For those battling with PTSD, depression and anxiety, stigma is a major roadblock to recovery, and often a major roadblock to admitting there is an issue that needs addressed in your life. It's a burden placed on the shoulders of struggling people by society, and it's hard to break through the layers of repression, fear, shame and control to finally take the reigns of life and regain what was rightfully yours to begin with. Even after taking such a monumental step as this it can be overwhelming, and the ghosts of fear, shame, repression and control leave a nasty residue that never fully wears off no matter how hard you may try to scrub at the corners of your mind. Certain conversations spark triggers- painful reminders of what happened to you, why it was wrong, and why by proxy you are a bad person (for somehow allowing it to happen, for not being able to "get over it", for talking about it or bringing it up, for the perception of making it other's problems by sharing, for feeling the way you do and not having the ability to see light at the end of the tunnel). The dominant whole dictates the actions, thoughts, and inner emotions of all. They are terrified at your experience. The one effects all. You cannot escape. You are bound by societal discretion.
But does reality really need to be this way? Can we not collectively shatter the mirror of society, the magic mirror that dictates what is socially acceptable or allowable? Can we not create an empathetic society starting with ourselves and our thoughts, moving on to our circle of friends and our conversations, and finishing with our children and our teachings, making a world where people don't need to contemplate isolation, self harm or suicide? I can imagine a world where society embraces and supports each other, where a circle of friends embraces another into the fold who is suffering, where we can truly, empathetically, have a social conversation with the general populace at large that embraces diversity, empathy, understanding and acceptance. I believe we can reach an ideal where this is the norm, not the exception. I believe as a whole we already wish to exist in this ideal.
I am a believer of action, and as such have joined forces with an enigmatic person from Vancouver, BC who is embarking today on a World Run for Depression and Anxiety (and during the Washington State portion, with my assistance, will be running for PTSD as well). We both believe the world is ready for this message and is willing to embrace a cultural shift to move us onward towards a more accepting, inclusive future. He has already run across Canada for the cause (www.crosscanadarun.com) and is currently choosing to literally run around the world to raise awareness and understanding for anxiety and depression (of which he is a long time sufferer) and dispel social stigma surrounding these issues (www.loveworldrun.com). We will be speaking anywhere along the journey where we are welcome and people will listen to our message and our stories. We will be doing everything we can to raise our voices collectively for the cause.
I would now like to ask those of you, my social circle, members of greater social circles and society at large to join us in our plight. Help us raise our voices together by sharing these sites and my blog with everyone you know (20% or more of the population is suffering from anxiety, depression and PTSD at any given moment, and we are positive you are obliviously surrounded by suffering- help people anonymously by showing generalized support for a cause that is certainly affecting those you care about by sharing these sites), follow this blog or get email updates and start supportive, safe dialogue in the comments (so those still carrying the weight of stigma and shame will feel more acceptable and begin the journey of opening and healing), support us with a quick donation, or pledge per lecture spoken or per mile ran, support button located on my home page right hand side (this helps continue the World Run and all we do, as it is all personally funded and completely on a full time volunteer effort), support us by attending the events I've posted at the bottom of my home page after my blog posts, and bring everyone you can (this helps us spread our message and healing as far as we can into the community), and finally help by donating your time (to help me publicize or to help Wayne organize), your couch (or spare room), or energy (by pledging to run with Wayne) if you are in or near a city he will be visiting.
We appreciate all that you, the members of our ever evolving society and social circles, are willing to do to help as catalysts for a brighter, happier future, where people can bask in the glowing embrace of acceptance and empathy from their fellow man and truly understand not just how to manage a meager existence, but what it is to live.
"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
Lao Tzu
"One word frees us of all the weight and pain in life, that word is Love."
Socrates
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