If we have too much stress in our life, it can cause a number of things, but it can also have really retrogressive effects like relapsing. It is vital to find ways to reduce stress in your life.

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Admittedly, I am not the best at handling stress. I have to work very hard in order to keep my stress levels to a minimum. Everyday life can often lead people to become stressed, and no wonder – you have to keep up a job, social life, family, friendships, and all those other extras like driving the kids to practice, watching games, and grocery shopping – all while trying to stay sane.

People choose a number of ways to deal with such stress, but I would like to highlight the top three things I do to keep my hair from prematurely turning grey.

1. Exercising

I love that tunnel-vision feeling while running – all that exists in your world is thinking “breathe, exhale, breathe, exhale.” The cadence almost puts me in a trance. Not only do I get to exercise and stay healthy, but it also gives me a lot of time to let go of the stresses in life and focus on one specific thing. It grounds me, and the release of endorphins and serotonin also puts me in a great mood.

I have already talked about how exercise helped with my recovery, but it is also an integral part of my life in terms of keeping me from ripping out my hair. If you aren’t an avid exerciser, it can be hard to get into it; but, I promise finding the mode of exercise you like can really help with relieving stress and staying healthy.

I challenge you to find a way to exercise that appeals to you! Not everyone is going to love running, just like I would have a really negative experience if I played tennis consistently (as I am horrible at it). It’s all about finding what you like. Then, the exercise will come more easily and you’ll be less stressed.

2. Reading

Reading is my second go-to stress-reliever. Again, it’s an escape from everyday life. I love getting into a good book and immersing myself in the characters’ lives, hopes, goals, challenges, and personalities. Diving into a different world somehow reduces the stress I have in reality. As strange as it sounds, books really helped me through my depression. They allowed me to transport myself to a different place where I didn’t have to think about my circumstances.

I have translated that ability to escape in order to reduce stress. We can easily feel like we are alone in our problems, but through literature, I have found that authors’ struggles in life often imprint on their characters. It gives me a certain comfort to know my struggles are similar to someone else’s.

I know I am not standing alone, so my stress melts away as I read a good book. I will even get so immersed that I burn my soup or my grilled cheese, but it’s worth a burnt meal to reduce the stress of everyday life.

3. Cooking

The last strategy is a little bit strange. I really love to cook, and I find that doing so actually relaxes me. My mom does the same thing with baking. We always knew she had a stressful day when we would come home to cookies, muffins, banana bread and other baked goods. It is probably her influence that I enjoy cooking as a way to de-stress.

I love the fact that I can manipulate ingredients to make something that is more than the sum of its parts. I am able to control almost every aspect of what I cook, and nothing will be able to take away that control. Maybe the thing that stresses me out about life is its inconsistency. Either way, cooking is a great way for me to get away from the stresses of the day and, hey, I get a good meal out of it too!

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Without these three go-to de-stressing strategies, I would have lost all of my hair by now (from either pulling it out or losing it or both), crawled up in a hole and waited for life to slow down.

If we have too much stress in our life, it can cause a number of things, but it can also have really retrogressive effects like relapsing. It is vital to find ways to reduce stress in your life.

I am glad I have found mine and I hope that in reading all of our posts this month, you will either find your strategy or discover a new one!

You will never find someone that is exactly the same as you. So love it, embrace it. And once you do that, you will break myths – like the idea that depressed people are gloomy and clad in black.

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When I first heard about this month’s topic, I was absolutely thrilled. “Mythbusters” is an excellent topic to address as there are many stigmas people hold about anyone suffering. Heck, there are stigmas people hold about absolutely anyone.

A lot of times I find these stereotypes diminish the person’s story.

After all, stereotypes function to put someone in a box, right? Perfect, neat, with definitive corners. I can tell you that depression is not just a neat and proper box of “sadness.”

In fact, many people view depressed people simply as “sad.” To be honest, I thought the same before I actually became depressed. When I saw someone wearing dark and gloomy clothes and makeup, and acting dark and gloomy, I thought they were obviously depressed.

However, “gloomy” is only one small vein of depression; it is time we break that myth.

I was intensely fearful of people finding out about my depression, especially my family. I kept it hidden in the deepest corner I could find – where absolutely no light could ever expose what I was feeling. I put on all sorts of masks. My mood around my parents didn’t change, and I didn’t change the way I dressed. In fact, to further dispel suspicions surrounding my depression, I would dress in an even more colourful and outgoing way and I fooled everyone.

My close friends had no idea, which was exactly what I intended. I spent four years as an adjusted, well rounded kid-or so everyone thought.

Although you would never know it if you passed me on the road, I was depressed, living in deep murky waters. It is not just what’s on the outside that defines our well-being; you have to look at far more than just that.

You will never be able to point out every depressed person in a crowd. There is too much diversity and there are too many levels of depression.

I was so good at hiding my depression that my parents had no clue I was depressed until I became a full-time writer for Libero Network. That was two years after I had recovered. I was a master of disguise and illusion. Looking back, I should have let my parents in on the truth so I could get the help I needed. Who knows, my burden could have been lighter than it was.

But I just couldn’t let the mask down. I was like V in V for Vendetta; my actions were visible, but you would never know whether or not I had a frown or a smile on behind the mask.

I think you, the reader, can break the myth by doing two things:

1. You can get to really know someone.

Often times, we make assumptions about people (that might very well be true, thanks to intuition). However, digging deeper can allow you to help a friend in need. Merely stamping a label (whether good or bad) onto someone devalues them as a person.

I think it is ludicrous to confine people to our preconceived notions. For years, identities have been indefinite. Since the beginning of time, people have tried through literature, art, and music to fully define people. And guess what? The journey is still going on.

Taking people at face value is never the way to go about your relationships. Beneath that face is a beautiful person. Get to know them, and you never know what you might find. Through trust and love, people will begin to let down their masks, and then you can truly see what kind of person they are, which allows you to love them all the more authentically.

2. Try not to put people in boxes.

It’s human nature to try to fully conceptualize everyone around us. This is why we stereotype. However, people were never destined to fit into a box, no matter how big. Enjoy the differences of people. Never label someone simply as “depressed” or “suffering from an eating disorder” or“bad” or even “good.” You simply can’t do that.

People’s stories, walks in life, and experiences are all different from each other.

You will never find someone that is exactly the same as you. So love it, embrace it. And once you do that, you will break myths – like the idea that depressed people are gloomy and clad in black.

Doing this will allow you to accept people’s differences and love one another in a deeper and more tangible way.

Talk about your triggers with someone you trust and who has your best interests at heart. It is a deeply personal thing to do, but if you find even one person that can recognize those triggers, you may be saved from a potentially harmful relapse.

