LiveWell Peer Tony shares what he does on a daily basis to live well, offers some wisdom about goal setting and building self-compassion, and describes how participating in LiveWell peer support groups has benefitted his mental health.
"I reached out to a LiveWell peer for support... I felt relieved, validated, and accepted."
What is one thing you MUST do on a DAILY basis to reduce depression symptoms, manage your mental health, or live well? And why?
Talking or communicating with someone daily helps me reduce depression symptoms. Although I enjoy spending time by myself often, if I spend too much time alone then I can feel lonely, disconnected, and sad and can spiral downward.
I feel supported when I talk about mental health with peers and safe people.
What is one LiveWell Strategy you use on a daily basis to manage your moods? And why?
My favorite strategy is Do What You Can When You Can: Accept the ups and downs of managing your moods. Go at your own pace. Trust yourself through your unique process of change and growth.
It's my default strategy when I'm having a rough moment. When I feel angry, sad, and hopeless from failing, I can always succeed at doing what I can when I can. It is a way that helps me practice self-compassion.
How has participating in LiveWell peer-support groups positively impacted your mental health?
For me, it helps to talk about mental health challenges in a safe and nonjudgmental space with peers who can relate and understand.
I was in a situation recently where I voiced my opinion when I usually keep thoughts to myself. My thought was met with an opposing view. I felt anxious and upset because I thought I might be criticized. I reached out to a LiveWell peer for support. During that conversation I realized that I'm not wrong for having an opinion, thought or preference. I felt relieved, validated, and accepted.
If you were to share one piece of wisdom or inspiration with a peer starting out on their own depression treatment or wellness journey, what would it be? And why?
Break up what you want into small steps. Set very small goals and celebrate the victories when you accomplish them. Give yourself credit. They all matter and they all add up. This was particularly helpful to me when I felt stuck. The small successes gave me some forward progress and after a while I built some momentum.
Join Tony and the rest of our LiveWell Peers in challenging the stigma of depression by sharing your story today.
LiveWell Peer Emily shares how she lives well with depression, offers some wisdom that she's gained along the way, and describes how participating in LiveWell peer support groups has benefitted her mental health.
"This group opened me up to exploring healthier ways of coping, how to reach out for help, and has set me on my own path to continue Living Well."
How do you live well with depression?
I live with my depression by acknowledging that it is there -- that it is not something that is my fault or makes me "less than" in any way. Accepting it as a part of me, but not all of me has propelled me forward into the happier, healthier life I want to live.
How has participating in LiveWell peer-support groups positively impacted your mental health?
I found LiveWell during a time when I had pushed a very important person to me out of my life due to my struggle with depression. I decided at that moment that, while I may not be able to have them in my life anymore, I was going to change 'me' so I would never be that angry, empty person again.
At my first LiveWell meeting, the facilitator shared a powerful experience very similar to my own. The validation I felt after their share was something I had never experienced and was the first time I felt seen as my whole self, the good the bad and the ugly, not just the person I projected to friends and family.
This peer group has positively impacted my mental health in that I have learned that I don't have to walk on eggshells when trying to discuss my depression. My peers showed me that internalizing my (emotional, mental) pain does not get me where I want to be, but rather lightyears away. This group opened me up to exploring healthier ways of coping, how to reach out for help, and has set me on my own path to continue Living Well.
If you were to share one piece of wisdom or inspiration with a peer starting out on their own depression treatment or wellness journey, what would it be? And why?
My small nugget of wisdom for those out there starting their wellness journey is to know healing is not linear, but you do have to start somewhere; and I hope you find LiveWell and the strategies as helpful as I did and still do.
Secondly, live as authentically as you can, even if it isn't pretty all the time -- you'll slowly find yourself where you want to be.
Join Emily and the rest of our LiveWell Peers in challenging the stigma of depression by sharing your story today.
Updated: Mar 16, 2023
Are you a LiveWell peer interested in Challenging the Stigma of Depression by sharing your unique story to empower yourself and inspire others? Or maybe you're looking for ways to contribute to the mental health of your peers and community as a way to Live With a Purpose? Whatever the reason is, we look forward to learning about how you live well with depression on a daily basis.
