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.
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Student Support for Depression
I became Ill during my second year of uni. It took me ages to admit to myself that depression is an illness andstudent support avalible, that its okay to ask for help if you need it. I think its important that people know what support is avaliable to a student and why the should always use it.
During my early stages of depression I would lie to people about doctors appointments, mainly beacause if you say i'm going to the doctors it normally results in the question "aww why? whats wrong?" and I didnt want to explain and im sure they didnt have time to hear my explanation. This reinforced the impresison in my head that being depressed had to be kept a secret and that knowone was allowed to know. In the long run this causes more harm then good. Accepting depression as a plausable illness and being open to talk about it will definitly help you overcome it in the end. Its not easy, I didn't do it, but it will help.
I suggest taking baby steps. Doctors appointments are always a must so make sure you attend regualry and really explain to your doctor your symptoms. I was lucky, I had a really nice doctor who cared how I was doing, but I do know there are a lot of docs out their with little to none social skills.
Talking to firends and family is hard and dangerous. I couldnt do either which was a shame but if you can I think you should, if you have the close relationship with someone its always good to confide.
Most importantly while at University / College talk to the student support team. They normally can sort you out with appropiate councillling and lots of help. In my 4th yeah I finally met with someone from student support after spending ages building up the courage. They offered learning aids, extensions, counciling and even extra money. I was lucky enough not to have to use any of these but it was such a comfort knowing they were there.
I am a slight hipocrit as I remember hating all these support systems. I wanted to lock my self away in my room, or run away to a distant place or just pretend none of it was happening. unfortantly it is happening, and only you can do something about it. . . but not alone. Even if you just find out what support your uni of college offers, at least you know its their if you need to use it =]
During my early stages of depression I would lie to people about doctors appointments, mainly beacause if you say i'm going to the doctors it normally results in the question "aww why? whats wrong?" and I didnt want to explain and im sure they didnt have time to hear my explanation. This reinforced the impresison in my head that being depressed had to be kept a secret and that knowone was allowed to know. In the long run this causes more harm then good. Accepting depression as a plausable illness and being open to talk about it will definitly help you overcome it in the end. Its not easy, I didn't do it, but it will help.
I suggest taking baby steps. Doctors appointments are always a must so make sure you attend regualry and really explain to your doctor your symptoms. I was lucky, I had a really nice doctor who cared how I was doing, but I do know there are a lot of docs out their with little to none social skills.
Talking to firends and family is hard and dangerous. I couldnt do either which was a shame but if you can I think you should, if you have the close relationship with someone its always good to confide.
Most importantly while at University / College talk to the student support team. They normally can sort you out with appropiate councillling and lots of help. In my 4th yeah I finally met with someone from student support after spending ages building up the courage. They offered learning aids, extensions, counciling and even extra money. I was lucky enough not to have to use any of these but it was such a comfort knowing they were there.
I am a slight hipocrit as I remember hating all these support systems. I wanted to lock my self away in my room, or run away to a distant place or just pretend none of it was happening. unfortantly it is happening, and only you can do something about it. . . but not alone. Even if you just find out what support your uni of college offers, at least you know its their if you need to use it =]
Monday, 28 February 2011
You lose your life but it doesn't mean you can't live!
One if the things I have found people dont understand at all is the sense of mourning one gets after being diagnosed with a mental illness.
Okay lets not get too mellodramatic yes we're not going to die. . . its not fatal or terminal like other illnesses. But everything you knew, the life you had, it dissapears and changes and you feel robbed, cheated and this is why sometimes I feel like a part of me did die.
Ive spent the past two years like many people who get diagnosed with mental illnesses concentrating all their energy into changing, healing, becoming a better person, building destroyed bridges everything we are told to do to help us get better. Yesterday I found a memory box i used to keep, filled with gig tickets, old photos and random bits and bobs that i thought were important to me. I was deverstated to see how much I had changed and how im just not the same boy I was before all this happened. When people told me how much I changed I used take it as a complement thinking that it represented my mental state. . . but it doesnt.
The sad truth is that I will never be that person again, I loved my old life, I hit the metal illness wall, spent so long changing and healing that there is no way back. However before you finishing reading this feeling worse or scared, there is a beautiful flip side. Although my old life is gone, I have all my memories from it, and unlike a lot of other unforgiving illnesses we have a second chance.
I will always have days where I can look back at miss the life I had, but i also have a new life to shape. Its not the same, a lot of things are different, like the regular hospital appointmants, tons of medication etc but its still a life. We need to appreciate that it is okay to mourn what we have lost and so what if people don't really understand, they also won't understand the opptimism, excitement and possibilites having a secomnd life can create. Take this opportunity to do something different, something that the 'old' you wouldnt do or something that you always said you would do but never got around to it.
Im a different person, I miss who I was but im excited to see who I can be.
Let me know your thoughts on this, is this something you have come across on your journey?
Okay lets not get too mellodramatic yes we're not going to die. . . its not fatal or terminal like other illnesses. But everything you knew, the life you had, it dissapears and changes and you feel robbed, cheated and this is why sometimes I feel like a part of me did die.
Ive spent the past two years like many people who get diagnosed with mental illnesses concentrating all their energy into changing, healing, becoming a better person, building destroyed bridges everything we are told to do to help us get better. Yesterday I found a memory box i used to keep, filled with gig tickets, old photos and random bits and bobs that i thought were important to me. I was deverstated to see how much I had changed and how im just not the same boy I was before all this happened. When people told me how much I changed I used take it as a complement thinking that it represented my mental state. . . but it doesnt.
The sad truth is that I will never be that person again, I loved my old life, I hit the metal illness wall, spent so long changing and healing that there is no way back. However before you finishing reading this feeling worse or scared, there is a beautiful flip side. Although my old life is gone, I have all my memories from it, and unlike a lot of other unforgiving illnesses we have a second chance.
I will always have days where I can look back at miss the life I had, but i also have a new life to shape. Its not the same, a lot of things are different, like the regular hospital appointmants, tons of medication etc but its still a life. We need to appreciate that it is okay to mourn what we have lost and so what if people don't really understand, they also won't understand the opptimism, excitement and possibilites having a secomnd life can create. Take this opportunity to do something different, something that the 'old' you wouldnt do or something that you always said you would do but never got around to it.
Im a different person, I miss who I was but im excited to see who I can be.
Let me know your thoughts on this, is this something you have come across on your journey?
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