An autobiography of depression and recovery

Insiders: Outsiders - Personal Journeys Through Depression

 Insiders Outsiders is a glimpse into the debilitating illness that is clinical depression, from both the author’s own personal experiences of it and those of others who have known it either as sufferers (‘insiders’) or ‘outsiders’ – people who have lived with or cared for sufferers.

 It is a series of stark and bleak accounts of the pain and anxiety inherent in this still much misunderstood mental illness, yet also a tale of courage, self-development and redemption.

 The autobiographical element, charting Scott’s road to breakdown and ‘slow climb’ back to recovery, is very moving, and it is especially interesting to read how his wife Jennie travelled her own journey on the ‘outside’ and how she was affected by his illness.

"What is arguably most unique about this book is its very positive perspective on a negative theme – Scott describes his depression as a ‘gift’ that will enable him to help others, and his attempts to understand its origins seem to be also an attempt to lessen its power over him."

Despite some necessarily dark moments, the only real ‘negative’ in the story is his attitude towards mental healthcare in this country, which is really constructive criticism and so more positive than it might initially seem.

Finally, there is a very interesting perspective through the eyes of a professional and experienced psychotherapist, who puts her own views on the individual accounts and how and why depression has been manifested and sustained.

 About the author

Steve Scott was born on a tough council estate in Gosport, Hampshire, in 1958 and this is where he spent the first part of his younger life. With his family, he had three-year spells in both Gibralter and Malta, his father being in the Ministry of Defence. He eventually moved to Plymouth in 1970 where he completed his education and began his career in retailing. With his wife, Jennie, he moved to South Africa in 1982, initially on a 3 year contract with a major South African retailer. Because they enjoyed the climate and the lifestyle they decided to stay on an extra 2 years but the call of ‘home’ beckoned and they returned to Plymouth in 1987. Steve resumed his career in retailing, concentrating on logistics this time, a job that he initially loved and was passionate about. In 2005, Steve had a major breakdown and had to give up this job but has since reincarnated himself as a self-employed life and business coach.

The Road to Recovery

The Road to Recovery 

The recovery approach to anxiety and depression emphasises opportunities for the return of a person’s quality of life and positive identity. In this case, recovery does not mean that sufferers are free of symptom, but that they create the ability to live well in the presence or absence of their anxiety and/or depression. Recovery, therefore, is a liberating concept, that promotes optimistic attitudes and expectations and is focused on the person’s ability to recovery.

Benefits of Business Coaching

Benefits of Business Coaching

There are several benefits that an individual would consider when deciding to work with a business coach. These include the desire to enhance performance, to balance priorities and to increase awareness.

 Business coaching encourages employees to learn a lot more about their job roles and improve their performance. Through the business coaching process, employees will develop a great sense of loyalty to both the management and the organization. This will ultimately improve the working conditions and enhance productivity of the employees.

 Through business coaching, it is possible to transform a difficult, negative employee into a productive and useful asset for the organization. However, this will not happen overnight, there is a need to put in place measures that will facilitate employee engagement and participation by allocating tasks to the employee that he is knowledgeable and skilled in.

 Business coaching makes it possible for team members to identify ways of solving problems to enhance productivity. This process will also encourage team building, which will reduce to possibility of conflict within the organization.

 Business coaching is a way of preventing employee termination that may be costly to the organization in terms of funds to recruit new staff, and training an employee replacement. Business coaching will enable the organization to make the best of the problematic staff and enhancing their performance.

The Business Coaching Process

The Business Coaching Process Before coaching takes place, it is important for the employee, manager and coach to reach an agreement regarding the desired outcome of the coaching relationship.Once the employee is confident enough and believes that he will benefit from the coaching process, then a meeting is arranged for the employee to complete a preference guide, which is designed to help identify the best learning option suited to meet the employee’s developmental needs. Based on the information provided during the meeting, the employee is then presented with a number of different coaches. The employee will then assess the coaches through interviews and select the one that suits him the most. Selecting the appropriate coach is a crucial step in the coaching engagement. When the coaching process begins, the coach will gather information about the employee’s values, interests, behaviour, goals and opportunities to enhance development. This could be in the form of a questionnaire or face-to-face conversation. The coach will then decide on the appropriate coaching process. A midpoint employee assessment is then conducted to track the progress of the employee as he goes through the coaching process. This will determine whether to suspend or continue the coaching relationship. The employee is then given a final assessment form. This information is made confidential and only general data is sent to the coach. The last step in the business coaching process is a follow-up assessment, which is normally introduced six months to a year after the coaching contract has lapsed.

