Jennifer: My psychiatrist calls it adaptation. I would define this as the period in your life when you go through a significant change and you come to terms with it. For me, this was being diagnosed with a serious mental illness called schizoaffective disorder. And let's just say that adaptation became my whole life. 

One of the main things that I would experience would be definitely hallucinations. Tactile ones, which is feeling bugs crawling over my skin. Visual ones, including seeing bugs and interesting things like men with axes, and negative derogatory voices. 

I had actually been being treated for depression, anxiety, and OCD for a few years before the other symptoms began to appear. It took me a while before I was brave enough to tell my doctor because I was scared about what would happen. 

We tried my first antipsychotic. (laughter) It didn't really work. And then we tried a few more and then I ended up in hospital because things were just sort of spinning out of control.

Going on medication is an important decision and I know a lot of young people worry about it, but sometimes you just need it to help you out. It doesn't mean you're going to be on it for the rest of your life. 

I have a lot of great friends, and a lot of great nurses, and my doctor was good and my family were very loving and they were very patient with me and I had friends who would take me out of the hospital to see a movie or have dinner or something, which was really nice of them. 

Steps that I take these days to maintain my well-being include, I see my psychiatrist regularly, and I have a fantastic psychologist who I see now once a fortnight. I also talk a lot to my friends and a lot more open with them and I know a lot of like breathing skills and grounding techniques that really help me get through some tough times with lots of anxiety.

Don't be too scared. You know, it's not the end of the world and it is okay to ask for help because nobody's going to judge you or say that you're insane and it's very safe. And I just I know it's scary, but I really do recommend that people do at least start talking to a friend, then maybe use Kids Helpline and then, you know, maybe talk to a parent or a doctor.  I can't stress enough how important it is and I know it's hard, but sometimes you just have to be brave.