Lecture on Anxiety and Depression: A Personal Journey
Introduction
- Speaker shares a personal battle with anxiety and depression
- Key Points:
- Anxiety is omnipresent and challenging to control
- Personal diagnosis with anxiety disorder during college
Personal Experience
- First Major Incident: During the first game against Atlanta
- Felt something was deeply wrong mentally and physically
- Left to go home and ceased communication with the team (Eagles)
- Public Disclosure: Speaker had been secretly battling these issues for a long time
Symptoms and Physical Manifestations
- Emotional Symptoms: Loss of sense of self, feeling of doom, desire to run away
- Physical Symptoms: Nausea, daily vomiting (eventually with blood), tremors in hands
- Anxiety and depression led to significant physical health impacts
Coping Mechanisms
- Medication: Offers some help but can't fix everything
- Shame and Silence: Initially kept the struggle private out of shame
- NFL culture: A gladiator-type sport where mental health issues are rarely discussed
Realization and Public Discuss
- Achievements did not mitigate feelings of anxiety and depression, instead amplified it
- Speaking out and being open about the issues is relieving and important
The Importance of Talking About Mental Health
- Encourages breaking the stigma around talking about mental health issues
- Real strength is found in opening up about shameful experiences
- Social media exacerbates anxiety due to fear of judgment
- Emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and understanding one's "why"
Advice and Final Message
- Advice: Talk to a close friend, family member, or loved one
- Stress the importance of reaching out for help, which is always within reach
- Commonality: Realization that many others share similar struggles
- Expressing appreciation for listeners and supporters
Key Takeaway: It's crucial to talk about anxiety and depression openly to relieve the burden and find communal support, breaking the stigma around mental health discussions.