Mental health advocate calls for ongoing support in “breaking the stigma” surrounding ADHD
Content warning: The article ahead consists of references to self-harm and depression.
Not your Neurotypical Podcast
Whilst readjusting for the interview, Raelene comments, “Another thing about people with ADHD is that we sit any way our body contorts.” She chuckles as she is squished tightly in a ball curled up on a sunken sofa surrounded by hand-made artwork and strawberry-themed paraphernalia.
With every episode released fortnightly, the tumultuous mind of the ADHD advocate interviews guests both neurodivergent and neurotypical people alike, shedding light on the community while also advocating destigmatising mental illness.
Raelene Sebastian was diagnosed with ADHD in her mid-20s and has established a community alongside her podcast, Not Your Neurotypical podcast, in hopes of educating anyone and everyone in the neurodivergent community.
“The NYNT Podcast is where I connect with people in the neurodivergent community, to learn about my diagnosis and how I can relate to those… It’s kind of catharsis, almost free therapy to talk to people and relate to them.” She reflects with a smile, flipping through her notebook.
Raelene’s podcast was first started as a passion project, with the first intention to advocate for ongoing support for ADHD. But ever since has transpired into something even more successful than she had ever thought it could become.
"Mental illness is not a trend."
As reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in five people (4.2 million) has a 12-month anxiety disorder, this being prominent through social media.
“I've had people reach out to me and go, we'd love to feature you on something, blah blah. And that's not what I want. Ideally, I'm just here to advocate for myself.”
“And I don't want to take that away because it's my main message, and do you see it all over TikTok and Instagram? It's such a trend, and it shouldn't have to be."
“I'd love to not cover it, but honour it”
Source: Supplied. The Hungry Caterpillar tattoo done by Fernando that covers her self-harm scars.
Source: Supplied. The Hungry Caterpillar tattoo done by Fernando that covers her self-harm scars.
Raelene began her advocacy for mental health in 2021 through her collaboration with Brazilian tattoo artist Fernando Hideki and his campaign, Tattoo for Mental Health funded by Beyond Blue.
Raelene chose to have her scars covered by a tattoo of The Hungry Caterpillar inspired by the children’s book, “My siblings would read that story to me growing up, and I would read that same book to children I would look after.” She traces the tattoo subconsciously. “I don't think I'll ever become a butterfly, but I think I'm always just going to be growing. I'm going to keep shedding.”
Sitting with Fernando through video, he was able to give insight on this campaign, “I started that kind of event in 2018 when I lived in Ireland, I first looked for an organisation that helped Mental health and emailed them proposing a charity event to donate money for self-harm cover-up tattoo.”
“Raelene as a client was amazing, she was super chill and knew exactly what she wanted,” Fernando adds in our Zoom interview, despite the difference between Brazil and Sydney time zones.
There is no "normal"
The societal idea of being “normal” is exclusive to the neurodivergent community, the stigma surrounding it taking a toll on children even as young as 11. "That's what I said to my client.” Patricia Falcetta, founder of Social Living Solutions and neurodiversity speaker says, “She's 11 and she said 'normal girls at school,' I said to her there is no normal, we're all different, you're not weird, your brain just works differently.”
Raelene on her "podcast lounge," a comfort space where she records her podcasts.
Raelene on her "podcast lounge," a comfort space where she records her podcasts.
Patricia was on a recent episode with Raelene on her podcast titled, “Is it the person that is disabled, or is the environment that is disabling them.” Quotes of their episode sporadically scribbled throughout the page open on Raelene's lap.
Flipping through her notebook as the interview ends, it is filled with stories of different people from different places experiencing things she once hadn't thought others would. "the whole point of my podcast is to shatter the stigma because there shouldn't have to be a stigma, the more you hide it, the more invalidating it is for anyone that has it, and the less true it is." Shutting the book with a gleam in her eyes, the last question, "What's the biggest thing you've learnt through your journey?" lingers in the air.
"I think the biggest thing I've learnt is that there is so much to learn, that's my answer."
