Personal Narrative: My Struggle With Depression

I found a mindful activity at http://www.pocketmindfulness.com/6-mindfulness-exercises-you-can-try-today/ called mindful observation. I focused on the grass in my backyard for 2 minutes. I felt extremely connected to the earth after this exercise because I felt that I was appreciating the natural world and all it has to offer. This is an exercise that I can incorporate into my daily life because it is simple and it doesn’t take much time but the lasting effect managed to stay with me all day. Our society is captivated by technology which has caused the majority of people to spend the present on their phones instead of reflecting on their thoughts. I am not very interested in my phone so I feel that I do practice mindfulness more often than …show more content…
Personally, depression is a mystery. I have learned the symptoms and the treatment options but I truly know nothing about this disorder. This internal barrier that those with depression experience is so foreign to me because of my lack of experience.I feel that only those who have struggled with depression know about this frightening struggle; however putting these feelings into words is a challenge in itself. I know nothing of the conflicting feelings, the energy used up by the fight, and the new battles that arise each day. But today I feel like I understand a little bit better. Author and illustrator, Matthew Johnstone has created an enlightening story dealing with his battle with depression. He uses the metaphor that compares depression to a black dog to create a visual representation of a disease that lives inside. There are many books and articles filled with an extensive amount of pages to try to explain the feelings experienced during depression, but I feel that none of these compare to what has been said in Matthew Johnstone’s 4 minute and 19 second video. He says it simply and meaningfully which makes the video suitable for the individuals dealing with depression who are trying to put their emotions into words, and the individuals trying to learn more about what depression really causes. In today’s society many choose to ignore mental illness and feel ashamed to speak up about it but Matthew Johnstone has overcome this. It must have took courage to create an …show more content…
During the presentation, Harrison discussed his battle with bipolar disorder and addiction that started developing in his teens. His worsening mental health can be seen within his drawings as they become more lonely and empty. Luckily, he has learned how to deal with his mental illness. He managed to turn his situation, which is often associated with negativity, into a chance to educate and inspire through comedy.The one key idea that I took away from Harrison’s speech is that normal does not exist. Society has created a false standard that dictates that people with balanced and controlled emotions, carefully planned out thoughts and a constant positive attitude are the normal ones. This is one of the main reasons why mental illnesses are associated with shame and negativity. In reality, there is no such thing as normal and the stigma associated with mental illness is not deserved. I would rate Harrison’s speech 8/10 because his story was very captivating with his use of his art. He included his past and present drawings which was a great representation of his struggles, strength and courage. To improve the presentation, I think Harrison should have described more of the drawings from his teens and the feelings behind them in order for those without mental illness to understand and those with mental illness to