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_ 'Olivia, I applaud your courage': Said to ed: you love us, you hate us Edmonton Journal Saturday, May 15, 2004 Page: H4 Section: Ed Source: The Edmonton Journal Last week, Global Television reporter and ed freelancer Olivia Cheng wrote a powerful piece about her experience with depression. Her story, which has been reprinted elsewhere,touched many readers and generated a flood of of reaction. Olivia's hope was to try to break down the taboos of depression that causes many tosuffer in silence. These messages of hope and of thanks show that a great many people feel Olivia has accomplished her goal. Here are some of your letters. .................................................................................................................. As a reporter, every once in a while, one gets the chance to tell a story that makes a difference. You have done that with your very personal story. Thank you for sharing it and your strength. If your words help one person realize they need help, or someone close to them needs help, you have made a difference. I am proud to be your co-worker, your friend and to have watched you claw back against the "black dog!" J'lyn Nye, Global Television .................................................................................................................. I am so impressed with your article on depression ... You don't know what you have done for altering the stereotypes of depression -- and reaching out to the many, many people who suffer from depression. Thanks so much for your candour and honesty. That took strength and courage. Bravo. .................................................................................................................. Thank you for a wonderful article on depression. Also a big thank you to Miss Cheng for telling her story. It puts a face that is familiar to a lot of people, on an illness that is too often frowned on by the majority of the population. I'm glad that ed and The Journal took time to write such a good story. Keep up the good work. .................................................................................................................. You are very brave to speak so openly about your depression. As a reporter, you are taking a risk by becoming the story, but I commend you for doing this. I am convinced your testimonial will help other people suffering from depression to cope with this illness. And please allow me to add this: You have proven that you're not just a pretty face, but a beautiful human being. .................................................................................................................. Olivia, I applaud your courage and willingness to share the personal details of your battle with depression. I am sure your story will help people realize that depression is a disease like any other. A person cannot use willpower to overcome depression any more than a person with diabetes can control their blood sugar levels by concentrating on them! .................................................................................................................. Being in the black hole of acute depression is beyond description. It is a terrifying time, known only to those who have been lost in it. Good for you to publish Olivia Cheng's experience, and good for her to have it made public. ... As depression is becoming one of the worst health problems going into this century, it is important that people be made aware of what is involved. .................................................................................................................. Your story is beautiful, and very brave. .................................................................................................................. Wow! Telling it like it is will help many recognize and take steps to recovering their health. Good for you, Olivia! And good for Global too! Olivia's graduated return to work was a compassionate and caring action to assist her journey to wellness. More corporations could use this method of care with employees returning to work from illness as well as the death of a loved one. Keep up the good work! .................................................................................................................. I read your story in the Edmonton Journal on the weekend and let me commend you for being brave and courageous to divulge such a personal and difficult story. I sense that you did it to help others who may be going through the same thing. When we experience difficult situations or events, we are able to heal with the help God puts in our path. Then we become "wounded healers" to be a pathway for others. Your writing style is easy to read and your story is written in an interesting way, with no hint of self-pity. May God continue your healing and may you find compassionate persons on your way. I will keep you in prayer. .................................................................................................................. I haven't bought a news paper in years, but on the way out of my building I caught a glimpse of the front page in the Journal box and recognized you. After reading the caption I put my loonie in and went straight for the ed article. As I started to read, a lot of emotions began to move inside me ... was I reading a page from my own life? ... I had been living my life thinking I was the only one I knew that felt this way. ... You're a very brave person for tackling this issue with examples of your own life and I want you to know that now you know someone else that has been though this living hell. :) .................................................................................................................. Kudos to Olivia Cheng for her courage in sharing so publicly her experience with depression as read in today's Vancouver Sun. The more one knows about the illness, the easier it becomes to treat and avoid, is my personal experience. If today's article brings one person closer to seeking treatment or help, it is priceless. .................................................................................................................. I just wanted to let you know how touched I was with your article. Your story was very real and humane and from the way our phones (at The Support Network) keep ringing, it sounds like many people were really able to identify themselves in your experience. ... Thank you so much for taking that step to break the silence on mental health. .................................................................................................................. Acute depression hit me in March 1995. It is a black hole with no light at the end of the tunnel. It is terrifying when you have lost your will to keep on living. I am a high-energy person but for three weeks I stayed in bed, not wanting to see anybody or go to the gym (for me this is huge) praying that I would not wake up to face another day. Like Olivia, my gift of a great sense of humour was gone. Music I love, I could no longer feel. My motivation for physical fitness disappeared. When you lose the things that are your very essence, you start thinking that you may be losing your sanity. Drugs saved me at this critical time. During the next two years. I fought depression with drugs, counselling, AA, and Depressions Anonymous. In 1997, I made some major decisions to change my life. I have not taken drugs since then and I have learned what I need to do if I start feeling down. For the past five years my life has been terrific. I can't believe it is my life when I think about how things were. NEED TO TALK? TRY THESE AGENCIES.
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