hello everyone I’m so glad to see you all here but I must admit that I’m very
all here but I must admit that I’m very
all here but I must admit that I’m very nervous it’s like I have an anxiety
nervous it’s like I have an anxiety
nervous it’s like I have an anxiety disorder or something before I like I
disorder or something before I like I
disorder or something before I like I start I’d like to introduce myself a
start I’d like to introduce myself a
start I’d like to introduce myself a little bit if you had to fit me into a
little bit if you had to fit me into a
little bit if you had to fit me into a clique I’d definitely be an art nerd I I
clique I’d definitely be an art nerd I I
clique I’d definitely be an art nerd I I de Lyonne go and I spent all my free
de Lyonne go and I spent all my free
de Lyonne go and I spent all my free time drawing and painting my love for
time drawing and painting my love for
time drawing and painting my love for music is deep and I play through
music is deep and I play through
music is deep and I play through different musical instruments I also
different musical instruments I also
different musical instruments I also played on a volleyball team for over six
played on a volleyball team for over six
played on a volleyball team for over six years and I love to get good grades but
years and I love to get good grades but
years and I love to get good grades but my favorite part of life is hanging out
my favorite part of life is hanging out
my favorite part of life is hanging out with my eight older siblings and my mom
with my eight older siblings and my mom
with my eight older siblings and my mom dad and playing with my nieces and
dad and playing with my nieces and
dad and playing with my nieces and nephews now I’m gonna ask you guys to do
nephews now I’m gonna ask you guys to do
nephews now I’m gonna ask you guys to do something for me if you or a loved one
something for me if you or a loved one
something for me if you or a loved one has suffered from depression or anxiety
has suffered from depression or anxiety
has suffered from depression or anxiety please raise your hand that’s a lot of
please raise your hand that’s a lot of
please raise your hand that’s a lot of us now if you had a head read my
us now if you had a head read my
us now if you had a head read my biography or come to this event today
biography or come to this event today
biography or come to this event today and you just saw me on the street and
and you just saw me on the street and
and you just saw me on the street and even after getting to know a little bit
even after getting to know a little bit
even after getting to know a little bit about me you probably would not guess
about me you probably would not guess
about me you probably would not guess that I suffer from anxiety and
that I suffer from anxiety and
that I suffer from anxiety and depression there’s a lot of us that
depression there’s a lot of us that
depression there’s a lot of us that suffer now depression is a mood disorder
suffer now depression is a mood disorder
suffer now depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of
that causes a persistent feeling of
that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest and may
sadness and loss of interest and may
sadness and loss of interest and may cause the feeling that life isn’t worth
cause the feeling that life isn’t worth
cause the feeling that life isn’t worth living there is no physical surety and
living there is no physical surety and
living there is no physical surety and what causes depression but there has
what causes depression but there has
what causes depression but there has been certain consistencies observed in
been certain consistencies observed in
been certain consistencies observed in the brains of the depressed one
the brains of the depressed one
the brains of the depressed one consistency includes comparatively small
consistency includes comparatively small
consistency includes comparatively small hippocampus the hippocampus is a small
hippocampus the hippocampus is a small
hippocampus the hippocampus is a small part of the brain at the back and it
part of the brain at the back and it
part of the brain at the back and it controls and is in charge of cortisol
controls and is in charge of cortisol
controls and is in charge of cortisol the stress hormone it also controls
the stress hormone it also controls
the stress hormone it also controls serotonin now this inadequate size of
serotonin now this inadequate size of
serotonin now this inadequate size of the hippocampus produces less serotonin
the hippocampus produces less serotonin
the hippocampus produces less serotonin and less serotonin results in feelings
and less serotonin results in feelings
and less serotonin results in feelings of sadness
lack of enjoyment in day-to-day life and
lack of enjoyment in day-to-day life and now another consistency observed is high
now another consistency observed is high
now another consistency observed is high amounts of cortisol cortisol is a stress
amounts of cortisol cortisol is a stress
amounts of cortisol cortisol is a stress hormone and this causes depressed people
hormone and this causes depressed people
hormone and this causes depressed people to feel stressed easily we often feel
to feel stressed easily we often feel
to feel stressed easily we often feel stressed to the point where getting out
stressed to the point where getting out
stressed to the point where getting out of bed seems impossible some days
of bed seems impossible some days
