Something I don’t really think I’ve mentioned before is that I’ve grown up with depression. Not personally – aside from at times of morning, job loss or break ups – but in my family. My Mom and my sister, Bella, have struggled with depression (thanks to anorexic youths) most of life’s. As a result, I feel rather strongly about the topic.
Depression is a very normal thing. It is not something to hide or be embarrassed about – whether with yourself or in your family. In fact to overcome depression and better understand it, it is so important to talk about it. It is not all in your head and is not part of your imagination. It is a very real condition that all of us struggle with to one degree or another at some point in our life’s. It is for this reason that I am so pleased and proud of my friends Raul Pacheco and Isabella Mori for organizing the first ever Mental Health Camp.
What? A conference about the intersection of social media and mental health.
When? 9 am – 6 pm Saturday April 25, 2009
Where? Workspace: #400 – 21 Water Street in Gastown, Vancouver
Who? Anyone who suffers from depression or has a family member or close friend who suffers from depression.
A couple of things I have learned from living with depression my whole life and with the odd bout with it myself:
- Get Regular Exercise
- Eat Well & Healthily
- Get Fresh Air & Sunshine
- Take a Break & Get Out
- Talk About It
- Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help
I had a scary little bout of depression a few years back that terrified me, because I knew what was wrong, but I didn’t know how to escape from it. Finally my Dad said to me, “I think your depressed”, at which point I burst into tears and said I was. He saved me that day as it didn’t take him long to find the source of the problem – I hadn’t taken a proper day off in over two months.
Recently, even though I haven’t had any depression, I have been getting a little extra help. I’ve been seeing personal coach, Jennifer Priest. This is the first time I’ve ever seen or talked to a professional and I wish I’d done it years ago. I’m loving it! She encourages me to speak and work through my thoughts aloud and be more introspective. I feel more relaxed, happier and focussed. We talk about everything from work to relationships to living with depression.
My one piece of advice, if you have depression in your life, don’t sweep it under the rug, talk about it.
Thanks Raul, Isabella and Jennifer for starting the conversation!
Raul says
Thanks to you, Emme, for sharing your story. The biggest hurdle for people dealing with depression (or any kind of mental illness) is actually not the illness itself but (in my opinion) the immensely high barriers that people erect in order to avoid being told a story about something that they fear.
Your bravery helps us move forward and start the conversation. And that’s the very first thing that we need to do… TALK about it.
Much love, Emme and if you can, swing by WorkSpace. We’d love to see you.
Emme says
Thank you Raul!
I guess for me it doesn’t feel all that brave, because I’ve always lived with depression in my family and thanks to my parents who were open about it, it was a fact of life and not something to be embarrassed about. Despite wishing depression on no one (it’s damn scary), I am glad I had my own short lived bout with it as it allows me to better understand my Mom and my sister.
I can’t make any promises Raul, but I will do my best to swing by on Saturday.
Love you!
Emme xoxo
I.A.M. says
Thank you for this. Every time someone points out that depression is common and not something to be afraid / embarrassed of, society becomes a little closer to accepting any mental illness as merely another thing that some people have and others don’t. In a way, it is the same as ‘a bad hip’, in that it’s something you can’t actually cure, per se, but you can do some physio which helps you cope with it in even the worst cases.
The toughest thing is realising that you are a depressive, then the next thing is telling someone, and then finally asking for / seeking help.
After that, it’s all peachy keen!
Well, okay, no, but once those are accomplished one is well prepared to be happier.
isabella mori says
thanks for taking the depression out from under the rug and showing it! every time someone does that, a few more people are encouraged.
Emme says
Thank you Ian! And Isabella, you and Raul really did put on a wonderful day! Thank you!