MY STORY: BROOKE THRUPP

IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH

PLEASE BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF, SO THE READERS CAN GET TO KNOW YOU? My name is Brooke Thrupp I am a 21 year old psychological science student who will be graduating end of 2020, I also am studying equine assisted therapy planning to be done by end of 2020 and currently working as an equine therapist assistant in Tamworth NSW. While being put on hold with work due to Covid 19 I started a mental health and wellness platform called Btsbms. This platform is a blog that aims to educate people on mental health and wellness through my personal experience living with depression plus my training in psyc science. I also allow people to share their stories through a feature page to encourage others to do the same. I have just introduced online life coaching as a part of btsbms and already have interested clients. Btsbms is a place where we make mental heath exist together.

HIGH POINT I have had many highs in my life and many lows as does every other human being. I was only 14 yrs old when I was introduced to a man named Tony Ernst. Tony is a world class horseman and is known for his communication techniques between people and horses using his Thai chi experience to do so. Tony introduced me to the idea of equine assisted therapy at a young age when I volunteered at one of his clinics where he had a group of juvenile justice kids participating. I also in ways got to help and participate as tony was using some of our horses for the clinic. I had never seen anything like this work done before and it really opened my eyes and broadened my thinking about psychology. This is the moment I knew exactly what I wanted to do in life. The feeling of seeing such confused and aggressive filled individuals progress through a two day program and come out at the end seeming like complete different individuals was the most inspiring moment to this date.

LOW POINT As mentioned I am a survivor or a mental illness myself. I was diagnosed with depression twice in my life. Once as a young child as the result of my fathers death and then only recently as a young adult for what reasons triggered it I am still unsure. I first began feeling physically ill but after numerous doctors appointments and blood tests I was diagnosed with depression for the second time. I was soon medicated a week after diagnosis and the side effects period made me feel worse than what I already was. Some days I couldn’t remove myself from a fetal position because I couldn’t do anything but cry. The fact of being depressed made me feel more depressed. I started worrying who would stick around and who it would all be too much for.

TURNING POINT Slowly i started integrating my own strategies into my recovery and each day got easier until I felt completely myself again. During the depression period this is when I began making the plan for btsbms. It wasn’t until I had recovered and lost my job that it became a reality but my overall picture for it was to give to those what I wish I could of had during my mental illness. I started thinking about my future where I was headed and what I really wanted to do. My end goal is to start my own equine assisted therapy business when I eventually own my own property but in order to fund this I plan to make btsbms my full time business in the near future.

WHO WAS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE? During all of this I had many people who surrounded me with love and support there is not one person I can single out that was there more than others but my mother and best friend were a big part in helping me through the tough days. They saw me and helped me through my worst. I also have an extremely understanding boyfriend who lives away from me but helped where he could and stood by me the whole time.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THESE LIFE EXPERIENCES ? From these experiences I’ve learnt that giving yourself time and love is honestly one of the most important things. I don’t ever think that things shouldn’t happen, everything happens for a reason. Sometimes what happens is horrible and unbearable but the outcome that is made is supposed to be the reason for it all. Maybe my reason was Btsbms.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUDEST OF ?

I am most proud of myself. Without my own encouragement everyday and pushing myself to do things that I thought were impossible sometimes I wouldn’t of recovered so quickly or had the mind frame that I do now.

WHAT KEEP YOU INSPIRED AND WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE UNINSPIRED? I find little things every day that keep me inspired. My end goal, my horses, my family but really it’s me. I inspire myself.

WHAT WISDOM WOULD YOU LIKE TO OFFER AS A SURVIVAL MAP TO OTHER WOMEN?

If I had to offer others a piece of wisdom as a survival map I would say if you don’t have a goal or a healthy routine you NEED to make one. These are the things that drive us to get up everyday and continue through our day with a purpose at the end.

WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION OR BUSINESS AND WHY?

I am a student still, but I am currently life coaching/ blogging with a goal at the end of 2020 I will be a qualified equine assisted therapist.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE PROJECTS?

My present project of btsbms is something that is going to hopefully help me find my end project of starting my equine assisted therapy business.

EMAIL: Btsbmsblog@gmail.com

WEBSITE: www.Btsbmsblog.com

INSTAGRAM: @btsbms

FACEBOOK: btsbms