of bed seems impossible some days depression is at a weakness and it may
depression is at a weakness and it may
depression is at a weakness and it may require long-term treatment motivation
require long-term treatment motivation
require long-term treatment motivation sometimes is non-existent and life may
sometimes is non-existent and life may
sometimes is non-existent and life may appear to be meaningless depression and
appear to be meaningless depression and
appear to be meaningless depression and all these factors that contribute to
all these factors that contribute to
all these factors that contribute to depression can and often leads to the
depression can and often leads to the
depression can and often leads to the suffering individuals death by suicide
suffering individuals death by suicide
suffering individuals death by suicide 60% of those who have committed suicide
60% of those who have committed suicide
60% of those who have committed suicide have been reported to have suffered with
have been reported to have suffered with
have been reported to have suffered with a mood disorder related to depression
a mood disorder related to depression
a mood disorder related to depression well one in eight American teenagers
well one in eight American teenagers
well one in eight American teenagers suffers from depression in the United
suffers from depression in the United
suffers from depression in the United States estimated globally 350 million of
States estimated globally 350 million of
States estimated globally 350 million of us from all ages and ethnicities suffer
us from all ages and ethnicities suffer
us from all ages and ethnicities suffer this is a huge worldwide does issue that
this is a huge worldwide does issue that
this is a huge worldwide does issue that is rarely talked about depression
is rarely talked about depression
is rarely talked about depression anxiety are not things that should be
anxiety are not things that should be
anxiety are not things that should be ignored nor belittled or are they things
ignored nor belittled or are they things
ignored nor belittled or are they things that should be embarrassed about our
that should be embarrassed about our
that should be embarrassed about our hidden currently there are four known
hidden currently there are four known
hidden currently there are four known consistently efficacious strategies in
consistently efficacious strategies in
consistently efficacious strategies in dealing with anxiety and depression I’m
dealing with anxiety and depression I’m
dealing with anxiety and depression I’m sure you’ve heard of them and they go as
sure you’ve heard of them and they go as
sure you’ve heard of them and they go as follows therapy medication exercise and
follows therapy medication exercise and
follows therapy medication exercise and sleep therapy has been known to be
sleep therapy has been known to be
sleep therapy has been known to be effective in cases ranging from mild to
effective in cases ranging from mild to
effective in cases ranging from mild to severe this is with the correct
severe this is with the correct
severe this is with the correct therapists of course the adaa states
therapists of course the adaa states
therapists of course the adaa states that cognitive behavioral therapy works
that cognitive behavioral therapy works
that cognitive behavioral therapy works to replace on protective in negative
to replace on protective in negative
to replace on protective in negative thought patterns with more realistic and
thought patterns with more realistic and
thought patterns with more realistic and useful ones therapy focuses on becoming
useful ones therapy focuses on becoming
useful ones therapy focuses on becoming going through specific steps overcome
going through specific steps overcome
going through specific steps overcome anxiety and depression it involves
anxiety and depression it involves
anxiety and depression it involves facings one fears as a pathway to
facings one fears as a pathway to
facings one fears as a pathway to recovery medications can also be useful
recovery medications can also be useful
recovery medications can also be useful there’s a popular saying that says
there’s a popular saying that says
there’s a popular saying that says everything physiological is biological
everything physiological is biological
everything physiological is biological this means that everything mental that
this means that everything mental that
this means that everything mental that goes on in our brains also has a
goes on in our brains also has a
goes on in our brains also has a physical cause
physical cause
physical cause so our physical cause also has a
so our physical cause also has a
so our physical cause also has a physical treatment and that comes in the
physical treatment and that comes in the
physical treatment and that comes in the form of medications there are two
form of medications there are two
form of medications there are two different types of depression
different types of depression
different types of depression medications in the forms of SSRIs and
medications in the forms of SSRIs and
medications in the forms of SSRIs and SNRIs SSRI stands for selective
SNRIs SSRI stands for selective
SNRIs SSRI stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and it
serotonin reuptake inhibitor and it
serotonin reuptake inhibitor and it increases the amount of serotonin in the
increases the amount of serotonin in the
increases the amount of serotonin in the brain therefore often providing a remedy
