Hi all 👋🏻 I’m ripping the bandage off and finally plucking up the courage to release this one. Please don’t listen if you think you could be triggered by this topic although I feel like I approached it a way to avoid potential triggers as much as possible but I’d rather be safe than sorry. I’m not going to lie, it’s not been easy to share my story with you but I do so because it’s so so so important to start talking about depression. It’s not something to be ashamed off although it often feels like a part of me I have to hide in order to be seen as successful in life. That’s unfortunately due to the stigma that still surrounds mental illness in Ireland today. As a result of this stigma, many of us end up trying to tackle it alone for fear of the negative connotations associated with mental ill health. This causes us to feel isolated and like we’re the only one who feels this way when that is not the case. If this resonates with you I’m really sorry you’ve had your own fair share of dark days but I hope you can take something positive from this episode. I also hope you know that if anything I’m proud of you, you resilient lil warrior you! You’ve gotten through 100% of your dark days as you will for all those to come. In this episode I talk about getting help for depression, how I’d like my friends and family to be there but not feel responsible to ‘fix’ me and some of the skills I’ve learnt along my journey that make it easier. I am not a medical professional, I’m just someone who’s been there and I would like to share what’s helped me along the way to hopefully help others. I aspire to be that nudge for someone who is struggling to reach out but to also know they’re not alone. 💜 I hope you enjoy and are able to find joy in all the little things today. - Aoife x
