I havent posted for a couple of weeks because I've been super busy at work and mega stressed. It waasn't until today when I was listning to the radio when this amazingly STUPID mental illness awareness advert came on. It went something like this. . .
Voice in "sane" persons head: O no theres susan, shes been off with depression for several weeks. What do I say to her? I could ask her how her kid is? But what happens if she then says our kids should have a play date and she cant cope and something happens to our kids. Maybe I should just ask her how she is.
'Sane' Person says: Hi Susan, how you doing?
Susan: Yeah im not too bad, have my ups and downs but generaly good. How about you.
'Sane' person: O yeah can't compain
Fin
Like WTF! Is that really what the British govenment think is the best way to solve depression in the work place? I mean, I think that advert is worse than people just being ignorant to it.
The difficulties I can see in the work place is that I don't want to tell people let alone discuss my mental health issues. Why? Well its obvious, I dont want people to think im not capable. Im a young professional trying to make a name myself, im working my ass off trying to get as much responsibility and expereince as I can. The last thing I want is people tip toeing around me.
However saying that sometimes I do need to take the odd day off to gather myself together, take afternoons off to go to the doctors etc. and I can see you some people will need weeks off if the have a mental breakdown or something simular.
This advert is a backwards step in my eyes. The campaign should do one of two things. 1. be focused on increaseing awareness - a general message of depression stats in work, let people know that they are not alone and that its okay to be depressed at work, it doesnt effect how you work and shouldnt be a taboo factor. 2. It should let people who are suffering at the work place where and how they can get support. Let them know there are doctors and therapists and general medical support there to help them get back on their feet.
This is such a tough topic as a lot of businesses are so cut throat, I guess this is why so many people have breakdowns at work. However this LAME attempt to tackle the issue is awful, just awful. This has made it more awkward for me to discuss my mental health in the office work place, even with my friends who are collegues.
People should know that if this is an issue they should talk to their doctor or therapist. They can be incredibly helpful and make sure you get the support you need in tellin gyour employer and how to get back on you feet and back to work as quickly as possible.
Rant over. . . . Stupid British Govenment #epicfail
Showing posts with label depression advice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label depression advice. Show all posts
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Thursday, 29 December 2011
A New Year, A New Me?
Its that time of year where everyone says "new year, a new me". Not just people with mental health issues or depression but pretty much everyone. Personaly, I hate this concept. Its the idea that a un-influential date can help change someones life. I mean im all for it in theroy and to the 10% of people it works for thats great, but i've never had it work for me and I reckon it can be a rather damaging concpet to people with psychotic depression.
When I was at the worst of my illness I would use any date or occassion as a turning point in my struggle. New Years, new achedemic year, birthdays, end of exams, moving house, the list is endless. For the first few weeks all kinda goes well. You make a few changes here and there, you see a few improvements etc. However for people with non-mental illness's this is where it just kinda ends. You stop going to the gym in feburary after buying a years pass but its all fine cos everything just goes back to normal and you get on with your non-gym life. This never happened for me and I dont think this is how it works for most mental illness sufferers.
When the time comes when you realise that this new begining hasn't been a field of roses and your actually not as different and perfect as you thought you were, I alwaysed plumited back into depression and in most occassions became worse than I was when I started the "new me". The idea of failing to a psychotic depression suferer is horrible. You feel like you have let the world down, and that they hate you. This used to make me paranoid, that people were calling me failiure and I just spirled back into a deep depression. It was one step forward and two steps back.
This post isn't all doom and gloom though. I found a way to use this concept effectivly and hopefully this will work for other people too. As humans, our natual habbit is to aim for perfection. This makes us set almost impossible goals. If you want this new year to have a lot of change, then set yourself smaller acheivable goals. Don't simply say your going to change with no idea how or say that your going to be the perfect person. I started with smaller ones. I remember my first goal set was to go 50 days without self harm. I read a post secret entry by a girl who said that she was suicidal and 50 days later was so thankful she was still alive. So thats where I got 50 days from. I had a book with a tally in and each day would write how I felt to see if I got better.
