no, not with life. With the constant stream of celebrities and high-profile sportsmen and women admitting to having depression. In itself this is not a bad thing, it’s just that it’s getting boring. Those of us who suffer with depression know how debilitating it is; know how it affects work and family and even with the spurt of admissions from well-known people over the past 12-18 months has anything changed?
I’m not sure. It all seems very “old hat” and repetitive. So what we need now is for someone to highlight the next steps. What has the Government, NHS, businesses, charities, anyone done to improve treatment of depression and eliminate the stigma attached to mental illness? Undoubtedly it helps if more people talk about mental illness but someone needs to listen to the man and woman “on the street” too. Everyone who is struggling to cope under difficult circumstances not just those in the public eye.
I have particular sympathy with sportsmen and women with the ultimate in competitive personality who don’t get the psychological support required in this day and age to cope with the extreme ups and downs of competition. That is a failing in our sporting structure that we are aeons behind other countries in looking after the mental health welfare of our sports stars but even so, they are only a small minority when considering the impact of depression on the population as a whole. Have Freddie, Stan, Brian et al had to endure a “fit to work” assessment from ATOS? I’d be interested to know what the GB Olympic Committee have done to minimise the risk of post-Olympic depression as suffered by some after Beijing.
I’m lucky. Having admitted to my depression 18 months ago, my employer has made mental health it’s priority for 2012 and is involved with several initiatives to try to help all employees who are debilitated by mental illness and to educate all employees in how to avoid stress-related depression. We are not perfect but we are trying. I hope that the recent revelations by the likes of Freddie and Stan lead to positive action being taken to help everyone.
Afterall I believe that this is no longer an illness suffered by the minority. It is more widespread that anyone can imagine.
Let’s DO something about it.
Poppyposts 
and with truth she spoke…
How true all this is… I have joined a DBT (Dialectical behavioral therapy) group and am seeing a therapist who is trained in it… This by far has helped me deal with my depression… I just started taking the max dose of vit. D… I am not joking… i laughed at my husband when he said just try it… i kid you not… it is helping!!! it’s worth a try…
Today I still have not done much… still feel lonely and isolation seems to be better than carrying my depression around others… but, I must admit… with DBT and this vit. D — it is getting better… and better is better then nothing 🙂
Great post!
Thanks!
~L
Read this again… and now hate my comment because to day I don’t care about Vit. D and DBT…. I flipping sad… and I don’t know what to do about it…
sorry to blah my emotions out…
~L
Aw L what’s happened? You were sounding so positive. It’s so hard to feel good all the time. But you can do it in small steps hunny. I have found that since I gave in to my creative tendencies instead of trying to suffocate them my mood is much improved and I’m so much happier. I seem to have found a perfect outlet for my emotions in scrapbooking and papercraft as it’s creative and relaxing and I lose myself in it for hours on end. I’m so lucky to have found something I enjoy doing with a passion and it has made a huge difference to how I see the world. My hope is that everyone can find their “scrapbooking” and enjoy some contentment. Keep going; you are stronger than you think 🙂
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I’m too afraid to admit to depression at work. Mine is so much worse in the winter, and I tell them that I hate winter, or I’m not my best right now. Celebrities are seen as brave for having to deal with depression while being famous, but regular people are supposed to suck it up and get over it, it seems.
Hi there. It sounds like you are like many people who suffer more in the winter when daylight hours are shorter and we tend to live inside more. Have you considered a SAD lamp? This would boost your exposure to light and many swear by them in the winter. It might be worth trying.
Thank you, yes I do have a SAD lamp, and it does help. This winter has been better than so many others, but still I suffer and get so frustrated. I want to be at my best and full of energy to carry out the goals in my head and take care of the kids and house the way I imagine it. I am happy with my progress, but I want so much more for me and my family.