brain therefore often providing a remedy
brain therefore often providing a remedy to the feelings of helplessness and
to the feelings of helplessness and
to the feelings of helplessness and worthlessness SNR is also increase
worthlessness SNR is also increase
worthlessness SNR is also increase serotonin and norepinephrine it is
serotonin and norepinephrine it is
serotonin and norepinephrine it is widely accepted that medications are
widely accepted that medications are
widely accepted that medications are effective in most cases exercises a
effective in most cases exercises a
effective in most cases exercises a third generic strategy in dealing with
third generic strategy in dealing with
third generic strategy in dealing with depression MK McGovern who specializes
depression MK McGovern who specializes
depression MK McGovern who specializes in brain research states that physically
in brain research states that physically
in brain research states that physically active people recover from mild
active people recover from mild
active people recover from mild depression work quickly and physical
depression work quickly and physical
depression work quickly and physical activity is related to good mental
activity is related to good mental
activity is related to good mental health as people age depression is
health as people age depression is
health as people age depression is related to low levels of serotonin and
related to low levels of serotonin and
related to low levels of serotonin and norepinephrine well exercise increases
norepinephrine well exercise increases
norepinephrine well exercise increases these neurotransmitters by stimulating
these neurotransmitters by stimulating
these neurotransmitters by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system this
the sympathetic nervous system this
the sympathetic nervous system this indicates exercise as a significant
indicates exercise as a significant
indicates exercise as a significant potential mood enhancer sleep is a fire
potential mood enhancer sleep is a fire
potential mood enhancer sleep is a fire forced widely known and aid in dealing
forced widely known and aid in dealing
forced widely known and aid in dealing with depression its benefits are obvious
with depression its benefits are obvious
with depression its benefits are obvious sleep is a restorative state however
sleep is a restorative state however
sleep is a restorative state however when sleep is disrupted or inadequate it
when sleep is disrupted or inadequate it
when sleep is disrupted or inadequate it can lead to tension vigilance
can lead to tension vigilance
can lead to tension vigilance irritability and other mood related
irritability and other mood related
irritability and other mood related symptoms having someone you know and
symptoms having someone you know and
symptoms having someone you know and love battle depression is sometimes hard
love battle depression is sometimes hard
love battle depression is sometimes hard it sometimes bill feels as if there is
it sometimes bill feels as if there is
it sometimes bill feels as if there is no way to help however from an insider’s
no way to help however from an insider’s
no way to help however from an insider’s perspective I can tell you that is the
perspective I can tell you that is the
perspective I can tell you that is the people in my life who help me overcome
people in my life who help me overcome
people in my life who help me overcome my struggles the most there are many
my struggles the most there are many
my struggles the most there are many things that you can do to help and there
things that you can do to help and there
things that you can do to help and there are things that you can do to not help I
are things that you can do to not help I
are things that you can do to not help I think a relative of mine summed it up
think a relative of mine summed it up
think a relative of mine summed it up pretty well what not to do she said one
pretty well what not to do she said one
pretty well what not to do she said one of the biggest struggles that I have
of the biggest struggles that I have
of the biggest struggles that I have with depression is that I just want
with depression is that I just want
with depression is that I just want someone to listen to me but I know that
someone to listen to me but I know that
someone to listen to me but I know that they won’t because one they just want to
they won’t because one they just want to
they won’t because one they just want to fix it and move
fix it and move
fix it and move – they want me to be normal and they
– they want me to be normal and they
– they want me to be normal and they won’t listen and three is they will
won’t listen and three is they will
won’t listen and three is they will encourage me to seek professional help
encourage me to seek professional help
encourage me to seek professional help when all I want is to be hugged by
when all I want is to be hugged by
when all I want is to be hugged by someone that I love if you have if you
someone that I love if you have if you
someone that I love if you have if you know someone who struggles from
know someone who struggles from
know someone who struggles from depression sit down listen to them and
depression sit down listen to them and
depression sit down listen to them and get them their favorite treat often all
get them their favorite treat often all
get them their favorite treat often all we need is a hand to hold in the
we need is a hand to hold in the
