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The Optimist

By June 13, 2013April 29th, 2019No Comments

Article appeared in Latest 7

With Ruby Wax on stage in her show, Losing IT, Zara Baker looks at why we should talk about depression.

Ruby Wax has spoken openly about her battle with depression. The popular comedian has been on our radar for years, yet it is only recently the star has talked openly about her illness. And who would have thought that Ruby, an excitable, assertive and sharp witted woman, would have been battling with this illness since childhood? With depression affecting one in four of us, depression is more common than you think. It’s just that nobody has talked about it that much, the result of which makes it seem an even more taboo topic. But 2011 has been a year of change. Ruby Wax’s depression is the inspiration of her show, Losing It, which she is currently starring in alongside her friend, singer/songwriter Judith Owen. The show brings mental health into the limelight and the public have been grateful for it. Honest, frank and completely open, Losing It doesn’t brush mental health under the carpet. Ruby and Judith discuss it – the audience are even invited to talk about their experiences in a Q&A section of the show. Talking about depression is good therapy. After all, courage is contagious. When one person opens up, it can help others to speak up too.

“But there is still a stigma attached to having a mental illness. In a recent interview, Ruby Wax admitted: “I really had trouble trusting my friends enough to say, ‘I don’t think I’m very well’, because I didn’t want to let them down.” Hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner Jonathan Conway tries to avoid using the term depression with clients, instead choosing to say they feel low or unhappy. “Once a person is labelled as ‘depressed’ they may begin to exhibit the symptoms of a depressed person,” Jonathan explains. “From my perspective the most important thing is to explore how a person is thinking. Often underneath these feelings is a fear about making changes.”

While we’re not going to all take to the stage in a show based on how we are feeling like Ruby has, admitting to feeling depressed and talking about it – whether with friends and family of a therapist – is vital. It can strengthen friendships, aid recovery and take the taboo out of the subject. “Depression can occur as a response to life events such as a bereavement, break up of a relationship or alternatively, negative ways of thinking,” identifies Jonathan. “A useful tool in NLP to overcome depression is to agree to limit negative thoughts to 30 minutes per day and less as time goes on*. Eventually the brain will reintegrate more positive thoughts.

“Sometimes a person will come to see an NLP Coach already taking medication from a GP,” Jonathan continues. “It could be that there is a chemical imbalance which can be helped with medication.

“It is important to encourage the client to start new activities especially exercise, even if it is going on a daily walk along the seafront. Self hypnosis can also work alongside therapies like acupuncture massage and antidepressants prescribed by a medical practitioner*.”

Talking to a professional can help. And if you do get a chance to see Ruby’s show don’t forget that depression affects one in four of us, so see the show with three friends.

Losing It is on at the Duchess Theatre, London until 1 October.

Agree new goals such as:

  • To feel more positive about day to day activities
  • To take some daily exercise
  • To help build some self esteem
  • To eat a good balanced diet
  • To sleep well
  • To have more structure in day to day activities
  • Use positive visualisations using hypnosis to feel more optimistic about the future