Meet Kirsten
I DONâT THINK I CAN SO IâM NOT GOING TO - BUT IT WASNâT ME SAYING THAT I COULDNâT, IT WAS MY DEPRESSION SAYING THAT I COULDNâTâŠ
Kirsten, is 19, and has been diagnosed with depression for a while. A few months before her Skills for Life Award, she hit a particular low and ended up in hospital. She told us how previously she would let her depression get the better of her â it would prevent her from doing things.
âBefore the course, I feel like I was a bit more complacent like âwell, I donât think I can so Iâm not going toâ, but it wasnât me saying that I couldnât, it was my depression saying that I couldnât. Itâs like my mental health was like âoh youâre not going to be able to do this, youâre tired, youâre angry or you donât want to do thisâ and Iâd just like give in and be like âok, Iâm not going to do this â I canât do itâ.â
Completing physical and emotional challenges on the Award, has enabled her to come out the other side with a more positive mindset â knowing that despite her depression, she can still achieve her goals.
âI was still depressed when I was on the course and Iâm still depressed when Iâm at home but I still managed to climb a mountain all while having depression. Although I had points where I struggled and I wasnât coping so well, I still did it, so itâs like although I have depression its not stopping me from doing things - I can still do things, I can push myself, Iâm still not going to be in the best mindset, but I can still do it - itâs not stopping me physically from doing things.