we need is a hand to hold in the listening ear there’s a statistic that
listening ear there’s a statistic that
listening ear there’s a statistic that says that 98% of people think that those
says that 98% of people think that those
says that 98% of people think that those with a mental illness are likely to
with a mental illness are likely to
with a mental illness are likely to attack and be more aggressive this is
attack and be more aggressive this is
attack and be more aggressive this is part of the reason why we as depressed
part of the reason why we as depressed
part of the reason why we as depressed and anxious people struggle to open up
and anxious people struggle to open up
and anxious people struggle to open up for fear of being judged or having a
for fear of being judged or having a
for fear of being judged or having a stigma attached to us the best things
stigma attached to us the best things
stigma attached to us the best things that you can do for us is to validate us
that you can do for us is to validate us
that you can do for us is to validate us like tell us that you know that there’s
like tell us that you know that there’s
like tell us that you know that there’s an issue and to love and to listen I was
an issue and to love and to listen I was
an issue and to love and to listen I was diagnosed with the precedent and anxiety
diagnosed with the precedent and anxiety
diagnosed with the precedent and anxiety disorders at the end of my sophomore
disorders at the end of my sophomore
disorders at the end of my sophomore year in high school as a 15 year old I
year in high school as a 15 year old I
year in high school as a 15 year old I didn’t understand what was happening
didn’t understand what was happening
didn’t understand what was happening happening to me and I didn’t think my
happening to me and I didn’t think my
happening to me and I didn’t think my struggles were worth the effort to try
struggles were worth the effort to try
struggles were worth the effort to try and fix after school volleyball
and fix after school volleyball
and fix after school volleyball practices were frequently interrupted by
practices were frequently interrupted by
practices were frequently interrupted by what I didn’t know were anxiety attacks
what I didn’t know were anxiety attacks
what I didn’t know were anxiety attacks my grades began to slip because instead
my grades began to slip because instead
my grades began to slip because instead of attending classes I would lock myself
of attending classes I would lock myself
of attending classes I would lock myself in a school bathroom stall and cry
in a school bathroom stall and cry
in a school bathroom stall and cry because I felt terrible at this point in
because I felt terrible at this point in
because I felt terrible at this point in my life I was miserable and I was
my life I was miserable and I was
my life I was miserable and I was clueless to the fact that it was human
clueless to the fact that it was human
clueless to the fact that it was human relationships that would help me to get
relationships that would help me to get
relationships that would help me to get feeling better
feeling better
feeling better one afternoon I finally worked up the
one afternoon I finally worked up the
one afternoon I finally worked up the courage to attend my honors biology
courage to attend my honors biology
courage to attend my honors biology class this quickly ended in me sobbing
class this quickly ended in me sobbing
class this quickly ended in me sobbing because I felt terrible and I didn’t
because I felt terrible and I didn’t
because I felt terrible and I didn’t know why luckily I had a gracious
know why luckily I had a gracious
know why luckily I had a gracious science teacher who had me come sit down
science teacher who had me come sit down
science teacher who had me come sit down in his office and he talked to me and he
in his office and he talked to me and he
in his office and he talked to me and he listened and after listening to my
listened and after listening to my
listened and after listening to my problems he helped me to kind of realize
problems he helped me to kind of realize
problems he helped me to kind of realize that it may be depression that I was
that it may be depression that I was
that it may be depression that I was experiencing after listening he
experiencing after listening he
experiencing after listening he encouraged me to seek professional help
encouraged me to seek professional help
encouraged me to seek professional help and he told me about the four ways to
and he told me about the four ways to
and he told me about the four ways to deal with
deal with
deal with oppression he then gave me some advice
oppression he then gave me some advice
oppression he then gave me some advice that has inspired me and driven me to
that has inspired me and driven me to
that has inspired me and driven me to seek help and seek a a relative healthy
seek help and seek a a relative healthy
seek help and seek a a relative healthy mental state he told me that I needed to
mental state he told me that I needed to
mental state he told me that I needed to talk he told me that I needed to talk to
talk he told me that I needed to talk to
talk he told me that I needed to talk to my parents and I really lucked out in
my parents and I really lucked out in
my parents and I really lucked out in that department because I do have some
that department because I do have some
that department because I do have some great parents and talked to people who