Owning Your Triggers

Life is full of potential influences, and in today’s world, they come from an overwhelming variety of sources. These different perspectives can mean more knowledge and better access to more resources. Can you imagine not being able to search and share whatever you want, whenever you want?

I find a certain sense of fearlessness in having all of this information at my hands. However, I have noticed that there are adverse effects as well. A lot of time I experience triggers all around me; I find triggers often come along with the information that we so easily access. I would like to say I have no more triggers; but I think that life will always throw us those curveballs.

Many people try to bury and ignore issues with triggers, which, unfortunately, gives the triggers more power.

In order to combat the shame associated with triggers and the trouble that results, I’m going to share two of my own struggles. I’ll also tell you why they trigger me, and ways that I combat them. This will be the first time I share these triggers with anyone, so why not share via a site that millions of people to have access to – right?

Over Thinking:

I don’t know if  everyone would classify over thinking as a trigger, but it is something I definitely struggle with. Giving too much consideration to what others think about me and what I say and do quickly causes me to fall into my old ways of my depression and anxiety. I try to keep a calm, cool and collected facade. However, one person can say one thing to me, and I will pick it apart until it is basically a different statement altogether. I try to recall the inflection in their voice, and I nitpick when, where and how they said the comment. From there, I will make up some unbelievable and completely ridiculous situations and alternate meanings to their words. I stress, lose sleep, and feel ill due to over thinking too much.

So, I try to do two things: have a tea (after all, it is the solution to everything!), and something that many people nowadays are completely petrified of: talk to the person. Most of the time my over thinking is completely coming from my own paranoia. Instead, what they said is what they meant. And from then on I also try and remind myself that people usually mean what they say and if there is implications, talking about it will usually work out whatever it was.

There is no sense in over thinking because all it causes me to do is fall back into my depression, something that I don’t want to do.

Music:

I often write that music is one of my outlets, but it can also be a trigger for me as well. I firmly believe that certain types of music hold a certain type of memory and heighten nostalgia. It’s the same with smells and sounds. Most of the time these memories are lazy, warm summer days or catching that cute girl’s eye in a coffee shop (purely theoretical in my case), or that one perfect day where, if I can quote Stephen Chbosky, you feel infinite.

Conversely, certain songs can transfer me back into the nightmare of my depression. It is as if sometimes that I am living that memory again.

I’ve realized that the only way to combat this trigger is to do something totally simple: delete the songs. It may feel like you’re deleting a friendship or erasing a memory, but it is worth it to stay recovered and to deter a triggering episode.

I firmly believe that triggers lose power when you share them with others, so there’s comfort in me being able to share with you.

My last piece of advice: talk about your triggers with someone you trust and who has your best interests at heart. It is a deeply personal thing to do, but if you find even one person that can recognize those triggers, you may be saved from a potentially harmful relapse.

Remember – taking ownership will further steal away the power of triggers.

I also want to remind you to love your flaws. Own your imperfections – wear them proudly, because they make you unique. Being unique is deeply compelling, and often leads to even more love from others. You will also begin to love yourself on a deeper level, which is an important step in the right direction.

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Check out our Depression Support Group on Facebook

In reality, the only person responsible for my happiness is myself. I can choose to hate this holiday, or I can choose instead to be happy for the people who have found their significant other – and be happy that I haven’t just settled.  I can also choose not to go to Starbucks, and the mall, and all of the other places that will trigger my depression.

Depression & Valentine’s Day

Relationships. A word I both dislike and have no experience with – which is probably why I dislike them. I wake up on February 14 to see all of the statuses, tweets, and tumblr posts about love and significant others. Instantly, I am in a bad mood.

If I could, I would just go back to bed. Usually, I end up babysitting on Valentine’s Day and fall into a cloud of hate, depression, and apathy. Call me a cynic – it’s true. In terms of my depression, Valentine’s Day is probably my worst day of the year. I fall into a deep cycle of thinking I am not good enough and that I am worthless.

I blame my all-around bad mood on the media, explosion of materialism, and the overall insincerity of the day. Why should a day be dedicated to pressure to spoil your significant other? Why should Valentine’s Day come with such heavy expectations?

I completely disagree with the seemingly inevitable result of the holiday – people adopt extremely unrealistic expectations for their significant other, often causing more harm than help. A recent poll found that one in ten young adults admitted to feeling lonely, insecure, depressed, or unwanted on Valentine’s Day. See? Unrealistic expectations. It’s a holiday based upon feeling in love and celebrating that, so why has 10% of the young adult population admitted to negative feelings surrounding it?

I deal with my unhappiness by blaming it on everything but myself. It’s not my fault that I’m constantly bombarded by star-crossed lovers and people with their tongues lolling out of their mouths, drool falling in a slow but constant drip, drip on Valentine’s Day. Right?

In reality, the only person responsible for my happiness is myself. I can choose to hate this holiday, or I can choose instead to be happy for the people who have found their significant other – and be happy that I haven’t just settled.  I can also choose not to go to Starbucks, and the mall, and all of the other places that will trigger my depression.

There are many possible ways that I could go about improving my Valentine’s Day. I can choose to pay for someone’s meal at a restaurant, or treat my parents to dinner. Lately I have realized that I feel elated, almost euphoric, when I do something good for another person. Instead of constantly focusing on myself, my situation, my lack of a girlfriend - me, me, me, I can focus on showing my love for the people around me.

When I stop having a “woe is me” mentality, I know that I will begin to come out of that annual February 14 depression. And I will definitely try to do that this year. I am tired of dwelling on my hate for a holiday when I could use the opportunity to help others. I’m tired of drowning in a narcissistic ocean of “I don’t have _______.”

If you hate Valentine’s Day as much as I do, then maybe changing your perspective will drastically improve how you feel about it. Since the big day hasn’t come, I can’t tell you for sure if that is true, but I can tell you that I’m now looking forward to February 14 and showing my love for others in an unconventional way.

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I’m so grateful that I decided to play rugby. If not, I don’t know if my recovery would be where it is today and I greatly attribute the sport to helping me through my depression. It is a great tool that I use for my recovery every day, and every tool that we have is one step closer (sometimes literally) to full recovery.

How Rugby Helped Me Recover from Depression

Healthy exercise is important for our health; that tends to be a given for most people. I knew that fundamental principal, but I didn’t understand the scope of it until after I began recovery for my depression.

