From a very young age, I have suffered with severe mental illness, particularly Dissociation Disorder. For me, disassociating is almost like creating another world in your own mind, a world where I felt safe away from the chaos of life. However, this created huge challenges in other areas of my life, particularly in building relationships with other people. Two decades of addictive behaviour and damaging habits also meant I was unable to follow traditional education routes, and never realised my full potential as a young adult. So, at 35 years of age I decided I wanted change. I took myself to recovery and started on my journey back to health.In 2003 I completed my A-levels equivalent in the Republic of Ireland in just one year, and I graduated with a Biogeographical Degree in 2007. Even whilst making huge progress, each day continued to be a challenge. Four years later in 2011, I returned to the UK with the aim of facing up to my mental illness head on. After reaching out for professional help, I eventually felt well enough to start my part time master’s degree in Digital Media Practice at Winchester University.Armed with a 2:1 degree and on my way to getting my master’s, I thought that landing a job would be simple enough. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I was faced with more barriers and hurdles, all due to my past. What now? With £0 in the bank and having a drive to make sure I was able to help others with severe mental health break barriers in finding employment, I decided to create my own employment and set up my own company – Drop the Mask Productions CIC.Not only did I want to create something I could be proud of, I also wanted to provide a place where people could thrive, regardless of their past or conditions.Fast forward three years and here we are now in 2022, a team of incredible individuals, each with their own story of turning their struggles into their superpowers.For anyone who can relate to where I was a few years ago, my advice is this:Spend time to find a person or a mentor that believes in you, and supports you to see things in a positive way.Realise you are always good enough; all your emotions and feelings are valid.Find a job or start a company where you feel part of a family/team that care about and put people first.Each of us will experience our own set of struggles, but it’s what you can do with it that truly matters. We will continue to break barriers, both in employment and in technology, and play our part in ensuring both are accessible to all.