great parents and talked to people who
great parents and talked to people who care about me and we all have people who
care about me and we all have people who
care about me and we all have people who care about us genuinely and who love us
care about us genuinely and who love us
care about us genuinely and who love us and want us to succeed and so after he
and want us to succeed and so after he
and want us to succeed and so after he told me that I just it really clicked in
told me that I just it really clicked in
told me that I just it really clicked in my mind that I was important enough and
my mind that I was important enough and
my mind that I was important enough and that my problems were with worth fixing
that my problems were with worth fixing
that my problems were with worth fixing and I think a lot of us struggle with
and I think a lot of us struggle with
and I think a lot of us struggle with realizing that we are worth the effort
realizing that we are worth the effort
realizing that we are worth the effort and that we are worth fixing our
and that we are worth fixing our
and that we are worth fixing our problems unfortunately at the beginning
problems unfortunately at the beginning
problems unfortunately at the beginning of my diagnosis I still had trouble
of my diagnosis I still had trouble
of my diagnosis I still had trouble admitting to myself that I had a problem
admitting to myself that I had a problem
admitting to myself that I had a problem and so when I would get home from school
and so when I would get home from school
and so when I would get home from school I would continue to isolate myself
I would continue to isolate myself
I would continue to isolate myself because I didn’t want others to see my
because I didn’t want others to see my
because I didn’t want others to see my pain and I didn’t want to admit that I
pain and I didn’t want to admit that I
pain and I didn’t want to admit that I had a problem so one night this is
had a problem so one night this is
had a problem so one night this is really personal for a personal story but
really personal for a personal story but
really personal for a personal story but one night I was feeling particularly low
one night I was feeling particularly low
one night I was feeling particularly low and I got the idea that self-harm might
and I got the idea that self-harm might
and I got the idea that self-harm might distract from the mental torment that I
distract from the mental torment that I
distract from the mental torment that I was experiencing I grabbed a cup of I
was experiencing I grabbed a cup of I
was experiencing I grabbed a cup of I grabbed a pair of dull scissors from a
grabbed a pair of dull scissors from a
grabbed a pair of dull scissors from a cup on the shelf and I began to create
cup on the shelf and I began to create
cup on the shelf and I began to create small incisions on my arm tears stream
small incisions on my arm tears stream
small incisions on my arm tears stream down my face as the incisions got longer
down my face as the incisions got longer
down my face as the incisions got longer and deeper and I just wanted to say
and deeper and I just wanted to say
and deeper and I just wanted to say anyone considering yourself harm please
anyone considering yourself harm please
anyone considering yourself harm please do not I’ve never felt more panicked and
do not I’ve never felt more panicked and
do not I’ve never felt more panicked and alone than in these moments as the cuts
alone than in these moments as the cuts
alone than in these moments as the cuts got deeper and longer I began to
got deeper and longer I began to
got deeper and longer I began to hyperventilate more heavily and I sobbed
hyperventilate more heavily and I sobbed
hyperventilate more heavily and I sobbed and that’s when my big brother Joe
and that’s when my big brother Joe
and that’s when my big brother Joe walked in Joe is a sixth form of a more
walked in Joe is a sixth form of a more
walked in Joe is a sixth form of a more muscular build
muscular build
muscular build at that moment we did not have a great
at that moment we did not have a great
at that moment we did not have a great relationship
relationship
relationship when he walked in he didn’t say anything
when he walked in he didn’t say anything
when he walked in he didn’t say anything he just came and he picked me up and he
he just came and he picked me up and he
he just came and he picked me up and he rocked me he rocked me until I was able
rocked me he rocked me until I was able
rocked me he rocked me until I was able to breathe more normally and I told him
to breathe more normally and I told him
to breathe more normally and I told him what I was experiencing as I bled and
what I was experiencing as I bled and
what I was experiencing as I bled and drooled and cried on him and he just
drooled and cried on him and he just
drooled and cried on him and he just listened and he held me close until I
listened and he held me close until I
listened and he held me close until I was able to calm down this moment
was able to calm down this moment
was able to calm down this moment happened two years ago but I will
happened two years ago but I will
happened two years ago but I will cherish it and remember it forever
cherish it and remember it forever
cherish it and remember it forever because I helped me to realize the
because I helped me to realize the
because I helped me to realize the powerful impact that human interaction
powerful impact that human interaction