For four years I have played rugby. It is a brutal, bloody game. But I love it. I started playing in grade 9 and the moment I got onto the field I fell in love with the sport. In fact, I have become slightly prejudice towards all other sports. After all, why wouldn’t you want to watch a game that is faster paced than football and is more emotionally engaging than any other sport? I have gotten numerous injuries, have dealt my fair few too, and would I change anything for it? Nope, absolutely not. It is my sport. It is the only  time I feel comfortable on a field.

When I started playing the sport, I immediately noticed two things: that I was in AWFUL shape, and that I started becoming happier. Yes, my depression seemed to lessen while playing the sport.

I never knew that rugby, and more generally, exercise, could help me with my depression.

You see, from a biological point of view when you engage in any physical activity whether it be running, swimming, jogging, playing rugby or football, it releases two things: serotonin and endorphins.

Now, I am no biologist or kinesiologist, but this is what I’ve learned from a bit of research:

First, serotonin can be found in your gut and your brain. The portion in your brain is what regulates your mood, among other things. High levels of serotonin are synonymous with a “happy” mood, whereas the lack of this chemical is synonymous with “depression.” Lucky for me and those struggling with depression, serotonin can be increased by exercise. The more consistently I exercise, the happier I feel. It’s as simple as that.

Second, endorphins are also released during exercise. Endorphins are essentially “feel good” chemicals that are released in the body when you exercise or are subjected to pain, as they also work as our body’s natural painkillers. Endorphins can give you a sense of euphoria as well as improve your mood. The inevitability of being hurt during rugby is obvious. So, when I played my body often released a high amount of endorphins to the point that I would often get light headed. However, this also contributed to the increase of my good mood and decrease of my depression.

I thank God everyday for these chemicals that He has given me in order to biologically combat my depression.

On the emotional side of exercise and especially rugby, it offers a great outlet for pent-up emotions, anxiety, and allows you to focus on something other than your depression and circumstances. When I’m running (which is also one of my hobbies) I get in “The Zone”; the only thing I think of is “breathe, run, breathe, run.” This rhythm really allows me to focus on nothing but running and it gives me a sense of elation when everything melts away and I only focus on that inner chant.

So, I encourage you if you’re suffering from depression or an addiction or anything to get a healthy amount of exercise in your daily routine. It made my depression manageable, and I have integrated it into my recovery. It works just as well as any outlet, and it also has the handy side effect of becoming in better shape.

However, I warn you: do this in moderation. Over-exercising or compulsive exercise will only land you in worse shape than you are in. Take it easy. You don’t need to run a marathon. Baby steps are the best approach.

I also understand that for some that suffer from compulsive exercise, this may not be something that is good for your recovery. The best way to know this is talking to your therapist or counselor.

I’m so grateful that I decided to play rugby. If not, I don’t know if my recovery would be where it is today and I greatly attribute the sport to helping me through my depression. It is a great tool that I use for my recovery every day, and every tool that we have is one step closer (sometimes literally) to full recovery.

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Check out our new Depression Support Group on Facebook

The holidays allow time to reflect upon both the amazing things that I have in life like a great family, amazing friends, and great mentors; but, it also give enough time for my depression to creep, silent as the Grinch, into my head.

Have a Holly Jolly Holiday

My favourite part of the holidays is the nostalgia that drips sweet with memory. The other thing I love about the holidays is relaxing - something I don’t often do.

Like many people, I particularly like Christmas. Believe it or not – and to the dismay of many – I have already started listening to Christmas music since the middle of October. Yes, October. I am anxiously awaiting snow, and ready to drink Starbucks and tea every morning to keep my chilly hands and body warm.

However, I do find that my depression creeps in the worst during these holidays. The worst for me is Valentine’s Day (I know that’s cliche, but isn’t life itself?) The other holiday that hits me the worst in Christmas.

Despite knowing these holidays are my triggers, while I sit here writing this, I had to think for quite awhile as to why these holidays trigger me so greatly.

I think the first reason is the reflecting. The worst thing I can have is free time (which is part of the reason why I keep myself so busy) because when I have time to just breathe, I end up brooding. The holidays allow time to reflect upon both the amazing things that I have in life like a great family, amazing friends, and great mentors; but, it also give enough time for my depression to creep, silent as the Grinch, into my head. It quickly begins to pull me down.

Another reason I trigger is because I unnecessarily compare myself to everyone else and all that they have. I really do try hard to not do this, but with all my free time and the hustle and bustle of pre-holidays, I begin to subconsciously compare myself to others. It is an awful cycle, and one that only shows up during the holidays.

I don’t mean to say the holidays are completely awful and I hate them and everything about them; however, I do want to be honest about both the good and the bad. Of course my depression doesn’t cloud everything. It only comes in bursts, and so the holidays come and pass in great happiness and magic.

So, with all this being said I am publicly keeping myself accountable. After all, the theme for this month is not only “holidays” but also “recovery.” So, I think for me to stick with my recovery during the holidays I think I need to have a great amount of transparency.

My vows for the upcoming holidays are to:

1. Write down everything I am thankful for.
2. Focus on the positive things about the holidays.
3. Participate in everything around me.
4. Tell the people in my life that they are loved.
5. Drink more tea. (This is because at heart, I am a HUGE tea granny. It makes me happy.)

I think these things will begin to help me with my depression during the holidays. And more importantly, they will help me with my recovery during the holidays too.

I challenge you to come up with your own list of what you can do to brighten your holidays even more than they are already. After all, darkness is only there when there is no light to diffuse it. Therefore, if I constantly try and keep the light steady, the darkness of my depression will have nowhere to go but away. This idea will also begin to program my brain back into thinking about the positives before the negatives, which will allow me to live a happier life.

Well, to end this I guess I should say: Happy Holidays! Whether it’s American Thanksgiving or Christmas (on the day I’m writing this it is exactly 2 months until Old Saint Nick makes a worldwide arrival!), I hope your holidays are filled with happiness, love, and family.

And just as important, I really hope that the holidays give you time to recover from the hustle and bustle of life, but also begin a positive walk into recovery from any eating disorder, depression, or negative image you may have. Happy holidays, and I give you all my best regards!

What are some things on your list of ‘vows’ for the upcoming holiday season? Post them in the comments below!

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I don’t like the holidays but if I keep my attitude in check and my blessings in sight.. I think I’ll be ready to go through all the hell  of this season – and maybe it won’t even be hell after all…

Here Come the Hellidays…

I’m just going to come out and say it: I hate Christmas. This holiday is the most stress-inducing, anxiety-ridden, and depressing time of year. Why? Because the pressure of making everyone happy when you don’t have money to do it absolutely stinks.

Sure, Christmas isn’t all about money or presents but the way our consuming society functions clearly makes it seem like it is.  Christmas commercials and catalogs in September, seriously?

