Facing Stigma, Finding Hope
THE IMPACT OF PROPER TREATMENT AND SUPPORT

BY PIPER WHELAN

*Name has been changed

As a teenage athlete performing at a high level, John* faced an incredible amount of stress, which took a severe toll on his mental health.

“Even though everything was going pretty good on the outside, I was having a lot of emotional pain,” he recalled.

His parents took him to a local doctor, who referred him to a psychiatrist in a city two hours away from the family farm. The psychiatrist diagnosed him with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and over the next few months, his parents drove him to weekly appointments.

“When I went to therapy, as soon as I met the psychiatrist—he was a child and youth psychiatrist and very good with youth—I had huge hope.”

In addition to prescribing medication, John’s psychiatrist introduced him to cognitive behavioural therapy, a form of psychological treatment in which you learn how to change your patterns of thinking and behaviour. While he initially wanted to “get over” OCD, he learned that it’s something he’d always have but could learn how to successfully manage, which he did.

“(Cognitive behavioural therapy) has probably been one of the biggest blessings in my life, to learn that behaviour and being able to apply it at various times,” he said.

It wasn’t until about 25 years after this experience that John faced another severe mental health challenge, this time arising when he was confronted with several major life crisis events happening around the same time. With severe depression, his OCD became incredibly difficult to manage.

A new psychiatrist incorrectly diagnosed him with generalized anxiety disorder and took him off antidepressants, which made his depression even worse. He began to have suicidal thoughts, but in his search for help he encountered doctors and therapists who didn’t believe his condition was as serious as it was.

Drowning in depression when he was discharged from a short stay in a hospital, he felt overwhelmed, unable to cope, and attempted to end his life. Even then, while recovering in a hospital’s psychological ward, there was still doubt among his doctors about the severity of his condition.

“The problem right there was stigma from inside the system, so that is something we have to be careful of as well. I think it’s rare, but I know it happens,” he explained.

At last, John met with a psychiatrist who believed him and was eager to help him every step of the way, and this made all the difference. This experience underscores the importance of accessing the right person when seeking help for mental health issues.

As his mental health improved and he moved to start a new job, he continued working with his psychiatrist, talking by phone regularly and meeting in person twice a year. Along with taking the appropriate medication, he continues to use his cognitive behaviour therapy tools to successfully manage OCD.

For those facing similar mental health challenges, John suggests looking into working with a psychiatrist first to ensure the issue doesn’t get worse. He also cautions against the stigma around using medication to treat mental health issues, as it can be a very positive solution for many in conjunction with other treatments.

“Coping with an illness like this is difficult because it’s an illness that naturally causes confusion in your brain…then you get confused about what you should do,” he said.

“I always say to people who come to me, go and get on a medication. A medication will stabilize you, lifting you up to a point where you are better able to manage your thoughts, provide you with confidence to gain control over your illness in conjunction with learning non-medicinal treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy.”

John also encourages those dealing with mental health issues to focus on self-care, including regular exercise, a healthy diet, avoiding caffeine later in the day, and creating a proper sleep routine.

“Depression can cause an inability to get proper sleep. It’s a vicious cycle because sleep deficiency worsens depression. You need proper sleep to cope. I strongly encourage people to go and get a medication for sleep, and in the meantime, learn some good sleep therapy from a counselor. There’s a good possibility that you will be able to taper off your sleep medication later.”

Today, John finds fulfillment and purpose in his work and by volunteering with agricultural and environmental groups. His well-being allows him to give time and energy to the causes near to his heart and to the new friends who have become an important support system.

“As it is with most people who have been able to carry on and lead productive lives, what has happened to me has made me a better person,” he reflected.

“I’m so glad that I have spent my life mostly trying to serve other people, and I’m not sure if I would have gone that direction if I wouldn’t have had this illness that makes you feel like you have more empathy.”

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