Let’s lift the stigma attached to depression

I just read a brilliant article featured on a blog for Lawyers with Depression in relation to what drives how we feel about taking medication for depression.  

In this article the author commented “stigma is the dark cloud of shame which says that we’re weak or somehow “bad” for taking drugs.  This nonsense continues despite the fact that 350 million people suffer from depression worldwide and that it is the leading cause of disability on the planet”.

You thought you or your partner were the odd one out!   You thought only weak people gave in and took medication to balance out their anxiety and depression! 

 Have you taken the time to notice in the press how many politicians, celebrities and well educated, wealthy people are breaking the silence on their depression and are speaking out about its impact on their life, relationships and careers.

I though it was interesting that there is a website dedicated to Lawyers with Depression.  You see, people from every walk of life are touched by this physical illness which requires medical care and treatment – good people, bad people, poor people, rich people, optimists, pessimists, happy people, sad people.  Depression is no respecter of persons. 

Lifting the Stigma

What can we do to break this social stigma and lift the awareness in society on this illness so that it is regarded the same as heart disease or diabetes?

 How about I let you in on what I am doing to lift this stigma, then you have a think about what you personally can do.

• I have dedicated my personal coaching practice to women who support a partner suffering with depression
• I encourage these women to lose their sense of shame and embarrassment about the fact that their partner has a mental illness that needs treatment like any other illness
• I also encourage these women to not try to travel this journey on their own and to reach out for appropriate professional support
• I give these women the opportunity to tap into endless resources and possibilities to turn their situation around
• These women discover how to create a safe and understanding environment for their family while they are supporting their partner through their depression

 I wonder what you are going to do now to lift the stigma attached to depression.   I am thinking you could

• Open up and break the silence on your own situation where you are supporting a partner suffering from depression
• Acknowledge you can not travel this journey on your own and reach out for help.   When you do this you encourage other women in the same situation to feel more at ease themselves about reaching out for help
• Lose your own sense of shame and embarrassment about the fact that your partner has a mental illness that needs to be treated with medication and other resources available to them

 Together we can beat depression with strong relationships!

• Let’s aim to build stronger relationships within our marriages, partnerships and families.

If you would like some support and guidance in relation to how you can build a stronger relationship with your partner who is affected by depression, please contact me at christine@trailblazingwoman.com.au.  

 I would love to share with you insights I have gained through my own personal journey of supporting a partner suffering with depression and coaching women such as yourself through to a place of renewed energy and freedom in their situation.

Christine McRae, The Trail Blazing Woman, christine@trailblazingwoman.com.au

©January 2010, The Trail Blazing Woman