Psychosis, Control and Culture: Nikki on Reclaiming Her Identity

About this episode

Nikki shares her experience of living with psychosis for five years and how reconnecting with her Māori heritage helped her reclaim her identity and find healing.

Trigger warning: This episode discusses sexual assault, substance use disorder and mental health including psychosis. Have you ever been in psychosis? You hear the horror stories of people staying in it for days, weeks or months, but Nikki lived with it for five years. During that time she became someone she didn’t recognise: erratic, paranoid and eventually lashing out at a family member. Nikki believed her only way to escape the addiction and chaos she had known for most of her life was either to end her life or end up in jail. For Nikki, reconnecting with her Māori heritage has genuinely saved her life, helping her find identity, purpose and healing in ways she never expected. Follow Nikki on Instagram: @saladgirl___ Creator & Host: ⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the…

People in this episode

Host: Julia Rangiheuea

Guest: Nikki

Topics covered

• psychosis
• identity
• Māori heritage
• substance use disorder
• mental health
• healing

Keywords

• psychosis
• substance use disorder
• Māori heritage
• mental health
• identity
• healing
• addiction

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Soberly Speaking, National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline, Lifeline

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