Help With Depression Part 12 - Ask for Help

Help With Depression Part 12 - Ask for Help

We all have mental health and we are all humans. Everyone can get overwhelmed at times by what is going on around them or within their head. Not everything goes according to plan, or always goes right or we always feel well. From time to time things will go awry and we feel like we are not in control and cannot cope and it is during these times we need to ask for help.

Your family and friends may be the right people to talk to but there are many other options as well, such as:

·      Support groups for weight, alcohol or drugs

·      Coaches, counselors, or therapists

·      Citizen advice bureau

·      Mental health charities, such as MIND, the Depression Alliance, the Mental Health Foundation and Stand to Reason

·      The Samaritans

·      Local authorities

Speak to your GP if you think your mental health is being affected and is affecting your relationships with others, your work and your overall health. Over a third of all visits to the GP’s are about mental health so there is no need to feel embarrassed or alone.

Help With Depression Part 11 - Take a Break

Help With Depression Part 11 - Take a Break

Sometimes we can be so involved in our work and busy life that we forget to take a break. Sometimes we kid ourselves we take a break when we eat lunch at the desk or have hot drinks on the go, but this is an illusion and is detrimental to good mental health. What it really needs is a change of scenery, a short walk, a sit down during housekeeping, or even a long weekend away. This is the time you can de-stress and have some much needed ‘me time’.

Taking a break may mean taking part in some activity or it could mean just sitting on a perk bench and watching the world go by. Either way, you are taking a break from your normal activities and will help you experience a change and a chance to think about something new or not very much at all.

Many people find yoga or meditation helpful for relaxation but just putting your feet up for 10 minutes or so can be as equally helpful. If you feel tired, have a power nap, tiredness can really lower our mood and resilience. Make sure you get enough sleep and wake up naturally wherever possible. Don’t skimp on rest and relaxation at the expense of getting everything done on your to-do list. Even when you are on death’s bed, there will still be things you will not have ticked off that never ending list. Sometimes the world can wait until you come back from your break.

Life Coach To The Rescue!

Life Coach To The Rescue!

There are times when you can simply just lose track because of huge changes like divorces, retirement and job changes. During those times, you may need an extra motivational voice that will help you get back up again and continue with your life. What if your life is just fine but you are seeking more? You want to find more value and passion in everything you do? That life coach can help you see things differently, seek alternatives and figure out what may be missing in your life.

The path towards personal development can either be a simple one or a rough one. It would only seem smart to have an expert on board with you, guiding you along the way. A life coach does not make every single decision for you. Instead, a life coach provides support and accountability so that you can discover the best in you and act upon your dreams. If you’re looking for that extra push, you will definitely find it with the help of a life coach. If you are seeking a life coach, feel free to surf the Internet for well-qualified coaches. You can find more information on life coaches at: http://www.stepping-stones-coaching.com

Help With Depression Part 10 - Do Something Creative

Help With Depression Part 10 - Do Something Creative

In addition to learning a new skill, many of us have existing pastimes that we love doing but sometimes don’t get chance to practice. Lots of people like being creative, developing things from scratch and enjoying the process of completing a task. Enjoying yourself while you do this beats stress and boosts your self-esteem. It gives you a focus and purpose that helps you forget the worries on your mind or the difficult times at work. Being creative is consuming and leaves little room in your mind for anything else.

Doing something creative also means that for a while you are not an employee. A manager, a father or a partner, you are just you doing something you enjoy. At the same time, being creative allows you to express yourself in different ways, such as drawing, painting, building or planting for example.

You may meet different people while you are doing and again expanding your band of friends and colleagues with similar interests.

Life Coaches Give a Helping Hand

Life Coaches Give a Helping Hand

You are so overwhelmed with life. You need a coach. No, not a sports coach just someone similar, who can help you manage all upcoming games in your life. What is so beneficial about life coaching? How could the help from another individual help you take an effective action in life?

Friends are great for going out with and socialising but sometimes, friends are not around enough to truly understand your needs in life. Family members are wonderful for love and support but most of the time they have more things to take care of than to worry about the details of your life. This is why life coaching can truly be beneficial to you.  A life coach’s job is to only be dedicated towards helping you figure out what you want in your life and helping you actual achieve these goals.

The work of a life coach is almost parallel when compared to the work of a coach for a sports’ team. If you’ve lost all drive and motivation, a life coach can help you figure out the root of your issues to fix it. If you have a goal but you don’t know which direction to take, a life coach can help you in the vision planning process.