Foolish Optimism: Zoe shares her story as part of groundbreaking mental health film and roadshow

ZOE MCKENZIE is 25 and suffers a little known heart condition. Its cause? A lifetime of anxiety.

Zoe revealed her story to promote a groundbreaking mental health film and national roadshow launched in Dundee on Wednesday (October 10^th).

Timed to coincide with World Mental Health Day and the Year of Young People 2018, the project, titled Foolish Optimism, features Zoe and fellow mental health sufferers Andrew Gibson, 17, and Chris McDonald, 30.

The 20-minute film – part of a research project – explores mental health triggers, stigma, seeking help and coping mechanisms. Carrying a message of hope, it seeks to inform a string of mental health reviews taking place across the country.

Initiated by young people, the project was brought to life by Dundee-based arts, education and social care charity Front Lounge, who have attracted funding from the Year of Young People National Lottery Fund and Life Changes Trust.

Brave Zoe, who has just completed a Masters degree at the University of Dundee, said: “Growing up I had to deal with a very close friend who was depressed, suicidal and engaged in self harm. It had quite a severe impact on my mental health. 

“I was about 10 or 11. That was coupled with a family member being quite a severe alcoholic and bullying at school.  It was quite difficult to try to find a safe place while this was going on and that’s what led to me feeling on edge all of the time.”

She added: “In the second year of high school my issues really started to manifest.  I remember my first panic attack very clearly. It was on the school bus coming home. I was hyperventilating and I just remember getting off and not having a clue what was going on.

“That continued on and when I got to university I just struggled. I went through a period of time when I went through a panic attack daily.

“I had a sense of overwhelming doom; something in my mind was telling me we were all going to die and life is just meaningless.”

She revealed: “Now I have been diagnosed with Da Costa’s Syndrome – also known as irritable heart condition – the result of having too much cortisol flushed through your body because of the panic and stress. 

“It is quite rare. All the symptoms mimic that of heart disease; you have severe chest pain and shooting pains down your left hand side and even numbness, dizziness, and fainting. Not much is known about and it is hard to treat it.

:All they can really do is try to bring down the anxiety levels because the damage is already done. I will have this pain for the rest of my life.”

Seeking help through the NHS has helped Zoe. She has tried different medications and a range of therapies and though she still struggles, hopes that she is on the road to recovery.

She said: “Just sitting down in front of someone and talking about your issues openly can be really cathartic.”

Support from family and friends is vital too. She said: “My mum always taught me from that you’re in charge of your past, present and future and you can decide if you let your past define your future. I am trying to make my present and my future as positive as it can be.

“That’s my hope with this film. That people will see you can still have a positive life even if your past is a dark place it doesn’t mean that you can’t create a beautiful future for yourself. “

Project leader Chika Inatimi said: “This tour has been initiated by young people and our ultimate goal is to encourage young people to talk openly about mental health.  Despite all the services out there, there remains a persistent and nagging suspicion that there is something wrong with people if they openly discuss mental health problems. 

“Young people in particular need to know that they are not alone.  We will share the stories we gather and, wherever practicable, feed the collected conversations into local and national strategies.”

For more information, and to watch the film visit foolishoptimism.org

Other helpful websites are: Samaritans.org; mindfulnessscotland.org.uk and habitica.com/static/home