The dentist found small fissures in one of my old mercury fillings and recommended that he remove the old filling and replace it with a new less toxic one. I agreed to the procedure.

The short part of a longer story was that, at the time, the sterilisation process of dental instruments did not actually 'kill' diseases like the Hep C virus. In fact the virus had a 'shelf life' of about three to six weeks and, unfortunately for me, I contracted Hep C, which can only be transmitted through blood to blood contact.

This obviously was the case given that the non-disposable dental instruments were used after sterilisation for patient after patient.

Initially I did not know I had contracted Hep C, however after a short time I started to feel and act differently.

A couple effects were, my memory became more scattered and I started to get increasingly anxious as I felt at times my nervous system was in overload mode.

Little did I know that the acute onslaught of the virus was attacking my internal systems.

I had a neurologist conduct scans and eye tests as well as other medical investigations, which all came up negative.

The conclusion was the virus itself.

At the time Hep C was still a very much unknown virus and therefore there wasn't much any medical practitioner could do or in fact there were not a lot around at the time who actually understood what Hep C was and how it was either transmitted or how it started.

I was left to do as much research as possible while soliciting the help of naturopaths as well as Chinese eastern remedies, which started my journey in understanding and fighting this debilitating disease.

For the next six years I used alternative means to keep the virus in check; yes fatigue was a factor as was my focus and anxiety at times, not to mention keeping a closer eye on my liver.

Fortunately, the Hep C I contracted was what I call the best one I could get as it was a low grade medical instrument genotype therefore the most likely to be 'destroyed' by medical treatments.

Thankfully after going on a treatment program in 2004 I have since had no detections of Hep C, which made 16 years this past September.

The pegylated medications I took back then, ribavirin and interferon, quite toxic themselves, including debilitating effects at the time of treatment, have had some adverse side effects over the years as well.

However, today with new medications, such as Sofosbuvir, people can now see successful outcomes, ridding themselves of the virus in as quickly as 12 weeks with minimal side effects during or after treatment.

Depression and anxiety are common in people who have Hep C. Per Dr Camilla Graham, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, 'there can be an unfortunate stigma attached to a hepatitis C diagnosis, especially from people who don't understand the condition. As a result, people with hepatitis C may become isolated, which can pave the way to depression. Many people with hepatitis C become withdrawn and depressed because they feel judged or shunned by others.'

In a study published in the journal Clinics in Liver Diseases, 2017, Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Depression, researchers stated that depression was reported in roughly one-third of people with Hep C.

Dr Graham also makes note that mood changes, including anxiety and irritability, can come with a diagnosis of Hep C.

However, the good news is with the current treatments, as published in the journal PLOS One 2018, people diagnosed with Hep C not only were cured of Hep C but also experienced reduced anxiety and depression and an improvement in overall quality of life.

Remember it's important to keep in mind that the new medications are far more tolerable than the older injections of interferon that I took 16 years ago, and that people living with Hep C shouldn't be fearful of seeking treatment.

Regardless of whether you had mental health issues before a Hep C diagnosis or caused by treatment, people with the illness will benefit from getting treated.

You may also benefit from therapy or support groups, which I undertook and found that camaraderie with others who were experiencing the same issues as I was, were significant positive morale boosters.

A healthy lifestyle, such as exercising regularly, can also help treat the depression and anxiety associated with Hep C.

In the end there is no reason to feel alone or helpless given the over 90-plus per cent 'cure' rate.

Call NSW Hepatitis Infoline 1800 803 990.

If you need help call Lifeline 13 11 14