Encouraging Others
Sharing my journey from suffering to living has also allowed me to connect with others facing similar challenges. It’s important to break the silence around mental health and encourage open, honest conversations. By sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to shift their perspectives and find their own paths to resilience and joy.
At the end of the day, I want to de-stigmatise mental illnesses, and the best way to do that is by talking about them. Openly and honestly talking about them. So if I'm expecting you to discuss them, I should be able to talk about my own journey as well.
We should be able to talk about mental illness as easily as we can the common cold or a broken arm.
Conclusion
Changing my thinking from "I suffer from depression, anxiety, and PTSD" to "I live with it" has been a transformative journey. It has empowered me to take control of my mental health, embrace acceptance, build resilience, and rediscover joy. While mental health challenges are a part of my life, they no longer define me. Instead, I define how I live with them. And in doing so, I have found a sense of peace and purpose that I once thought impossible.
I truly hope that you found these posts helpful. My biggest wish is that one person saw this series of posts and gained the courage to say, "yeah I live with depression too"
Cheers all
A note about the author: Craig Field (me) is not a trained counsellor or therapist. I do try to offer advice based on my own personal experience; however, you should always talk to a medical practitioner or qualified therapist to come up with a tailored plan to help with your illness. My knowledge comes from my own personal, lived experience and that of witnessing people close to me navigating the mental health system.These blog posts are not intended to replace your doctor or psychologist.
Together we CAN make a difference!
If this post has brought up some difficult thoughts for you please seek help from your doctor or one of the services listed below. In an emergency dial 000.
13YARN 13 92 76
Blue Knot Helpline 1300 657 380
First Nations Support Line 1800 959 500
Headspace 1800 650 890
Mens Helpline 1300 789 978
Standby support after suicide 1300 727 247
So proud of you little brother! Thank you! I live with depression also!