Being a broke college student at the same time doesn’t help the matter, either

It’s pretty sickening the way consumption takes over all of our holidays. Instead of enjoying time, taking photos, and expressing how much you love someone, buying someone the latest toy or a new piece of clothing is first on the to-do list. Give me handmade cards or spend time with me over some tea and I’ll be a happy camper.

I have an issue with pride and it hurts my pride to not be able to bless other people, especially people I love, who mean the world to me. I feel lame, stressed, unloving, awkward, and self conscious when I can’t give back or be generous.

When you push all the material things aside what you have left are your real blessings, things like being alive, being loved and supported – these things are infinitely more important than stressing out about something society is forcing you to take part in. And, for the sake of perspective, having shoes on your feet and a roof over your head are a blessing, too, one that not everyone is fortunate enough to experience.

Spending time with someone you care about when you’re away from the most of the year is what the holidays are really about.

Sure, I haven’t figured out what I am going to do about the holidays this year but I am going to savor every moment with my family and friends. No, I don’t have my life together, or money problems sorted but I promised myself that I would take one day at a time.

I don’t like the holidays but if I keep my attitude in check and my blessings in sight.. I think I’ll be ready to go through all the hell  of this season – and maybe it won’t even be hell after all…

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We’d love to hear from you!

Have a note you’d like to share about the holidays, what they mean to you, and/or how you survive them? Send to: submissions[at]liberonetwork.com

“Beauty” in my opinion is not defined by your appearances, but rather who you strive to be, your morals, and your character. That to me shows a truly beautiful person. Don’t invest your happiness in material items, because eventually those items will rot, decay, and fall apart.

The Monster from Within

With thanks to Lauren, I was approved to do a post that didn’t exactly fit into our monthly theme “Friendships” because I experienced something that I hope to never see in my life again.

It was during my holiday I recently took with my dad and I was in Paris having the time of my life. The weather was just right, I could see the Eiffel Tower on the horizon and everything was just good.

We were shopping… Well, I guess window shopping as we accidentally stumbled upon one of the “Coco-Chanel-Louis-Vuitton-Haute-Couture” shopping areas. As there was nothing for us there but overpriced nothingness, we started back to the Champs-Elysee to find somewhere economically feasible, when we came across a tall, black and gold gate. There was a faint, familiar scent before we even got to the gate, but as I was in a country that didn’t even speak my language, I didn’t really register it. We were in awe of the beauty of the gates and the old, historic-looking building when we looked down at eye level and were astonished.

Standing outside these gates were men dressed in probably the most bizarre clothing options I have ever seen. They were wearing blue jeans, all with rips in them, flip flops (despite the cold bite in the air), poofy down jackets (a little more weather appropriate), and no shirts (not at all weather appropriate).

Now, you would think this would instantly repel my dad and I, but we realized that the breathing mannequins with chiseled abs, brown surfer-dude hair and magazine smiles belonged to none other than Hollister.

Instantly I was a little put off. The fact that these guys were literally soliciting themselves on the street to attract females into the store bothered me. After all, isn’t that just a step away from prostitution? Maybe I was being a little hyperbolic, but nevertheless, they stood out there for the sole purpose of attraction, completely objectifying themselves in the process.

A morbid curiosity stole over me and so I asked my dad if we could go inside. He agreed, and we walked down the path with perfectly trimmed hedges, perfectly placed gravel, and “perfect” looking people.

We had to give the front counter our bag before we got in. As if I would buy or steal something from this atrociously ostentatious establishment. But not wanting to cause trouble, I obliged and went inside.

I walked in the inner doors and I was so taken aback I was lost for words.

It was dark in the store, and in darkness one hides things, but what I saw literally sickened me. When I first surveyed the store, there were two people dancing just past the entrance way. They were paid to just stand there and dance and make it look like they were having the time of their life. As if that isn’t a warning flag there. What it communicated to me – thought I know it’s absolutely not true – is that this guy and girl were a spectacle, two animals performing in the zoo and that they were worth nothing more than their fake dance moves.

The sheer size of the place also surprised me. A quick count told me there were six – yes six – floors in this particular Hollister. Six. This clothing store was probably the size of a Costco and it was packed like sardines with clothes. It was a shrine to consumerism and a death trap for negative self image.

Obviously my dad and I were disgusted and fascinated at the same time, so my dad took out his phone to take a picture. The moment he held it up, the seemingly “nice” and “happy” and “oblivious” dancers jumped on him.

“No phones,” they said. The tone they used was dripping with hostility. Clearly they didn’t want it broadcasted how their “shrine” was functioning and what it stood for.

As with most Hollister stores, the people there looked “perfect,” and were dressed in less clothes than I usually sleep in; everyone was dressed as such from the body guards, to the employees, to the models plastered sickeningly on the walls, to even the mannequins.

I promptly left in deep disgust and vowed never to go into a Hollister again.

The problem I had with this store is that everywhere you looked caused a negative self image. How couldn’t you think “wow I don’t look like those picture-perfect, chiseled guys and girls. There must be something wrong with me” when you were bombarded from every angle with chiseled bodies and perfect smiles all around you.

Another thing that bothered me was the dancers. It just blew me away that their job was to make the store look more “clubby” than an actual retail store. Because young guys and girls will be going into that store despite the marketing being targeted to a teenaged crowd. This already exposes them at an early age to the idea of self-perfection, an idea I pray no one has to fall victim to.

I’m not saying that every Hollister is out to get you and potentially cause a relapse or catalyze an eating disorder, depression or negative self worth, but I certainly think these stores’ messages are no better than the message that fitpsiration and thinspiration communicate: “you are never ‘perfect’. There is always something else you can do to make yourself look better. Perfection is the goal and you so far have not lived up to that goal.”

With stores choosing to advertise in this way, it’s no wonder that girls and guys are dying of eating disorders and falling prey to the awful grips of depression and self-hate.

The great thing is though is that you are not defined by others’ expectations or subjections, especially those that create an image of “perfection.”

“Beauty” in my opinion is not defined by your appearances, but rather who you strive to be, your morals, and your character. That to me shows a truly beautiful person. Don’t invest your happiness in material items, because eventually those items will rot, decay, and fall apart.

If you invest your happiness in morals, ethics, and beauty from within, chances are the stores that try and refocus your image on clothes and perfection will lose. They will lose. And you will win. That is a fight worth fighting, and eventually in life, you will win that fight. This victory is one of the most amazing triumphs you can experience, and so never give up. You are too beautiful to do that.

