makes for much more difficult to do the everyday,” she said.

Ms Rotondo said doing the work was hard but her psychologist would call her out if she wasn’t putting in the effort.

For instance, he advised Ms Rotondo to go for walks in the morning, but when he noticed she wasn’t he told her she wasn’t getting the vitamin D she needed.

Ms Rotondo said she was thankful she found the right psychologist the first time around, but said her initial GP appointment made her realise how hard it was to gain mental health care in regional areas, like where she lives.

She wants to share her story so others don't feel the same. Picture: Instagram

“It frightens me to think that there are people out there who just cannot access it because it’s not available in rural areas,” she said, noting there has been improvement.

“At the beginning of my journey I didn’t have anyone to talk to. I didn’t know that the was anything or anyone out there that could support me.”

She said when she did open up to people, it was difficult. So when she came across Liptember, a charity that focuses on women’s mental health and encourages awareness by asking people to wear bright lipstick, she became excited by the ease of spreading the information about mental health.

“It was about spaces to talk. At the beginning, it was really thought to talk to people about it. I felt embarrassed,” she said.

“I then got involved with Liptember and it became a whole shared experience and realising I was not alone and having those beautiful moments.”

She felt isolated and alone when she was diagnosed. Picture: Instagram

She said it was a privlidge when people shared her stories with her, and it was heartening to give others comfort she needed when she was first diagnosed.

Ms Rotondo added that talking about mental health doesn’t have to be a heavy topic people are afraid to get into, and that is why she enjoys Liptember’s approach with bright coloured lipstick.

She is doing her part for Liptember to an extreme, taking requests for donations so she has worn some “crazy” bright coloured lipstick to spark conversations.

Ms Rotondo is encouraging others to get involved with the mental health initiative.

To take part in Liptember, Aussies can simply register on Liptember.com.au to become a fundraiser, or purchase a bright Liptember lipstick from Premier Partner Chemist Warehouse, to proudly rock everyday during September