If you enjoy these posts – you might enjoy a copy of my book, “Happiness is Over There” – which is a personal memoir detailing the stories, learnings, and exercises I used to shift my life from dark and chaotic to a life of light and productivity. You can buy a signed copy at www.paperclipthinking.com or you can email me at travis@paperclipthinking.com to arrange book delivery.
Anxiety and Depression are way too mainstream for my liking. Like millions of others, my first bout of anxiety started in 7th grade and it took years of suppression for that subtle anxiety to become a real problem, which led to a “break down” when I was 26 years old. I spent the subsequent 21 years reading, writing, researching, experimenting with new behaviors, dedicating myself to remedying the anxiety and depression I lived with. I chose to function with an anxiety pill from time to time, chose to have a few drinks, buried down feelings, reminded myself that “life is hard”, and I faced off with people who woke most mornings wondering how anyone could feel anxious or depressed and then I watched them plant their left foot in front of their right foot and keep on moving, which felt impossible to me. This world is filled with all kinds of stories, all kinds of remedies, and I am intrigued by all of them.
I am in a different place now. I am more comfortable in sharing my experiences because I believe it to be one of the chief purposes I am on the planet. My purpose being to listen and share, when needed. A purpose to remind anyone who is feeling a bit dark, a bit confused, a bit bummed out about their place on the planet - that they are not broken and that they will always have someone to talk to, and that can be me. I will be here to listen, I will be here to support, and I’ll be here to offer experiences and ideas that could support you in shifting the trajectory of your life.
I’ve made this offer to some in my community and the people taking me up on the offer: to chat; to dialogue; to learn; are middle-schoolers, high-schoolers, and newly graduated college students. So many young people who describe anxiety and depression as “totally normal”. I used to believe the stereotypes that it was only the “middle aged” or the newly unemployed who faced these challenges (and was typically remedied with a “rub some dirt on it” mentality), but as you read and listen to the reports, the stories, and see the behaviors…this is officially “the norm” for so many of our children. Let’s work to stop this.
If you know someone struggling, I’m letting you know that I’ve been there, I’ve begun to see a way more peaceful way of living and I am here to listen. Change will take discipline, courage, and it takes vulnerability, so if you want to explore a new way of thinking and behaving…I’m here.