Ryan's Story
Ryan shares how taking a break from school to work on himself and finding comfort in shared experiences helped him fight depression.
"I found it so important to know that I was not alone in this struggle. "
About Ryan:
I’m currently a business student at Okanagan college, working part time as a bartender. I hope to someday use my business studies and work experience to open a pub of my own.
WHAT WAS THE MAJOR TURNING POINT IN YOUR RECOVERY FROM DEPRESSION?
I find it hard to label one specific point as the “turning point” in my recovery, as the process had many ups and downs. Despite this, the most influential moment in my journey came when I felt that things could only get better. I vowed to go through the steps to overcome my position, regardless of how painful that choice might be.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT REALLY HELPED?
Mindfulness
- The realization that I did not need to listen to the voice in my head all day provided a huge relief from my cognitive stress.
Therapy
- Every time I am not in therapy, I struggle to get back into it. Despite this, every time I go it makes a significant impact on my self-esteem and general mood.
Socialization
- I found it so important to know that I was not alone in this struggle. Luckily I was blessed with friends who felt comfortable sharing their experiences with me, but there are lots of ways to connect with those who have shared experiences.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER GUYS FIGHTING DEPRESSION?
Depression often takes time to work though, try not to get caught up in the sacrifice needed to work through it. A year ago, I dropped out of university to confront my depression and beat myself up for it. A year later, I can say that it was the right decision. There can be value in short-term sacrifice for personal development or career growth but, in my opinion, there is nothing more important than your long-term mental health. Whoever is reading this, I wish nothing but peace for your mind and happiness for your soul.
– Ryan Schmidt, Kelowna, BC, Canada