How a year off school, social media saved a Barrack Point teen

Painting is also helping Ms Whitehead battle through the ongoing struggles of living with Parkinson’s Disease.

But, the mother of four is most pleased that art helped her daughter recover from post traumatic stress.

‘’She was actually bullied quite badly and I had to take her out of school for a year and do home schooling,’’ Ms Whitehead said.

‘’In that time I took her off social media and she had to find another way to express or to focus her energy. As a result she developed this phenomenal free hand skill in anime art and she actually had anti-bullying comics published in the Dubbo Photo News.

‘’Without art and taking her out of school, I think I would have lost her to the wrong crowd or suicide, she was at that point.’’

Brianna, 17 is now doing Year 12 at Warilla High School.

Having spent the past six years living in the NSW town of Narromine, Ms Whitehead, who grew up in Unanderra, returned to the Illawarra recently to be closer to family.

‘’My health means I now need to see the neurologist every three months and make sure my medications are right, so we made the decision to come home,’’ she said.

‘’My family are much happier about that because they can help support me and help with the children.’’

The 36-year-old said while her Parkinson's Disease has worsened a little over time, if it weren't for art and creativity, things would be ‘’much much worse for her’’.

‘’I have raised a lot of money for Parkinson’s research through art and it also gives me a way to channel my emotions,’’ Ms Whitehead said.

‘’It helps me to keep my hands moving, reducing tremors. Parkinson’s affects you both physically and mentally so having an outlet is important.’’

Ms Whitehead and Brianna will showcase their works in an exhibition at Shellharbour Village Exhibition Centre from February 5-9. They will donate 10% from each artwork sold to the Shake It Up Foundation – which donates 100% of its money for Parkinson’s research.

‘’The exhibition is a celebration of women and a celebration of my daughter and I moving forward through adversity,’’ she said.

‘’We are showcasing women who have inspired others through our art. We are also looking for inspiring artists to be part of our book 65 Women In Art - it is a collaboration of stories from women artists. Anyone is welcome.’’