Leah Breaks The Cycle

Leah Breaks The Cycle Nurse | ADHD + Autism | Master of Counselling student / Normalising conversations in mental health and wellbeing.

Leah V is a Registered Nurse, Certified Mental Health First Aid Facilitator, and Broadcaster with a passion for making mental health conversations accessible, real, and powerful. Through her radio show Just A Thought and her nationally accredited MHFA courses, Leah empowers everyday people to confidently support those experiencing mental health challenges—at work, at home, and in the community. Kn

own for her clarity, warmth, and wit, Leah blends clinical knowledge with lived experience to create brave, engaging spaces where real learning and connection can happen. Whether you’re tuning in or showing up in person, this is where transformation begins.

18/04/2026

When people ask about my career path I usually just laugh.
24 jobs. Everything from dealer to traffic controller.I used to be embarrassed. Now I just think it’s funny.
Turns out “can’t stick at anything” was actually “undiagnosed ADHD with a pattern of hyperfocus and burnout.” Who knew.

In Australia, 35% of the neurodivergent population is unemployed or underemployed. That is not a people problem. That is...
16/04/2026

In Australia, 35% of the neurodivergent population is unemployed or underemployed. That is not a people problem. That is a system problem.
I am a nurse. I have ADHD and autism. And I am not staying quiet about this.
Follow if you want to be part of this conversation.

15/04/2026

One in ten people in your workplace has ADHD. Most will never tell you.
In Australia, neurodivergent workers are nearly six times more likely to be unemployed than people without disability. 35% are unemployed or underemployed right now.
Not because they can’t do the work. Because the workplace was never built for how their brains operate.
I spent years thinking I was the problem. I wasn’t. The system was.
Follow for more.

14/04/2026

Can we talk about self-diagnosis without it turning into a fight?
On one hand, TikTok has genuinely helped people identify experiences they had no words for. Finding a name for something you’ve carried for decades is not a small thing.
On the other hand, the research is clear that consuming a lot of mental health content can shift how you see yourself, sometimes in ways that aren’t accurate.
The goal isn’t to stop watching. It’s to treat what you find as the beginning of a conversation with a professional, not the end of one.
Follow for more nuanced takes on mental health.

13/04/2026

Boundaries are having a moment, and honestly, I’m here for it. But somewhere along the way the meaning got twisted, and it needs addressing.
A boundary is something you set for yourself about what you are willing to accept or tolerate. It is not a demand you make of another person.
So when someone says “I’m setting a boundary that you can’t go out with your friends,” that isn’t a boundary. That’s control with better branding.
A real boundary sounds like: “If you speak to me that way, I will leave the conversation.” You’re not controlling the other person. You’re deciding what you will do. They still get to choose how they respond.
This distinction matters. I’ve seen therapy-speak used to justify some genuinely controlling behaviour under the guise of wellness, and it’s worth naming.
Boundaries are powerful when used correctly. They’re harmful when used as a weapon.
Save this one, or send it to someone who needs to hear it.

12/04/2026

Getting diagnosed later in life doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means you finally have language for what you’ve always known.
For years I thought I was just “too much,” “too sensitive,” or not trying hard enough. Turns out my brain was wired differently the whole time.
If you’re sitting with a late diagnosis (or wondering if you should pursue one), you’re not behind. You’re right on time.

New handle. Same mission.If you’ve been here since the Leah V days, you knew me as a Mental Health First Aid Facilitator...
12/04/2026

New handle. Same mission.
If you’ve been here since the Leah V days, you knew me as a Mental Health First Aid Facilitator running courses in workplaces across Geelong. Before that, you might have heard me on Just a Thought on 94.7 The Pulse, having honest conversations about mental health with people doing the work on the ground.
This is the next chapter.
I’m still a Registered Nurse. Still a Master of Counselling student. Autistic and ADHD. And I’m continuing to do what I’ve always done here, just under a name that better reflects where this is heading.
Leah Breaks The Cycle is about normalising conversations in mental health and wellbeing. One post, one video, one conversation at a time. You’ll see content here on ADHD and neurodivergent workplace navigation, therapy-speak that gets misused, mental health misinformation, and honest takes on what actually helps.
If you’re new, welcome. If you’ve been here from the beginning, thank you for sticking around. None of this happens without you.
Let’s break the cycle.

I started filming this for the plant, but I stayed for the process.Slow, repetitive, hands-on tasks like this are ground...
14/12/2025

I started filming this for the plant, but I stayed for the process.

Slow, repetitive, hands-on tasks like this are grounding for me. No rushing. No multitasking. Just focus.

Sometimes caring for something else is a quiet way of taking care of yourself too. 🌿

14/12/2025

I started filming this for the plant, but I stayed for the process.

Slow, repetitive, hands-on tasks like this are grounding for me. No rushing. No multitasking. Just focus.

Sometimes caring for something else is a quiet way of taking care of yourself too. 🌿

Too many workplaces discuss mental health without providing guidance on how to address it. I am changing that. Workplace...
08/10/2025

Too many workplaces discuss mental health without providing guidance on how to address it. I am changing that. Workplace MHFA is practical, evidence-based, and available Australia-wide. Message me to discuss training for your team.

This is a really great reminder about self- compassion. Thanks for sharing Ash 🙏🏻
09/09/2025

This is a really great reminder about self- compassion. Thanks for sharing Ash 🙏🏻

09/09/2025

This marks the official start of my Master of Counselling journey. I’m nervous, excited, and honestly a little relieved to have the first assignment out of the way!

Here’s to late nights, lots of coffee, and learning how to be the best counsellor I can be.
Nothing says “student life” like developing a very specific type of academic PTSD while waiting for that similarity report to be delivered 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

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