powerful impact that human interaction has on mental well-being
it was his care that I initially led me
it was his care that I initially led me to want to get better and sometimes I
to want to get better and sometimes I
to want to get better and sometimes I feel as though I owe him my life for
feel as though I owe him my life for
feel as though I owe him my life for that moment I had definitely considered
that moment I had definitely considered
that moment I had definitely considered suicide and had an even half attempted
suicide and had an even half attempted
suicide and had an even half attempted up the act at that time sometimes I
up the act at that time sometimes I
up the act at that time sometimes I believe that we as a human race don’t
believe that we as a human race don’t
believe that we as a human race don’t understand the power of human connection
understand the power of human connection
understand the power of human connection in the purpose that relationships gives
in the purpose that relationships gives
in the purpose that relationships gives to our lives nearly all web articles I
to our lives nearly all web articles I
to our lives nearly all web articles I find mentioned therapy medication
find mentioned therapy medication
find mentioned therapy medication exercise and sleep under the section of
exercise and sleep under the section of
exercise and sleep under the section of dealing with depression all these
dealing with depression all these
dealing with depression all these strategies work health is more fully
strategies work health is more fully
strategies work health is more fully reached by a fifth fundamental aid human
reached by a fifth fundamental aid human
reached by a fifth fundamental aid human connection dr. Matt her in Stine an
connection dr. Matt her in Stine an
connection dr. Matt her in Stine an experimental psychologist at DePauw
experimental psychologist at DePauw
experimental psychologist at DePauw University in Indiana states that
University in Indiana states that
University in Indiana states that behaviors associated with close
behaviors associated with close
behaviors associated with close relationships such as hand-holding and
relationships such as hand-holding and
relationships such as hand-holding and hugging contribute to a lower a lowering
hugging contribute to a lower a lowering
hugging contribute to a lower a lowering in the amounts of cortisol in the brain
in the amounts of cortisol in the brain
in the amounts of cortisol in the brain cortisol is a very hormone whose
cortisol is a very hormone whose
cortisol is a very hormone whose overproduction is speculated to cause
overproduction is speculated to cause
overproduction is speculated to cause depression the same doctor discovered
depression the same doctor discovered
depression the same doctor discovered that having this friendly touch just
that having this friendly touch just
that having this friendly touch just some simply someone touching an arm and
some simply someone touching an arm and
some simply someone touching an arm and holding it buffers the physiological
holding it buffers the physiological
holding it buffers the physiological consequences of this response my fellow
consequences of this response my fellow
consequences of this response my fellow peers isolating yourself from people who
peers isolating yourself from people who
peers isolating yourself from people who want to help you is simply not sensible
want to help you is simply not sensible
want to help you is simply not sensible do not let this insidious disease
do not let this insidious disease
do not let this insidious disease convince you that you deserve to be
convince you that you deserve to be
convince you that you deserve to be alone that you are not worth the effort
alone that you are not worth the effort
alone that you are not worth the effort or that life is not worth living if you
or that life is not worth living if you
or that life is not worth living if you let it depression will keep you from
let it depression will keep you from
let it depression will keep you from keep from reaching your potential and
keep from reaching your potential and
keep from reaching your potential and from leading a happy life when you are
from leading a happy life when you are
from leading a happy life when you are feeling down for no reason do not be
feeling down for no reason do not be
feeling down for no reason do not be afraid to reach out
afraid to reach out
afraid to reach out know that you have potential and hope
know that you have potential and hope
know that you have potential and hope and let the good people in your life
and let the good people in your life
and let the good people in your life convince you of that often developing
convince you of that often developing
convince you of that often developing close relationships alone is not what
close relationships alone is not what
close relationships alone is not what will heal you but this fifth fundamental
will heal you but this fifth fundamental
will heal you but this fifth fundamental aid will help you to drive you to
aid will help you to drive you to
aid will help you to drive you to practice the first four other aids human
practice the first four other aids human
practice the first four other aids human connection is what will seize you thank
connection is what will seize you thank
connection is what will seize you thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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