Black Lambie ‘was gone’
TASMANIAN Senator Jacqui Lambie has relived her battle with depression, addiction to painkillers and attempted suicide in a new podcast.
In a message to Australians struggling with their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Lambie encouraged people to seek support.
“It is empty, it is dark and it is cold and it’s a very lonely place to be,” she said.
In a new episode of Bounce Back, sponsored by DrinkWise, the former military police officer has delved into some of her darkest moments. She admits to chowing down on painkillers, drinking up to six bottles of wine a week and having panic attacks, as she struggled to get support from Veteran’s Affairs.
“I used to look at myself and I was this little charcoal thing in a corner, there was nothing left of me, I was gone,” she said.
“I would just be staring up at the sky saying to God: ‘Look c’mon mate, I don’t get it, look just take me’,” she said.
“There’s no point me being here on earth.”
She encouraged people struggling in the pandemic to “try to smile”.
“Have your shower and get moving on with your day because we could be in this pandemic for a very, very long time,” Senator Lambie said. “Try and keep yourselves active so you’re talking to people, try not to let yourself get into a corner where you are living at home by yourself and you’re not having any visitor.
“If you can, possibly get yourself an animal, a budgie, a fish, anything.”
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