I love this Ted Talk. It delivers a powerful message with a spoonful of sugar. Take 9 minutes to watch, laugh, and learn.
Shine on 🙂
Barbara
Ruby Wax: What’s so funny about mental illness?
08 Friday Mar 2013
Posted in Uncategorized
Barbara Scoville, LCSW
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Wow, I couldn’t have said it better myself with so much non-painful humor!
For over thirteen years I have found and felt like she describes, even or especially with my family. I have received more concern and compassion with my two recent double knee replacement surgeries than I’ve ever gotten in my 13 years of Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder and General Anxiety Disorder complicated with Personality Disorders.
People who have experienced situational depression or a blue mood and not a true chemical depression think that it’s all the same, and they expect us to be able to just pull ourselves out just like they can and have. We can’t! What makes it so hard is just what was said on this video clip, we don’t have the x-rays or lab work etc. to show differently. I strongly believe that if someone has not experienced what I call “raw” depression, they cannot understand the HELL we live in each day.
As I was going through the line at the viewing for the early twenties son of someone who is very familiar with true depression and my depression specifically, he told me that the agony and pain that he was feeling is worse than anything “except what you are going through.” Wow, validation to the extreme.
As was also pointed out on the video, man’s growth during the ages has brought about so many great things such as the technogololy that we have now, but with it has come more stress and strain to deal with. Dealing with this is tough for everyone, but those of us with depression are as she said, “screwed.” Because of the symptoms that come with depression, we can’t stop the swirling of voices in our head, and most, if not all, of those are negative. Guilt and shame top my list. What about you? Do you find yourself asking how to make them stop or how can I get off this Merry-Go-Round?
“Just think happy thoughts.” How many of us have heard that one? It doesn’t work quite that way and is not that easy. I’m not saying that it might not help, but there is so much more to this disease than that. All we can do is try our hardest to do what Barbara tells us and thank God for putting her and others like her in our lives.
I knew you would love it and thank you for adding your thoughts. I’m sure many are grateful to see they are not alone.
There is so much more that could be said. Did I go over the top though?
Not at all. You’re telling it like it is 🙂
Just another thought. No, anyone who reads my comment you are not alone, but I know that you feel alone. I know that I do and I am right now also. There are so many out there that feel the same way that we do, so many that truly understand, but we tend to hide in the shadows. There are also too many who don’t have a clue of how lonely we feel. I don’t say this because I’ve done it. I haven’t. I’m still hiding in the corners just like you, but what would Barbara say? “It’s your responsibility to tell them how you feel.” That sucks and is so hard to do, but I guess she is right. With God and Barbara, however, WE ARE NOT ALONE!!!
I thought you might find this information about Ruby Wax interesting –
“Wax’s 2010 stand-up show Losing It deals with her experience of bipolar disorder, which she was diagnosed with in the early 1990s.[13][14] The show played in London at The Duchess Theatre in 2011. Wax founded a mental health website in 2011 in response to the audience reaction from her theatre show.[15]
In addition, Wax teaches business communication in both the public and private sector, clients include Deutsche Bank, the UK Home Office and Skype.[16]
Currently, Wax is attending Kellogg College at Oxford University to obtain a Master’s Degree in mindfulness based cognitive therapy, having previously obtained a postgraduate certificate in psychotherapy and counselling from Regents College in London.[17]”
Thanks Nancy. What an accomplished woman. I love the video and think it puts across a very important message.
Thanks Nancy. What an interesting and accomplished woman. Her Ted Talk has resonated with so many people.