The ugliness inside of each person is hard to deal with. When things bubble to the surface we need someone to help us turn down the heat and help put a lid on things.

Through Thick and Thin

One of the most important things to have in life is solid friendship with people who act as soundboards to your ideas and thoughts. I struggled during the last few semesters concentrating on homework and finishing things on time because of the environment I lived in. I won’t go into details, but dealing with anxiety with school, relationships, and money really takes a toll on your mental well-being.

I was lucky, though. I have a friend that “shoots things straight” with me quite often. I need people that have that blunt honesty but are willing to hear me out while I babble through my thoughts and tears. People that have patience with me, that treat me as an equal, and will love me no matter what I tell them.

The ugliness inside of each person is hard to deal with. When things bubble to the surface we need someone to help us turn down the heat and help put a lid on things.

I’ve spent many nights on my friend’s couch after many of my breakdowns, which I am so thankful for because it is the breakdowns that you go through alone that end up hurting the most.

Some things you experience in life are not meant to be experienced alone. I believe my pride as well as my critical attitude is dangerous because they prevent me from saying sorry and asking for help.

There is always going to be help but you have to be able to find someone that will be honest but caring at the same time. You will also need to be the sound board and listener to this person. Many hugs, laughs, and tears are expected but strong bonds through the storms in life prolong any relationship. These people will help you get back to your normal self without any prescription drug, dangerous risk, or belittlement in your time of need.

Know your morals, know who you are as a person, stick to it. Being true to yourself is very important.

Party Like a Rock Star (an Interview)

*Names have been changed for the protection of associated parties. 

Fiona apple, Russell brand, Johnny Depp, and Colin Farrell are just a few big names who have struggled with self-harm throughout their lives, and come forward to discuss it publicly. For some it sparked from the pressure to be great. For others, it came from a larger voice telling them they would never be great. Whatever the initial incident, it led them down the dark path of self harm with catalysts such as drugs, binge drinking, physical harm, and more.

“and this is me in the green room, getting druuunk.”

Meet Anthony. He recently left a band he’d been playing bass in for about 4 years. They lived in a couple different cities, toured with big name bands; Anthony achieved all his goals at an incredibly young age. They mingled with the likes of Cute Is What We Aim For, Silverstein, and MuchMusic VJ Jesse Giddings. We’ve known each other for quite a while, and he’s catching me up on photos from his band’s time in Toronto , and life in Vancouver. I asked him if we could talk candidly today about his experience with self – harmand how it developed out of the band’s lifestyle…

The Interview:

Lauren A: So you recently decided to walk away from a band that was on the cusp of international fame, signing with one of the largest labels in the world.

Anthony: “I did.”

That’s a pretty massive move, what led you to such a drastic decision?

“I’ve had this question asked all the time since leaving the band, and I always tell them the exact same thing – the lifestyle just got too intense. Where I didn’t even have to pay to get drunk everyday or get drugs everyday – it was just given to me. To the point where every single day we were at MMVA parties, Juno parties, dragged out to by our management to mingle with other industry pros and it got too intense.”

Wow. Was it through these times you started realizing you valued a healthier lifestyle?

“Once I was in it for a while, it was just ordinary, that was my lifestyle. Woke up everyday, knew what was gonna happen and it happened. After a while I realized that wasn’t what I was meant to do. Coming from a Christian background and having those moral beliefs, it was going against what I used to stand for.”

It’s fair to say things started moving for your former band when you kicked off on your first cross-Canada high school tour.

“Ya, at that point I smoked seldom, never drank, but it was after we made the move to Toronto that people started to take notice.” He pauses as a voice-mail comes through about an upcoming show, but is insistent on leaving the call back until later…
“That tour was all about telling kids they had purpose and were worth something.”

How did things take such a turn from that?

“This is gonna sound really cheesy, but it was from a really, really terrible, intense break up. And that led to…well since at that point I was already offered drugs and alcohol like daily, the offers went up since I was going through a rough time so I was like…why the hell not.”

Would you say you had tendencies toward harmful behaviour before being a part of the industry, or was that the first?

“That was the first time using substances to block out my actual reality. There was one time when I actually was in my room by myself, everyone in the house was asleep, and I was texting the lead singer’s girlfriend about my situation, like what I was dealing with, and so she texted the lead singer about a bottle of wine she’d left in his room. He brought the bottle of wine from his room to mine. Everybody else was asleep, and I just sat in my room knocking back this bottle of wine, alone.”

Other than the break up, what about the environmental pressures led you into this lifestyle, when you had so much attention, and were achieving your dreams at such a young age?

“It just kind of goes hand in hand with being in a professional rock band. If all your friends are the people you’ve ever wanted to know in the music industry…it’s what people do in the music industry. They get drunk, they drink. It’s how you mingle. Every time we had to go mingle with label reps, it was alcohol non-stop, while throwing around business cards. It’s how you mingle.”

How have the other band members reacted to your resignation, and how are they currently living within the rock and roll lifestyle?

“At first, well I think still to this day, my old band mates resent me for it. Well even the lead singer said to me he resented me for it, cause they all wanted to keep doing this band stuff full time. And then I decided to peace out and they said they didn’t wanna go on without me, so I basically killed the dream of my band mates, managers, and everybody else working for the band. If that band kept on being successful, it wasn’t just us 5 band mates, it was management, agencies, label people.”

You’re currently working on a few different projects with some up and coming bands, including managing one, what advice would you give to them, or how do you think you’ll approach things differently this time?

“You need to be 100 percent confident in yourself as a person. Know who you are, your morals, your limits, and don’t test that.”
(Hollywood’s phone goes off again. He’s still an in-demand bass player.)

What strategies have you considered using or are currently using to make healthier lifestyle choices?

“I’m currently on the verge of changing my surroundings, and hanging out with people I guess better you and keep you accountable kind of thing.”

What do those healthier lifestyle choices look like?

“If I go out with people I try to limit myself with beer, and not surround myself with people who just wanna drink.”

Since leaving the band you’ve done some work on set for some big movies. How would you say that environment varied from the stage?

“Being on set I wasn’t getting drunk every day, but you’re still performing. I still enjoy it cause it’s performing.”

Was it more positive or negative being in the film industry as opposed to the music industry?

“It’s all in the entertainment industry. All those things are still there, the drugs, alcohol, promiscuous lifestyle, it’s all in the film industry obviously.”

The moral of the story?

“Know your morals, know who you are as a person, stick to it. Being true to yourself is very important.”

