Your Stories
Acknowledging he had issues with depression and anger was the next biggest turning point in Jason's ongoing recovery and accepting himself.
After acknowledging you have depression, it gets much easier because you begin to accept yourself.
About Jason:
Jason Lee is the author of the upcoming book ‘Living with the Dragon: Healing 15 000 Days of Abuse and Shame’. He is also a Blogger, Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Group Facilitator, and Collaborator specializing in Childhood Abuse, Bullying, Emotional Abuse, and Mental Health.
In May 2017 he spoke at a mental health conference in Vancouver and in September, he spoke in Ottawa at a Mental Health Forum to raise awareness of mental health and how we can reduce stigma.
“There is no greater feeling than liberation and being able to live your most honest self” – Jason Lee.
What was the major turning point in your recovery from depression?
The major turning point in my life started after my last relationship ended in 2015. After years of turning my depression outward towards others in the form of anger and abuse, I realized that I was the only variable in the equation of my feelings of misery. The irony is that my ex was the catalyst to my world of healing, yet she was the target of my deepest struggles. She expanded my mind to resources that I previously turned a blind eye to.
Afterwards, acknowledging that I had depression was the next biggest turning point in my ongoing recovery.
What are some things that really helped?
- Counselling really helped and I was fortunate enough to find a couple of counsellors who I really felt a connection with.
- I’m not necessarily an advocate of medication, but it did help propel me to aggressively search for resources that eventually helped me through my depression. Medications were like the crutches for me, but I still needed to work with counsellors. I recommend working with your GP, if you decide medication is right for you.
- Reading was arguably one of my most useful resources. Educating myself and understanding about mental health and my past helped me understand and not judge what was going on inside of me. I also learned a wealth of tools and exercises that I practice to this day when dealing with depression or anxiety.
What advice would you give to other guys fighting depression?
There’s no shame to admit that you have depression. One of my fears before was that if I admitted to having depression, I would be viewed as broken or not whole. Maybe that’s true, but at least it’s easier to live a life being honest with myself than to live a lie pretending that I don’t suffer from it at all.
After acknowledging you have depression, it gets much easier because you begin to accept yourself.
Everyone is affected by mental health to some capacity and there’s no weakness in acknowledging that. In fact, it takes a brave soul to realize what’s troubling inside of them.
– Jason Lee, author, life coach and advocate based out of Coquitlam, BC, Canada