INSPO Fitness Journal April 2017

Breakthrough in understanding
Morgan says she felt a sense of shame
because she believed she had no right to be
depressed, so she didn’t tell anyone.
“Nothing terrible happend in my life and
there were people out there much worse off
than me.”
She was feeling fine so stopped taking her
medication.
“I felt okay for a couple of months then
came crashing down. Back then I wasn’t so
good at noticing the signs of depression like
being snappy, irritable, and not eating properly
or exercising.”
Morgan, a customs officer in Auckland,
went back to her GP and had a breakthrough
in her understanding of depression.
“We had a massive talk and looked into
my family history of mental illness and she
explained that my brain wasn’t producing the
chemicals it needed… I realised then that I
needed to take medication all the time.”
She says she was a little nervous seeking
help initially.
“Admitting you need help can be a big
thing but once you get over that initial fear,
you walk out of the doctor’s feeling like your
shoulders are a bit lighter.”
“For the last eight
years I have ridden
the rollercoaster that
is mental illness. It’s a
funny old thing; I can
go for months feeling
on top of the world
then for no apparent
reason my world can
come crashing down
and getting out of bed
seems like climbing
Mount Everest.”
Talking is key
Her advice to people who may be feeling
down, is to find somebody to talk to.
“Find a friend or somebody who will
listen and support you in going to the doctor.
The key is talking, to break down the stigma
and start the ball rolling with getting help…
I’m more accepting of my depression now.
I’ll always have it but at the same time I don’t
let it dictate my life.”
For Morgan, exercise and eating a healthy
diet are crucial to feeling good. She took
part in the Auckland Marathon last year
and raised more than $4000 for the Mental
Health Foundation. She’s also taking part
in the Kilimanjaro Challenge in September
to raise money and awareness for mental
health.
“The more people talk and the more
organisations like the Mental Health Foundation
do amazing work and break down
barriers, the better.
“For the last eight years I have ridden
the rollercoaster that is mental illness. It’s a
funny old thing; I can go for months feeling
on top of the world then for no apparent reason
my world can come crashing down and
getting out of bed seems like climbing Mount
Everest. I am good at hiding it and putting on
a brave face.
“For a long time, I felt like it was something
I needed to deal with on my own. I
guess I was almost ashamed as I have a really
good life, so why should I be depressed.
“However the reality is I have lost friends,
relationships and, at times, myself due to
hiding the extent of my mental illness. I have
now come to realise that hiding is the wrong
approach. Mental health is something that
needs to be spoken about. If you have a heart
disease you talk about your diagnosis, your
treatment, the specialist you are seeing; so
why should mental health be any different?”
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
is a charity that works towards creating
a society free from discrimination, where
all people enjoy positive mental health and
wellbeing.
The organisation provides free information
and training, and advocates for policies
and services that support people with
experience of mental illness, and also their
families/whānau and friends.
For more information around where to
seek help, visit mentalhealth.org.nz
Follow Morgan’s journey at:
kilimanjaro-for-mental-health.everydayhero.com/nz/minnierunsformentalhealth
facebook.com/minnierunsformentalhealth/
221A Victoria Street, Hamilton | P: (07) 839 5681 | F: (07) 839 5846
www.trekntravel.co.nz | www.facebook.com/trekntravelnz
INSPO – FITNESS JOURNAL APRIL 2017
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