After Years of Secretary and Shame, Depression Needn’t be Embarrassing
Just recently British news presenter, Huw Edwards, spoke openly with BBC Disability reporter and Disability Correspondent Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey about his experiences and struggles with depression and why it’s so embarrassing. Now, this begs the following question; if we know how our struggles with mental health can lead to further problems including suicide, why is it that a great many of us are still too embarrassed to openly discuss it, let alone confront it head-on?
Now, this is something that I have spoken quite openly about in my previous columns. And my thoughts about this issue are something I have always made quite clear. We need to stop feeling so humiliated by it and have those much-needed conversations.
In the podcast with Nikki and Emma, Huw spoke openly about triggers and coping mechanisms. Things such as workplace stress and personal tragedies can act as a trigger that can lead to an episode. Something else which he also spoke quite openly about was that there can be times when he experiences an episode but because there wasn’t anything happening in the build-up it can be difficult to understand what the triggers were.
And he isn’t the only one who suffered from the mental state either, Former Destiny’s Child singer also had episodes during which she never even spoke about them.
Back in 2021 during the Covid pandemic and lockdown, she gave an interview with American broadcaster, CBS News, about how she had suicidal thoughts because of the illness. However, what she did state, and this is something that many others have since said, “everything is not perfect, and that’s okay”. In other words, she knew that not openly discussing it was the elephant in the room and that it is something that you just need to talk about. Both openly and honestly without the fear of social stigma.
Luckily for both of these amazing two, they both found an outlet that has actually worked quite well for them. Michelle released a book in which she spoke openly about her battles with depression and finding ways to deal with it.
Huw also found a way, Boxing.
Now I am not a huge fan of boxing, mainly because I’d get tired after five minutes also I’d complain about my fists aching but apparently there is some medical and psychological research to support these findings with exercise being used to help combat depression
Well, first and foremost exercise helps trigger the release of endorphins into your brain and body. In addition that help improve your mood and raise your well-being, reduce your stress levels. And also help you to maintain a more positive state of mind.
Something else it can do is support your ability to focus on something more positive.
Let me give you some examples; in a few of the places I have worked at I have known colleagues who have lived with depression. One of them had to take time off work, the other openly revealed that they were on medication.
Now the question I occasionally found myself asking was how often has someone ever spoken to them about it, was any kind of help ever offered?
Up until a few years ago depression itself was treated very much in the taboo sense in that. It was seen as something that was pretty much ignored. Talking about it was seen in an almost similar way. And the attitude towards it was, in a nutshell, man up shut up, and put up with up.
Yep, pretty much something I found altogether to be completely unhelpful, and mainly because it was. Why something was treated with such disregard? And why were those who even attempted to voice their concerns simply not heard?
A couple of years ago the BBC did a series of special documentary programs called Gay Britainnia. Years and Years frontman Olly Alexander spoke about his experiences of living with depression. And which came about from growing up gay. In his episode, Growing up Gay he spoke openly. But not without a bit of difficulty, of dealing with mental health issues. And which were the result of peer treatment in regards to his sexuality.
As an individual, he was in a situation where he couldn’t turn to anyone. He also felt alienated from a lot of individuals as a result. Not a great way to reflect on various times of your childhood years.
So a question that remains is why aren’t we talking about our depression a lot more? Not all people see feeling ashamed negatively. When things getting worse, people will only be shamed into thinking that they are awful.
Come on everyone, let’s truly start dealing with this. Let’s stop teaching ourselves this outdated shameful stigma, and let’s start talking. One conversation can actually go a long way.
https://www.verywellmind.com/6-ways-to-stop-feeling-embarrassed-about-your-depression-5095845