If anybody’s interested in a peak into substance abuse within pop culture, check out the MTV documentary: Steve-O – Demise and Rise. [Warning: it contains graphic images of substance abuse and self harm. May be a trigger for some viewers.] Steve-O is best known for his stunts and work on the MTV Jackass TV show, and following 3 movies. It begins with a look into his childhood where drinking was already prevalent, how it carried into substance abuse during his chase for fame, and how he escaped it after being in the spotlight.

Peace, Lauren A.

In a way, struggling from an Ed, is just as harmful if not more, than cutting oneself. Cutting is seen on the outside clearly, but an Ed is seen only when the person decides to acknowledge that help is needed.

Anxiety and Anorexia as a Form of Self-Harm

When most people think of self-harming behaviors, cutting comes to mind first because the physical harm you’re doing to your body is visible from the outside. But having an eating disorder or suffering from anxiety is a very strong form of self-harm and many don’t realize just how bad it can be.

Thinking back to sixth grade when my Ed began, I remember hating my body so much that I unconsciously started eating less in order to punish myself  for what I looked like. I didn’t want my body to change so I did what I thought would keep me little: Not eat.

In time, the harm I was putting my body through was enough to make my energy, metabolism, and heart rate slow down drastically and my periods also stopped completely. My body was rebelling against me. It was trying to fight back in order to keep me alive.

In a way, struggling from an Ed, is just as harmful if not more, than cutting oneself. Cutting is seen on the outside clearly, but an Ed is seen only when the person decides to acknowledge that help is needed.

When I finally realized that I was hurting my body on the inside, I was too deep into my behaviors to get out quickly. As bad as I wanted to stop harming myself, I couldn’t. It became the norm and I did it without even thinking. Years and years of recovery have gone by and yet here I am, still harming myself with my behaviors and thoughts.

On a similar note, I also struggle with social anxiety; yet another form of self-harm. Instead of hurting my body in any way, I am hurting my chances of having friends, meeting new people, forming meaningful relationships, and even just holding a small conversation. I am stopping myself from having a life, from laughing.

And yet, like the eating disorder, I am still doing it. I am still sucked into the lies of the anxiety and the lies of Ed.

Getting out would save my body and my life, but it’s always easier said than done.

However, I am making strides towards freedom every day. I get one step closer when I choose to listen to my heart voice instead of Ed’s, and I get one step closer when I take the risk to meet new people even though I may be shaking in my boots.

It’s the little things that make a big difference. Small challenges turn into huge improvements which in tern eventually lead to a life free from self-harm.

________________________

#VoicingFreedom Photo Project

Have you checked out our new project? Send in your photos to us sharing what you are “FREE FROM”!

Here’s Tayla’s

Find out more at: LiberoNetwork.com/VoicingFreedom

The mind and body work together in unison; as one part starts to weaken, so does the other. That is the vicious cycle that self harm brings about. Whether it is your body being harmed or your mind, both will eventually falter. I know this not just anecdotal because this is exactly what happened to me.

Self-Harm Redefined

I was really struggling with what to write for this month’s featured post. It wasn’t until two days before the deadline that I decided to start somewhere. I wondered what other people see self harm as, and so I asked the omnipotent Google what the definition was of self harm and came up with this:

“Self harm: the deliberate non-suicidal injuring of one’s body.”¹

Now, at a quick glance the definition seems quite obvious. The term “self harm” is quite self-explanatory. However, I believe there is an even bigger perspective of the term “self harm.” Yes, people may (and do) damage their body while self-harming but there is a much larger perspective to “self harm” and that is the non-physical way we can injure ourselves in regards to our emotions and mental state.

Please keep in mind that I am not discounting physical self harm and the heart-breaking effects, but I am  focusing, rather, on the other side: the emotional side.

Though I am focusing mostly on the emotional side of self harm, the mind and body work together in unison; as one part starts to weaken, so does the other. That is the vicious cycle that self harm brings about. Whether it is your body being harmed or your mind, both will eventually falter. I know this not just anecdotal because this is exactly what happened to me.

Before I really fell into depression, I never really understood the deliberate injuring of yourself. I thought it absurd. But I eventually realized that people self harm for a number of reasons:

1. such as the feeling of release
2. the need for control (or what they think is control)
3. as a cry for help
4. and/or because the hurt is comfortable.

The last of the four is the way I harmed myself. Though it seems completely retroactive, I would deliberately place myself in situations that would hurt me through music, literature, and internet content such as blogs on depression.

In addition, I would also enter into relationships that I knew were emotionally abusive. These people left me reeling and gasping for air.

Often times when I did this, I would not really realize what I was doing. Before I knew it I was listening to a song about self harm and reading blogs about someone’s overwhelming depression. This was all at a time when my recovery was in a delicate state. I was knee-deep in the aftermath of a personal war. However, I would almost fall into a haze and then when I was in the thick of it all, I would snap out of it and realize what I was doing.

This total loss of control terrified me. After all, wasn’t I supposed to be taking charge of my life? Isn’t that what I so arduously tried to do?

Once I realized the awful and vicious cycle I was subjecting myself to, I knew it was hurting me almost beyond repair and brought me further down, but I just needed a way to feel comfortable because in my recovery I felt like a fish out of water – literally – because it hurt to breathe and function in an atmosphere that I wasn’t used to.

I learned that emotional self harm not only hurts your body and mind, but it harms your recovery and can lead to a relapse.

In doing this, I was (and still am) left with deep emotional scars. See what I mean by the definition? Self harm is not only skin deep, it is much much deeper than that.

Through this experience, I learned my (and your) recovery is worth so much more than a false sense of comfort, control, or release.

So I don’t think that the definition above is entirely correct. If I were to rewrite it, I would define self harm as:

The deliberate non-suicidal injuring of one’s body, mind, and/or spirit.

Self harm can take many forms, and it is not just physical. I still suffer from the scars that my emotional self harm caused me, but I know that I am worth so much more than my scars and that they are just a road marker of what I battled through. And I am proud that I get further and further away from that dark time in my life everyday.

Lastly, I want to leave everyone reading this ⎯ and especially those dealing with self harm ⎯ with a note of encouragement:

Your situation may seem darker than a starless night, but know that your life is worth more than the circumstances you may face. You are a special gift with a specific purpose on this planet, and through loving yourself (though it may seem so hard), you will eventually be able to breathe fully again without the vice grip of self harm. Your scars may remain, but take comfort in knowing that they are not what defines you. What defines you is not where you came from, but who you strive to be. It is not what you were, but who you are. It is not your past, but your future. And in believing that, you will begin your walk into recovery, and ultimately being to love yourself in the process.

_________________________________

Source:

¹en.wiktionary.org/wiki/self-harm

I realized that my relationship choices had gone from bad to worse when I found myself sitting in a Relational Communications class learning about Verbally Abusive Relationships and realizing that was my life.