Don't get me wrong I wasnt saved after 50 days but I did feel like I had acheived something. From self harming everyday I had gone almost 2 months without. Try set yourself little goals like that, its doesnt have to be 50 days, it could be a week or whatever suits your condiiton. Reward yourself with little victorys dont overwhelm youself with massive defeats.
I hope this helps you set some reaslistic New Year goals. My one this year is to go swimming once a week for 2 months. The excercise helps me feel energised and less depressed and I always have good thinking time in the pool as no one distracts you. Happy New Year x
When I was at the worst of my illness I would use any date or occassion as a turning point in my struggle. New Years, new achedemic year, birthdays, end of exams, moving house, the list is endless. For the first few weeks all kinda goes well. You make a few changes here and there, you see a few improvements etc. However for people with non-mental illness's this is where it just kinda ends. You stop going to the gym in feburary after buying a years pass but its all fine cos everything just goes back to normal and you get on with your non-gym life. This never happened for me and I dont think this is how it works for most mental illness sufferers.
When the time comes when you realise that this new begining hasn't been a field of roses and your actually not as different and perfect as you thought you were, I alwaysed plumited back into depression and in most occassions became worse than I was when I started the "new me". The idea of failing to a psychotic depression suferer is horrible. You feel like you have let the world down, and that they hate you. This used to make me paranoid, that people were calling me failiure and I just spirled back into a deep depression. It was one step forward and two steps back.
This post isn't all doom and gloom though. I found a way to use this concept effectivly and hopefully this will work for other people too. As humans, our natual habbit is to aim for perfection. This makes us set almost impossible goals. If you want this new year to have a lot of change, then set yourself smaller acheivable goals. Don't simply say your going to change with no idea how or say that your going to be the perfect person. I started with smaller ones. I remember my first goal set was to go 50 days without self harm. I read a post secret entry by a girl who said that she was suicidal and 50 days later was so thankful she was still alive. So thats where I got 50 days from. I had a book with a tally in and each day would write how I felt to see if I got better.
Don't get me wrong I wasnt saved after 50 days but I did feel like I had acheived something. From self harming everyday I had gone almost 2 months without. Try set yourself little goals like that, its doesnt have to be 50 days, it could be a week or whatever suits your condiiton. Reward yourself with little victorys dont overwhelm youself with massive defeats.
I hope this helps you set some reaslistic New Year goals. My one this year is to go swimming once a week for 2 months. The excercise helps me feel energised and less depressed and I always have good thinking time in the pool as no one distracts you. Happy New Year x
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Depression Resulting From Bullying
I know that a lot of depression can stem from childhood and more importantly from being bullied at school. Don't get me wrong im not saying one causes the other, I know many people who got bullied at school and didnt suffer from depression. . . just had a rough time. But being bullied and depressed while studying at shool with all the childhood pressures can be too much. Im not an expert in this subject and if you feel that this may relate to you check out this link for some adive from the UK Bullying Site. That site isnt really the stuff I would recomend but then again apparently im no expert (You can always Google advice to get a broader range). Honestly I think Kids being bullied should channel their problems into creative things and find inspiration elsewhere. Shool and Bullys will only last for a short period of time but depression can really effect your whole life. Teenagers need to find a way to ride the wave and get through the tough times without any perminent damage.
This Video is massivly powerful. I know some people might just think its a song, but I feel music is powerful and I hope it touches a lot of people the same way it moved me.
If you have read this and have any other mucis videos, clips, blogs whatever, post it in a comment. I really love creative things and want this blog to offer sound advice, personal stories AND creative work.
I will explain in more depth at a later date, but music, films and anything creative really did help me through everything. . . and still does, I hope it will do the same for someone else too.
This Video is massivly powerful. I know some people might just think its a song, but I feel music is powerful and I hope it touches a lot of people the same way it moved me.
If you have read this and have any other mucis videos, clips, blogs whatever, post it in a comment. I really love creative things and want this blog to offer sound advice, personal stories AND creative work.
I will explain in more depth at a later date, but music, films and anything creative really did help me through everything. . . and still does, I hope it will do the same for someone else too.
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