Powerful: Artist trades in corporate world for mental health

Susanne was always a resilient and calm person, but after the stress of a corporate job and seizure, she knew something had to give.

Rhylea Millarrhylea.millar@news.com.au

@rhylea__millar

2 min read

October 14, 2021 - 6:00AM

Toowoomba Chronicle

Susanne Wood found becoming an artist to be one of the things most beneficial for her mental health. Monday, October 11, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

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Toowoomba artist Susanne Wood was working full-time in a high-level job for the government and earning a six-figure salary when her life dramatically changed in one moment.

After climbing the career ladder for six years, she suffered a seizure one day, passing out in the passenger seat of her car.

“I always thought I was very resilient, calm, and there had never been any major clashes or stress at work,” Ms Wood said.

“Sometimes things would get to me at work, but I didn’t think it was affecting me.”

When nothing abnormal showed up on the hospital results, Ms Wood assumed the scary experience was a one-off.

But things soon got worse.

Susanne Wood found becoming an artist to be one of the things most beneficial for her mental health. Monday, October 11, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Getting ready for work in the morning wasn’t a problem, but as soon as she would reach the door, a wave of panic would engulf her.

Triggered by traffic jams, busy streets and the car, Ms Wood had no option but to take six months off work and found herself home-bound.

After countless appointments with psychologists and her GP, it was deemed that her chronic anxiety, panic attacks and breakdown were a result of work stress.

Ms Wood eventually made her way back to the workplace on reduced hours and a return-to-work plan, but when nothing really changed, she made the brave decision to quit.

“I found the stigma around mental health at work to be pretty terrible … I’d known my peers for years and out of all of them, only one person asked if I was OK or if I wanted to talk about it,” she said.

“If I’d come in limping with a broken knee, people would be asking questions, but with a mental health issue, people were quiet around me, and it shouldn’t be different from having a broken foot.”

Susanne Wood found becoming an artist to be one of the things most beneficial for her mental health. Monday, October 11, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

At first, the idea of giving up a salary and position she had worked so hard to achieve was hard to stomach, but Ms Wood said the decision was essential for her wellbeing.

She began looking for ways to take her mind off things and decided to pick up a paint brush, before upgrading to pastels. And she hasn’t looked back since.

Now an award-winning pastel artist, Ms Wood has had her works exhibited at the Toowoomba Art Society, RME Downlands Art and Pastel Society of Australia galleries. She has found art, as well as breathing exercises and yoga, highly beneficial for her mental health.

Taking herself out of a corporate environment and into a free space that offered self-expression also helped.

“It’s really hard for me to pinpoint the moment things changed, because I was never adversely stressed or felt sick from stress, and I always believed in not taking work home or taking on more than you could handle,” she said.

Ms Wood said signs to look out for included struggling to wind down, and she urged anyone who was struggling to seek help and not be afraid to make a lifestyle change.

This month, Ms Wood will walk in a fundraising initiative for the Black Dog Institute to raise funds and awareness for mental health. To donate, visit onefootforward.org.au/fundraisers/susannewood.