Harming Ourselves Through Our Relationships

Nobody asks to be abused – physically, verbally emotionally – and certainly nobody deserves it. However, since we are discussing self-harm this month, I felt it necessary to talk about how the relationships we choose can be used as a way to harm ourselves (even if it’s on a subconscious level).

I must first make a disclaimer: for the purposes of this post when I use the term ‘abuse’ I am not referring to sexual abuse, and, though physical abuse may apply, this post is primarily focused on verbally and emotionally abusive relationships. It is also important to note that not all situations in which this type of abuse takes place are situations of self-harm on the part of the victim, this post is simply a discussion in hopes of encouraging those who find themselves continually returning to these types of relationships to take some time to reflect on the whys behind their relationship choices. Who knows, you may be surprised what you find…

My relationship history is not one of Fairy Tales, Prince Charmings, and certainly not Happily Ever Afters. No, if one were to sit down and watch the story of “Lauren Bersaglio’s Love Life” it would probably be more along the lines of The Haunting, or, even more accurately, Scary Movie.

I realized that my relationship choices had gone from bad to worse when I found myself sitting in a Relational Communications class learning about Verbally Abusive Relationships and realizing that was my life.

How had I gotten to that place again? Each time a relationship turned sour and inevitably ended in an explosion of hurt it’s not like I decided “Hey, that was fun, let’s do it again!” – NO. I didn’t actually want that for my life. I didn’t intentionally seek it out. And yet I walked into the same situations over and over.

The pattern usually went something like this:

We’d hit the ground running > he’d come on strong, but sweet > I’d fall hard & fast > he’d start pointing out my ‘flaws’ > I’d start feeling bad about myself  >he’d start building up resentment towards me for said flaws > I’d start feeling worse about myself > His criticisms would become more frequent and aggressive > one day he would snap and it would be over, and I’d be left crying on the floor.

I’d be depressed for a few days/weeks/months and then he’d come back – or someone else – and the cycle would continue.

And each time the emotional abuse was worse.

It wasn’t until my most recent relationship ended (the textbook ‘verbal abuse’ relationship) that I finally thought: enough is enough. And I set out to figure out why this kept happening, why I kept finding myself in these relationships over and over – one thing I knew, it was no coincidence.

People always say when you don’t love yourself, you can’t possibly fully love someone else, and this may be true, but what I realized is that when you don’t love yourself, you can’t fully receive someone else’s love. More than that, when you hate yourself and you are in a self-destructive mindset, you don’t typically oppose anyone who helps you along with your self-destruction. And why should you?

I was butchering my body, I was verbally abusing myself, even if I could see what these guys were doing to me, why would I tell them to stop? It would be almost hypocritical (in a weird, twisted way). In some cases, it was almost like I was letting them do all the work for me.

And so I would show up, day after day, night after night, week after week, and let the abuse carry on.

No, I am not responsible for other’s behaviours, but I am responsible for whether or not I stand up for myself. And I chose not to. Just like when you see a friend being bullied in the parking lot, you can either stand by or you can stand up. I stood by. I stood by and I watched myself get bullied until my spirit was crushed.

And by returning to these same guys over and over, and allowing the same cycles to happen, and by sitting back and letting them talk to me like that, I was, for all intense and purposes, self-harming. Because I felt I deserved it. I hated myself, and letting them hate me gave me a sense of fulfillment – of satisfaction. No, I wasn’t taking a blade to my wrists (though I was doing this, too), and no, I wasn’t shoving my finger down my throat (though I was also doing that), but I was still harming myself.

And, just like with anything: eating disorders, depression, addiction – with self-harm, the behaviours are the symptom not the problem. The problem was I didn’t love myself. So the solution: work towards that self-love. (I talked about that in this post)

I encourage you, if you find yourself in the same (or different) abusive relationship(s) to look at the pattern as a symptom and to ask yourself if you are enabling someone else to help you carry out your self-harming. It is not an easy thing to swallow, but it is the only way to end the cycle once and for all.

When I was entrenched in my eating disorder, I legitimately believed that I did not deserve food. I did not believe that I was a good person who deserved to have my appetites fulfilled…Restriction was a punishment of sorts: punishment for not living up to my own impossible expectations and for feeling emotions that I was ashamed of and fearful of.

Eating Disorders as Self-Harm

“The term ‘starvation diet’ refers to a specific number of calories a day. I was on one-third of a starvation diet. What do you call that? One word that comes to my mind: ‘suicide.’”
― Marya Hornbacher (Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia)

A common misconception about eating disorders is that they stem from vanity and a desire to be thin for the sake of being beautiful. I love the Marya Hornbacher quote above, because it conveys that eating disorders often stem from self-loathing and are a severe form of bodily self-harm.

Restricting, bingeing, purging, and over-exercising are just as self-destructive, painful, and physically and emotionally damaging as cutting or burning oneself. The only difference between cutting and disordered eating as mechanisms of self-harm is that the self-inflicted wounds caused by eating disorders are not always visible externally. Sadly, when the wounds are visible in cases of being very underweight, the eating disorder sufferer is all too often praised for “perfecting” their body.

When I was entrenched in my eating disorder, I legitimately believed that I did not deserve food. I did not believe that I was a good person who deserved to have my appetites fulfilled. It was not only my appetite for food that I thought did not deserve to be satisfied; I denied my appetites for love, support, and pleasure as well, isolating myself from my friends, family, and activities I enjoyed. Restriction was a punishment of sorts: punishment for not living up to my own impossible expectations and for feeling emotions that I was ashamed of and fearful of. Sometimes, bingeing was similarly self-destructive for me. There were times when I binged to cope with emotions such as anger, sadness, and loneliness, but at other times I punished myself through bingeing when I was angry with myself. As I ate and ate and ate, I thought about how awful and panicked and ill I would be afterwards and how I deserved the pain.

It is crucial for friends and family of people struggling with eating disorders to understand how an eating disorder is a form of self-harm, because it sheds light on the kind of support that is helpful vs unhelpful.

When I was underweight, well-meaning friends would tell me, “You look so much better when you’re at a healthy weight; you look so ill.” Luckily, no one ever said to me a phrase that is all too often said to women with eating disorders: “Guys like a girl with some meat on their bones”. These statements are at best rude and irrelevant, and at worst, damaging.

Eating disorders are not about vanity, so it is often irrelevant to the eating disorder sufferer whether or not they appear attractive to men/women. Also, since people with eating disorders inflict pain upon themselves through their disorders, they may thrive off of being told that they look ill. They may be satisfied to hear that they are “successful” at being sick, because they feel that they deserve to be sick. They may also be satisfied to hear that they do not look attractive, because they feel that they don’t deserve to look attractive.

