A woman trolled by strangers who call her scars "disgusting" says she's finally embraced her "battle wounds" after years of hiding them. Moona Mehomood, 22, struggled with her mental health since the age of nine and began to self harm. She was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder after several stints in hospital and has been recovering for the last four years.
Moona used to feel "ashamed" and "embarrassed" of the scars on her arms and legs but after meeting others like her through treatment she has started to embrace them. She no longer hides them underneath jumpers and has the confidence to wear tops and shorts. Moona, who is currently unemployed, from Newcastle , Northumberland, said: "I covered up in the summer.
I was ashamed of the scars I had. I hope in the future people see them more as a battle that I have been through rather than as disgusting. "There is no changing the scars that I have now.
I'm learning to be OK with it. People are going to judge you but that's their problem. I don't find them beautiful.
I love when people say to embrace them. I call them battle wounds. It's pain I have been through showing on my body.
" Moona grew up around a lot of unstable relationships which led her to self harm at the age of nine. She said: "I started to struggle when I was quite young. Her family realised she was struggling as a teenager and were able to get her help at aged 14.
She was in and out of hospital following her mental health battles." Moona said: "I was feeling hopeless. I was quite reckless in my teens.
I was drinking alcohol at 14 and going partying. It was a way to escape from all the stuff inside my head." Moona has now been able to access services to help her and has recovered.
But growing up she was bullied for her scars and hid them away as much as she could. She said: "People would spot I had scars and people were really mean about it. I felt really alone.
People don't really understand mental health. We used to have sports days and I'd be wearing a hoodie. I struggled a lot going out with my family.
I felt embarrassed. They were not bothered at all. I kept thinking people would feel my parents were bad.
" Moona was able to start to find confidence in her scars after meeting others like her in hospital. She said: "I started wearing short sleeves in the hospital. No one judged people for doing it.
" Moona still gets stars but has found the confidence to combat that within herself. She said: "I wish there wasn't the massive judgment. I've started to learn to appreciate my body.
With this body I have right now, no matter the scars, this body is allowing me to train, go out with friends, eat food. It's what's keeping me living. I have to appreciate that.
I'm trying to be comfortable in my own body.".
