BBC Radio 4 carries a long running program called Desert Islands Discs.
The program invites the guest to take away their favorite recordings to an imaginary desert island.
Comedian David Walliams recently featured on the show and as well as talking about the music, he spoke candidly about is struggles with depression and self esteem.
The depression has been a feature of his life since childhood and comedy was one way of attempting to deal with it.
Perhaps what is even more interesting is that in spite of sometimes severe depression he has been spectacularly successful in his career with the hit show Little Britain which also stars Matt Lucas.
Depression and its compatibility with the workplace is a hot topic at the moment with TV adverts in the UK reminding viewers that nursing legend Florence Nightingale suffered with depression; and still made huge and positive changes to the practice of nursing.
Although depression may be compatible with a successful career, it seems that many employers would prefer not to take the risk.
On the BBC Desert Island Discs show, Walliams was asked what luxury item he would take with him, he replied he would take a gun to shoot himself in case he got too lonely.
Perhaps it's easy to understand why employers are reluctant to take the chance when each job opening has so many applicants; but that still does not necessarily make it the right decision.
Depression can be successfully treated with both drugs and talk based therapies.
Often drugs are used as a kind of 'emotional sticking plaster' to get a person through their most difficult times.
Drugs on their own however rarely deal with the underlying life issues that caused the depression in the first instance.
Here, talking therapies are most effective.
Counseling is often prescribed by Family Doctors and frequently it is paid for by the local health service but results can be patchy.
With a good Counselor, old issues can often be understood and resolved; sadly in many cases Ihear about, the Counselor is still in training or does not have adequate life experience to deal with the situation.
Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy provide another route which often gets to the root of an issue quickly and effectively.
A Counselor who knows how to use hypnotic techniques or a skilled Hypnotherapist can often be effective where other methods fail.
Where a hypnotic method cannot be used, some have found that the Emotional Freedom Technique can provide a safe and gentle way to get to the roots of an issue or situation.
Sometimes known as EFT, I have found it to be an empowering method for those that I teach it to.
None of these methods is a universal panacea to depression but each has its merits and they can be successfully used together to deal with different aspects of the depression.
Those already on SSRI (Prozac or similar) medication should continue to take this as prescribed by their Doctor, but often this can be gradually reduced over time as the underlying issues that drove the depression can be understood or even resolved completely with other techniques.
The program invites the guest to take away their favorite recordings to an imaginary desert island.
Comedian David Walliams recently featured on the show and as well as talking about the music, he spoke candidly about is struggles with depression and self esteem.
The depression has been a feature of his life since childhood and comedy was one way of attempting to deal with it.
Perhaps what is even more interesting is that in spite of sometimes severe depression he has been spectacularly successful in his career with the hit show Little Britain which also stars Matt Lucas.
Depression and its compatibility with the workplace is a hot topic at the moment with TV adverts in the UK reminding viewers that nursing legend Florence Nightingale suffered with depression; and still made huge and positive changes to the practice of nursing.
Although depression may be compatible with a successful career, it seems that many employers would prefer not to take the risk.
On the BBC Desert Island Discs show, Walliams was asked what luxury item he would take with him, he replied he would take a gun to shoot himself in case he got too lonely.
Perhaps it's easy to understand why employers are reluctant to take the chance when each job opening has so many applicants; but that still does not necessarily make it the right decision.
Depression can be successfully treated with both drugs and talk based therapies.
Often drugs are used as a kind of 'emotional sticking plaster' to get a person through their most difficult times.
Drugs on their own however rarely deal with the underlying life issues that caused the depression in the first instance.
Here, talking therapies are most effective.
Counseling is often prescribed by Family Doctors and frequently it is paid for by the local health service but results can be patchy.
With a good Counselor, old issues can often be understood and resolved; sadly in many cases Ihear about, the Counselor is still in training or does not have adequate life experience to deal with the situation.
Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy provide another route which often gets to the root of an issue quickly and effectively.
A Counselor who knows how to use hypnotic techniques or a skilled Hypnotherapist can often be effective where other methods fail.
Where a hypnotic method cannot be used, some have found that the Emotional Freedom Technique can provide a safe and gentle way to get to the roots of an issue or situation.
Sometimes known as EFT, I have found it to be an empowering method for those that I teach it to.
None of these methods is a universal panacea to depression but each has its merits and they can be successfully used together to deal with different aspects of the depression.
Those already on SSRI (Prozac or similar) medication should continue to take this as prescribed by their Doctor, but often this can be gradually reduced over time as the underlying issues that drove the depression can be understood or even resolved completely with other techniques.
SHARE