Similarly, trying to encourage a person with an eating disorder to stop restricting/bingeing/purging because of the health consequences seems like a very logical approach to take and is always said with love and concern and the best intentions, but it is counterproductive. People with eating disorders know they are doing harm to their bodies and they want to do harm to their bodies. When I was told that I would eventually die if I did not choose recovery, at first I did care. I valued my life so little that I thought to myself, “This is working; there is no need for me to change anything”.

Based on my personal experiences, my best advice on how to support someone who is struggling with an eating disorder is to show them that you love and value them. Rather than pleading with your loved one, “Don’t you want to be healthy?” , tell them everything that you appreciate about them and that they deserve health and happiness. Ask them how they are feeling about life and themselves so you can guide them through difficult emotions and help them refrain from negative thoughts about themselves. It is also important to take the focus off of physical appearance, because it almost always does more harm than good. Besides, by this point you know that appearance is just a symptom of an eating disorder and not what it is truly all about.

Thankfully, recovery can help people with eating disorders improve their relationships with themselves in addition to their relationship with food. Today in recovery, I truly believe that I deserve a life of health and happiness. I do not wish to self-harm through restricting or bingeing, because I have learned to love and appreciate myself for who I am. I still slip up sometimes, but I always pick myself back up. Through recovery I have developed a sense of self-respect and a commitment to self-care, and I am incredibly grateful for that.

This can be a complicated topic, so if you have any questions for me or anything to add from your own personal experience, please don’t hesitate to comment below!

 When it comes to depression, no one is a victim. One does have the option to fight. Therefore, ‘victim’ should not be used in correlation with depression. If there’s one portion of your soul that depression cannot touch, it’s your will. All of you have the option to devotedly fight this repulsive monster and beat it to its knees.

Warriors of Depression

When it comes to depression’s repugnant entity, one can decisively choose to win or lose. There is no in-between. When depression first injects its malicious contagion into one’s veins, it evidently appears to be a virtually invincible and immovable adversary. However, depression does bear weaknesses. Depression’s arrogance significantly anticipates that its prey will commence to be flash-in-the-pan opponents to abruptly add to its list of victories and without any morsel of hesitation, depression vastly underestimates one’s will capacity. Big mistake! Through my wretched experience, depression’s haughty arrogance backfired! I chose to go the distance!

I’ve dined in an obscure Hell. During the course of my atrocious nightmare with depression, I’ve taken its utmost merciless, vigorous onslaughts of dire mental punishment. Although I’ve been a fierce aggressor and dared to exchange excruciating blows with depression, I’ve been ruthlessly dropped various times onto its blood-stained battleground. Then again, because I’m a devout, passionate warrior, I’ve always resiliently arose to my feet and heartily continued to valiantly fight – That’s simply what warriors do.

When an individual alas is hastily challenged by depression, the contract is written in the blood of its innocent casualties including my own flesh and blood. He or she is unquestionably the underdog with the odds colossally stacked against him or her. Reason being, individuals are forcibly transported to an uncanny terrain of eerie dreadfulness where muddled individuals undergo immediate ambush that’s immensely overwhelming from depression’s unremorseful arsenal. Frankly, one is in depression’s sinister arena.

In the midst of what seemed to be an arduous, one-sided battle, my knees commenced to buckle and I literally felt that I was on the brink of domination due to a failed strenuous effort. Simultaneously, depression’s spiteful confidence instantaneously nose-dived when it witnessed with its callous eyes that an innate warrior spirit was courageously awakening within me with an unconquerable will and fire burning within its heroic eyes. The bitter taste of the murky dirt upon depression’s battlefield intensely motivated me to highly utilize this bold spirit and forcefully crack this immovable brick wall.

Once again, following a vast number of ferocious combinations and blows exchanged back and forth, depression had finally dropped its guard for a split-second and I tremendously capitalized on the opportunity. I connected a potent punch that rattled and rapidly halted depression in its own vindictive tracks! I proudly witnessed that depression can bleed.

When it comes to depression, no one is a victim. One does have the option to fight. Therefore, ‘victim’ should not be used in correlation with depression. If there’s one portion of your soul that depression cannot touch, it’s your will. All of you have the option to devotedly fight this repulsive monster and beat it to its knees.

Like all or most of you, I was utterly unaware that I attained this brave spirit until depression hastily backed me into a corner and threatened my one chance and opportunity at life. People who drastically suffer from depression and boldly stand up to it day-to-day are not given enough credit. As matter of fact, these daring people are often made to feel bitter shame. My question is, “Why?”

To those who severely suffer, none of you are alone on your quest for mental freedom.

Anyhow, should an individual feel ashamed that although he or she undergoes relentless anguish on a daily basis, he or she is still sluggishly crawling out of bed in the morning to adhere to his or her responsibilities rather than giving up and crawling under a rock to await death? Should an individual feel ashamed that he or she has limitless will-power and valiantly strives to bury depression once and for all? Why should a depression patient have to be harshly judged for taking anti-depressant medication and/or receiving therapy? Should a cancer patient feel ashamed for receiving chemotherapy? Come on now. It is necessary treatment and helping one’s self! Where is there shame in what I’m explaining here? All of you should be proud of yourselves!

With that in mind, to those who do judge people who suffer from depression, you must consider: do people ask for a common cold? I wouldn’t think so; and, similarly, people do not ask for depression, either. In my opinion, no one bears the right to pass any sort of judgment onto another human being. If anything, it’s quite essential that an individual that’s suffering from depression feels love, respect, encouragement, and self-assurance.

It’s not a mere coincidence that suicide rates and depression coincide significantly. Many lives can be saved. Depression took the life of my cousin, Carmen. He is my inspiration to share my story and consistently help others who are suffering from depression. It’s definitely an illness that needs to come out of the dark.

About the Author:

My name is Daniel Savoia and years ago I was diagnosed with severe depression due to an exceedingly traumatic background. Presently, I’m in the process of writing an in-depth, thorough book on the subject of the abundance of knowledge that I excruciatingly gained throughout my elongated, agonizing journey throughout severe depression’s horrific pathway. Overall, I’m exceptionally seasoned when it comes to this gruesome illness and I’ve dedicated my heart in its entirety to helping those who are currently suffering, educating those who are close or related to an individual who is drastically suffering, and/or just answering general questions for inquiring minds regarding depression’s darkness.

Visit Daniel’s Depression Support Facebook Page here: Warriors of Depression on Facebook