Whilst it undoubtedly raised awareness on the subject, it also brought to light a more personal issue: the fact that for me, and I’m sure thousands of young and successful woman across the country, depression was still a part of life that we didn’t want to share.
Depression will affect one in six of us, yet continues to be stigmatized as a mental weakness in those affected.
'I felt that I had to live up to the high expectations that both I, and others, had set aside for my future'
Mental weakness is far from what I consider myself having; I achieved straight A* grades at school and am working well towards a career in journalism, soon to graduate from a top university.
Yet these positives didn’t stop me from waking up on some days feeling worthless and irritable.
Having this split personality made it even harder to accept the fact that I had a mild form of depression; I felt that I had to live up to the high expectations that both I, and others, had set aside for my future.
Whilst there’s no concrete answer for why thousands of people across the country are affected by depression, a life event that somebody can’t get over can often function as a trigger.
Rocked by a car accident in 2009, through no fault of my own (and just months after a college friend had tragically died in a collision) I became overwhelmed with anger, shocked at how short-lived life could be and a phobia of driving.
Talking to my doctor was the first step towards combating my feelings of anxiety, and since then, I have undertaken a course of CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) to help with my fear of driving and have been prescribed with anti-depressants. Not only was the CBT fascinating (it’s not the same as counselling, despite what many may think) but it restored my confidence as a driver and put me back on to the road to success.
There will always be those that dismiss depression as an excuse. I’ve learnt to ignore them.
The medication helped me to cope with certain situations during a difficult time, to what to others may have seemed trivial. Regardless of which coping method a person decides to take, simple lifestyle changes can be made in order to help with depression and to avoid feelings of negativity. Next time your best friend asks if you’re okay, tell her the truth.
Feeling like your head’s going to explode? Take some time out. And if your friend has taken the courage to confide in you, offer her realistic advice. There’s nothing worse than hearing that ‘it will all be fine’.
There will always be those that dismiss depression as an excuse. I’ve learnt to ignore them. Depression has not only given me a chance to find an inner strength I didn’t know existed, but the opportunity to help those that have suffered, and will suffer, at some point in their lives.
Life will have its highs and lows. Frankie Sandford had her low, but with the exciting news of her recent engagement and pregnancy, I know that things can only get better.