I’m seeing all walks of life fall victim to mental health, even people with seemingly perfect lives and careers, people who we perceive publicly as ‘always got their sh*t together.’ Truth be told, they’re as susceptible to issues as the next person. Let’s face it: the world is basically NUTS and getting weirder all the time, have you read the news lately? Now, add the fact that we are increasingly getting pushed to the limits in our daily schedules, finances on micro and macro levels are constantly squeezed and scrutinised, and our personal circumstances with work and loved ones naturally change, and we’re all getting older at the same rate! Relationships evolve (for the better or worse), families and their long-term dynamics can become fractured and stressed, and any of these things likely affect one’s sense of ‘Purpose.’ Whether depression or anxiety is something that you can point back to a series of events, or you ‘don’t even know how you got there,’ you can be left with this inner dialogue which hauntingly screams ‘WHY DO I FEEL SO BAD/THERE IS NO EXPLANATION ANY MORE/IT MUST JUST BE MY DOING, IT’S MY FAULT/MAYBE THERE’S NO POINT!’ Well, that’s a voice of depression and anxiety sounding in your brain. Personally speaking, that sort of feeling that ‘nobody will understand where I’m really at,’ the twisted mind matrix that leaves you unable to move in any useful direction at all, a confused, spiraled, locked up state, it may well be the most debilitating. Personally, I feel that’s pretty central to depression and anxiety and it’s subversive and DANGEROUS, make no mistake. 

So, if you feel an inkling of this, try and notice it within yourself if you can, and plan to make a simple but important phone call, or plan to drop in on someone who you reckon will listen, and please plan to do it as a priority. Start a conversation with someone who will offer the most relaxed dynamic, i.e., ring up an old mate from childhood or high school, a family member, even maybe a distant associate that ‘gets you,’ even if you don’t catch up often. You might initially think they’ll not want to hear from you about your woes, but honestly, I speak from experience, they WILL be there to listen and it WORKS, to ease the stranglehold of how you feel. What’s great about where we’re going with this in society now is that we’re losing the ridiculous stigma that it’s not cool to talk about your feelings! This sort of technique works wonders – I’ve been on both sides of this conversation multiple times. Talking to someone in this way will help you no end, in gaining a better perspective; it will naturally help you to see that there’s a way out of the woods, and a light at the end of the tunnel, and guess what – the light at the end of the tunnel is not a train coming towards you, either!

Alternatively, and this sounds more full on than it is, call your GP or google the number for a local professional health line if you’re worried or don’t have anyone you feel like you can trust to listen, and they can VERY EASILY hook you up with a psychologist/counsellor, and this is not something to be ashamed of! Myriad services are there for us in this lucky country. I’m of the belief that we have an INCREDIBLE health care system in Australia compared to most countries on this planet, so make use of the legends that are there to listen (anonymously, too). Just like your oldest mates, they too want to see you get through the hard times and to a better place.

— Rai Thistlethwayte