Fenella McCall
Provisional Psychologist and Recovering Addict
@fenji

Addiction - the word within itself carries a weight to it that feels scary and removed to the majority. But the reality of it is, and like we have heard before, addiction doesn’t discriminate. Fenella Scarlett McCall is one of the many examples, who from the outside looking in, you would never suspect she had struggled with addiction. Fenella was from a privileged loving family, private school educated, had successful career driven parents along with creative and successful older siblings, and if when talking superficially - she has a beauty that was matched with what was considered to be confidence and coolness that other girls growing up, dreamt of having. Her reality was very different from the outside perception that others had, and Fenella now speaks to the loneliness, lack of confidence and being unaware of her right to say no when it came to substance use and consensual sex, that she now realises all contributed to her spiral into addiction. The Fenella of today, has been through hell and back trying to piece herself together mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally with the purpose of understanding how her prior experiences and traumas impacted her and led her to make decisions that ultimately broke her and caused unbearable shame. Now, after years of support from mental health services along with studying to become a clinical psychologist, she has a greater capacity to understand and accept how she ended up in a negative vicious cycle of substance abuse. Fenella shares how some of the best healing and growth has come from hearing and identifying with others who like her, found ways to break the negative downward cycle and create positive lives filled with connection and joy.

Trigger Warning

This episode contains conversations around addiction, substance abuse and sexual assault and it may bring up strong emotions. If you need support there are services that can provide advice such as the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline that directs you to your local state alcohol and drug information service for free and confidential advice — as well as referral to services. You can call them on call 1800 250 015 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.