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