I try to get to the Archie each
year (Archibald Art Exhibition) not
because I’m crazy about art but
interested in the way an artist uses
their skills and talents to capture
real Australians, warts and all.
This year my favorite was Gary
McDonald by Kirsty Neilson titled “
There’s no humour in darkness”.
Kirsty explained why actor and
comedian Gary McDonald famous
for his hilarious portrayal of Norman
Gunstan and Arthur Beare in Mother
and Son was her choice to paint.
She had seen Gary on Australian
story, talking about how he had
suffered from major anxiety and
depression, which lead to a nervous
breakdown. Anxiety and depression
take you to a very dark place.
Kirsty captured this brilliantly with
a dark background. Mental Illness
is such a personal experience which
is why she chose to paint Gary side
on, no eye contact, and hand on
his head emphasizing the mind as
a battlefield, the area we need to
conquer.
HighAnxieties.org says that
Depression is not a joke! It’s a real
illness that doesn’t discriminate, no
amount of money or fame can fix it.
The funniest man on earth couldn’t
just think positive and be healed.
Support those who are battling
depression and other mental health
issues. It takes lives! (RIP Robin
Williams)
3 million Australians are living
with depression or anxiety right
now!
www.healthyPlace.com gives some
helpful advice on what NOT to say to
someone who is depressed.
• you just need to give yourself a
kick in the rear.
• no one ever said life was fair.
• there are a lot of people worse
off than you.
• well, everyone gets depressed
sometimes!
• maybe you should take vitamins
for your stress.
• you need a hobby.
• just pull yourself together.
• just try a little harder.
• you have no reason to feel this
way.
•
•
•
•
•
you will be ok, just hang in there,
it will pass.
you don’t like feeling that way?
so change it.
you have it so good, why aren’t
you happy?
I thought you were stronger than
that.
snap out of it, will you?
None of these are helpful to
someone who has depression!
I think another actor and comedian;
Stephen Fry said it best; “If you know
someone who is depressed please
resolve never to ask them why.
Depression isn’t a straightforward
response to a bad situation;
depression just is, like the weather”.
Try to understand the blackness,
lethargy, hopelessness and
loneliness they’re going though.
Be there for them when they come
through the other side. It’s hard
to be a friend to someone who
is depressed, but it is one of the
kindest, noblest and best things you
will ever do.
Beyond Blue offers very helpful
information from their Website:
www.beyondblue.org.au
Support in Recovery
Recovery can take time and is
different for everyone. As well
as getting treatment underway,
you’ll need to find new ways to
manage and live with the changes
and challenges of anxiety and/or
depression.
While psychological and/or medical
treatment can help with your
recovery, there are many other ways
you can help yourself to get better
and stay well.
Recovery is an individual process
with stages that everyone moves
through at different rates. However,
there are some common emotions
that many people may experience.
1. Shock at having to deal with
something difficult and scary
that you have no prior experience
of.
2. Denial or difficulty in accepting
having a health problem,
particularly one that many
people find hard to understand.
3. Despair and Anger at having to
deal with the condition and its
related difficulties.
4. Acceptance of having a
condition and the changes
it brings, and accepting how
others see you and how you see
yourself.
5. Coping by finding new ways
to live with and tackle these
changes and challenges.
Available Support
There is no one proven way that
people recover from anxiety or
depression, and it’s different for
everybody. However, there are a
range of effective treatments and
health professionals who can help
you on the road to recovery. There
are also many things you can do to
help yourself to recover and stay
well. The important thing is finding
the right treatment and the right
health professional that works for
you.
Different types of anxiety or
depression require different types
of treatment. This may include
physical exercise or peer coaching
for preventing and treating mild
anxiety and depression, through to
psychological and medical treatment
for more severe episodes.
The recovery process doesn’t
necessarily have a clear beginning,
middle and end. Some people will
only experience one episode of
depression or anxiety in their lives,
while others may go on to have
another episode, or experience
recurring symptoms of depression
and/or anxiety that need to be
managed.
Staying well is about finding a
balance that works for you, but
there are some general principles
that most people find useful. These
include reducing and managing your
stress levels, maintaining a healthy
lifestyle, cutting back on alcohol
and drugs, and taking action early
if you start experiencing symptoms
of depression or anxiety. It’s also
important to deal with any setbacks
and keep trying.
Beyondblue
1300 22 4636
Lifeline
13 11 14
CMAACare Helpline
1300 464 262
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