How To Win The Battle

When I was growing up in a small country town there wasn’t always a lot of good role models around, I was very fortunate however to have a great family and to meet a few people that taught me a lot of great things mostly through the different sports I played. One of those people was my old footy coach Simon. One of the key things he gave me was a clear example of how to approach life with a get it done attitude which was apparent in his approach to footy through hard work and dedication.  

As you know the world works in funny ways and now Simon and I are business partners with PEPT Central Queensland. We are lucky enough to get to learn from him today and in this blog post he’s going to talk about his struggles to overcome depression and how his new attitude towards life has helped him overcome this ever increasingly common problem facing many of us today. It’s well worth the read and I encourage you to pass this on to anyone you know who might be suffering at the moment – Simon is a great example of not only how to overcome depression but has become a light to many others and a beacon of hope to people who are exactly where he was just a couple of short years ago!

Over to Simon…

Two years ago this month I was just entering hospital. Not any hospital, I was entering a Mental Health Facility. I was going to be there for four weeks undergoing treatment, Electroconvulsive Therapy or in short ECT. A final attempt, I had decided that what was happening to my family and friends as a result of my illness had to stop.

Depression is real; it affects many people in real ways. The problem with depression and the following diagnosis is that denial then plays a huge role in the illness taking hold. I used it as an excuse like I was condemned for a life of suffering and there was nothing I could do. I used medication, I read books, I had counselling, I saw a naturopath, I exercised and I even had hypnotherapy.  Nothing worked for any length of time. In my eyes there was no cure. I was in denial about the fact that I was contributing to my illness. Until I decided that nothing could stop me from getting well and finding the real me, hence a massive decision to enter hospital.

It wasn’t until I decided that I was going to do what it took and in hindsight I realise that it didn’t have to come to hospitalisation. It only took a change of perspective; I could contribute to my wellness instead of my illness.

So after my four weeks in hospital I didn’t walk out a changed man, I didn’t even walk out with a smile on my face. I walked out knowing that I had the difference between happiness and sadness for the rest of my life inside me. With the help of treatment of course, I had learnt some very bad and harming habits in my years of darkness and was going to need all the help I could get.  I continued with medication and counselling. Though the number one thing that helped me more than anything else was Fitness and Exercise!

Fitness and exercise gave me such a rewarding and fulfilling experience. People ask me why it worked this time, it worked this time because I combined it with my attitude. Together my fitness and my attitude conquered all else. I could change it and was going to!

I could write a list longer than my arm on the positive impacts of exercise has on mood, but you’ve heard them all before. They are no secret. The one I want you to be aware of is the feeling of achievement it gives you. It actually makes you feel like you have some worth, exercise gives you a sense of accomplishment that no amount of negative self-talk can diminish for you witnessed the physical proof happen with your own eyes. You made it happen.

So now to keep my attitude right, I always look to surround myself with other like-minded people. As you’re well aware the world in general can be a very negative place. Living and breathing this positive philosophy by being part of such a great Team at Positive Existence Personal Training and also dealing with great clients and helping them everyday definitely keeps me aligned.

So today I write this blog post medication free, minimal counselling sessions and in control. Happy J You too can do this. Contribute to your wellness, not your Illness.

Simon Price

PEPT Central Queensland

Jake again…

I hope you got as much out of that as I did and again I would implore you to pass this article on to anyone who you know that might need some hope.

On a personal level I would like to thank Simon for being so open and honest and showing great courage by shining a light on his darkest days and I think he is to be absolutely commended on his approach to helping others.

Leave a comment to show your support J

Dedicated to your fitness success,

Jake