Being a depression speaker, or as I prefer to call myself - an Emotional Awareness Expert, gets some very varied reactions. Some people laugh and tell me I should be a millionaire. others say "Couldn't you find something more interesting to talk about?" or "Your should do something that makes you happier."
I love what I do, and I never find it boring, or depressing. Helping other people is what most careers are based on. HOW we help other people is what gives us a job. WHY we choose to help other people, gives us a purpose.
Think about what your How and Why are based on. Why did I choose mine?
Having a child with ASD, who suffered suicidal depression for 12 years, I know how hard it was to get help. I've seen how it affected my son, myself, his father, and his sister. I know how it played out in interactions among the wider family, schools, with friends, and in society. I discovered how little anyone could or would support us, even with qualifications. No one had the 'right' answers or solutions.
My son was 20 years old, barely able to tell the day of the week, let alone live his life. I sat with him through another deep suicidal depression one night, for three hours. I was ready to call the mental-health unit that night, but I knew that no one could really help. As a parent I had felt powerless for years, dealing with my son's emotional outbursts and suicidal tendencies.
That night, a lighbulb went off in my head...
"My son can't understand his emotions - because he can't SEE them!"
That night was the last time my son ever talked about wanting to die. That was the beginning of my transformation as a parent, and to becoming a speaker, mentor, and trainer. I re-trained in public speaking, to talk about depression in neurodivergent teens and young adults.
That moment, I realised I needed to take a different approach. I started using colour, and drawing out HIS emotional language, to talk to him, and teach him how to understand his own emotions. He immediately started engaging in conversation instead of avoiding it. He became curious, and more self-aware. I went on to create a whole strategy, writing books, and create online courses.
Becoming a depression speaker was the most valuable job I could create, with my HOW and my WHY. This work led to my diagram of the Emotional Cycle, and the framework in my book Brain Unchained.
My first ever public speech about depression, was my TEDx Talk 'Tackling Teenage Depression' in 2017. Since then I have spoken in various small groups, countless zoom meetings and online workshops, training sessions, and mentoring programs. I've spoken at educational establishments from high school to university. More recently I spoke at a couple of local government funded events. These were for disability inclusion, and for health professionals working in collaboration.
For me it's exciting to see the hope on people's faces. To see their recognition that I've created a process they can connect with rapidly. A toolbox for talking that puts the power of transformation in the hands of parents, teachers, support workers and more.
For me the excitement is in seeing a movement of an emotional revolution coming together, one talk at a time. There's something magical about seeing the positive reactions in people, and hearing how people's lives are changing. All because of that lightbulb moment back in 2015 - sitting with my son when he was suicidal. To know that what we went through is helping others - that's my WHY.
What's really exciting for me is seeing ahead at the transformations yet to take place, and knowing the impact my work can have on the narrative of neurodivergent teen depression, through parenting, teaching, therapy, and workplace support.
I hear therapists, life-coaches, support workers, and parents, saying how they feel powerless to help those with the deepest depression.
How can a therapist help clients process emotions, when they don't know how to talk about their emotions? How can we get clients to connect with their self-awareness first?
It often results in weeks of therapy for a client to even open up. This can result in the client giving up, and walking away without healing emotionally. This happens more where therapies are limited sessions per client.
It is these therapist, life-coaches, support workers, and emotionally aware parents, that I am seeing the most enthusiasm from. The energy I get from professional people who know that current systems are missing something vital, astounds me. It's shocking to know that even with their best efforts, and skills, something still isn't hitting home in clients with depression. That's where I get excited, knowing I have NEW answers and solutions that hit the spot!
These professionals are the one's I'm seeing get excited that I have a way to fill that gap. |I have a way to help them, help their clients achieve self-awareness and emotional awareness, with a visual diagram of the emotional cycle.
As well as working 1-1 with clients, and running online workshops, I get excited at the idea of sharing this powerful strategy with larger audiences. I'm a confident speaker, with a powerful message, and inspiration in abundance.
If you have an event where you are looking for an innovative speaker who's creating an emotional revolution - then contact me for a and let's talk about your event needs.
