I have been following Jelena Dokic in the Australian Open this last week and I am so proud of how she is going. Here is a girl that has been through the highs and lows that life can offer. After shooting to fame at the age of 16 for her amazing tennis skills, her world started to crumble. The pillar of strength that was her family started to implode. Her father turned her life and her career into a mess. After many years of chaos, she moved on, standing up to her father and cutting ties with him for her own well being. She came back to Australia only to be plagued by doubts about her career and to suffer depression. No one is immune from the “black dog” however Jelena has shown this week that you can get through depression and come out stronger and better for it.
Depression is something that I have also experienced and it is something that when living with Illness and Injury can often rear its ugly head. For a long time I was oblivious to what I experiencing. I had been living with it for almost 6 months when it hit me what I was suffering from. I read some where about the symptoms of depression and when I got to the part about not wanting to eat or take showers I was so relieved! I was suffering those exact symptoms and I thought there was nothing I could do about it. When I finally realised what I was experiencing, the name for what I was feeling, I knew that I could do something about it.
My first task was to acknowledge that I was suffering depression to my loved ones. To sit down with my boyfriend and actually say to him (through lots of tears!) “I think I am suffering depression” was such an uplifting thing to do. Obviously it was no shock to him but for me to get it out into the open and not be treated like it was something to be ashamed of was a turning point. I told my medical team how I felt and asked for some help from the Mental Health team. Just saying those words made my stomach clench but I kept on. I had two lovely ladies come to my home and talk to me about what was going on in my life and how I really did have a lot on my plate. It was such a relief to hear them say that clinical depression is something caused by the chemicals in your brain and although I could not take the medication to correct this chemical imbalance (due to medication reactions) there were things that I could do to help correct the imbalance naturally. One of the most important things they told me to do was to talk it out. And so I got a psychologist and did just that. I also read. Lots. Anything I could get my hands on about people surviving depression and coming out the other side. People that had life going for them after surviving depression. I needed to know that I could not only survive this but I could also THRIVE after this, I was not down or out yet! Those stories got me motivated and inspired and yes, I did get through it and once out the other side I did thrive. I have not looked back but I have taken the lessons that the depression taught me through it all. Talk it out. Look for HOPE. I still do these things everyday.
So if you are going through depression, make a point of noticing those fellow soldiers who have fought that battle and gone onto to live happy, fulfilling lives. Jelena Dokic is one of those people. She has been the highlight of the Australian Open with her fighting spirit. She has got through depression and it has made her an even better player and no doubt, a better person. If she can do it, so can you. Just keep on fighting. The sun will soon shine again.
All the best, Lily
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