SaltWire E-Edition

Coping with the crippling invisibility of anxiety

East Coasters shed light on the misunderstandings and prejudices of mental health

DESIREE ANSTEY desiree.anstey @journalpioneer.com @Journalpei

It’s a scene filled with emotion and movement as the wind and rain pound away at a little yellow house that peeks through the storm with its warm billowing chimney, perched on top of a hill and overlooking a wild ocean of heavily thick brush strokes.

For Darrin Martin, from Torbay, art plays a valuable role in alleviating his anxiety.

“When I’m working, painting puts me in that moment and lowers my anxiety,” said Martin. “I become so hyper-focused on every brush stroke that it takes away the nagging at the back of my mind. And I think we live in such a fast society that we must slow down sometimes.

“A lot of what I paint is about the past and old traditions, like oil lamps and sitting down at the end of a long day because, in life, we need to slow down and savour the moment, live for the day, instead of racing around with so many distractions all demanding our attention.”

In 1999, Martin was diagnosed with conversion disorder in his final high school year.

“Stress from exams and stepping into a new direction took a physical manifestation on my body,” he explained. “It was a very dark time of my life. I had feelings of helplessness combined with sadness. And certain things obviously would bring on panic and fear.

“So, that was the first significant episode. Then, (in) 2006, I had another attack that lasted a couple of months and then, in 2014, it was another five months of this vicious cycle where I became trapped in a growing dread that I couldn’t shake. When I have these episodes, it feels like my chest is tightening, affecting my breathing like a heart attack.”

Anxiety altered Martin’s career path.

After high school, he planned to audition and study a major at a music school, but extreme stress resulted in him losing his voice for 11 months.

He was put on medications, went to speech therapy and tried multiple things to regain his voice.

“But, given my family history of mental illness, my symptoms became linked to anxiety during a pivotal time when your body is physically changing and you are at a crossroads in life,” he said.

He found comfort in studying art, communicating his experiences with technical brilliance on canvas as a therapeutic tool.

Each painting is an augmented reality of a Newfoundland scene that contains a tapestry of texture and colour.

“I returned to art after music and have focused on this as a career for more than four years,” he said. “I have painted over 700 pieces. It is a huge part of my life and I draw parallels to Vincent van Gogh. While his mind was troubled, he wanted to bring light through his work; you can see this with the colours.

“And, just like van Gogh, I want to move people with emotion through my art.”

While Martin still performs and sings on stage, he sometimes must step back for self-care.

“I’ve performed professionally on stage as a singer for 20 years, but, the older I get, the more difficult it becomes,” he said. “Despite all the years of performing, I can suddenly get a crippling fear of going on stage.”

Mental illness gets worse the older we get, said Martin.

“I feel we are more self-aware,” he said. “And it is always there, tapping on my shoulder saying, ‘I’m here, don’t forget me.’”

Martin advised people to take mental illness seriously.

“There’s a lot of misunderstanding over an invisible illness,” he said. “Some think it can be a cop-out. But for the sufferer, having a hiccup in the brain, a chemical imbalance, can trickle down to other parts of the body. It can include pain, breathing difficulty, frustrations.”

There is also a stigma that taking medication for anxiety is a weakness.

“I advocate for people struggling to take medication to help them,” he said. “You would never say to a person with diabetes, ‘don’t take your insulin,’ so how is it any different? If it is there to help you function, then it should be taken.”

Martin encourages those with anxiety to find their passions and surround themselves with support.

“Make sure you take time for yourself,” he said. “Get out into the fresh air and don’t box yourself in. And find a good support group that understands your situation and can offer compassion. My wife is incredible and is always there when I need someone to lean on.”

‘YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS’

Jenna Kedy, 18, from Halifax, N.S., was diagnosed with anxiety at age four.

“When I was a toddler, I would get extremely stressed over certain situations and very nervous,” she said. “I was a social person, but my parents noticed that I could get overwhelmed and overstimulated much more than the average child in situations.”

Aside from living with a mental illness, chronic pain and juvenile arthri-* tis, Kedy knows all too well that there are difficult challenges those with an invisible illness face daily.

“There have sometimes been rude comments and judgements through a lack of understanding from others,” she said. “And it feels like we must prove that indeed we have several challenges, which can be frustrating and exhausting, especially when you already feel like you are running on empty.”

Regarding being supportive, Kedy said people can learn to be kinder, less judgemental and learn about the diagnosis for better understanding.

“We can listen and show kindness,” she urged. “Please do not make fun of those suffering. And don’t be afraid of these people, either. Offering support and not victimizing people, not making them feel bad, is a start.”

Kedy, who uses exercise to improve her condition, feels mental health, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, must be a top governmental health priority.

“Mental health care for youth and adults should be prioritized by those in government, especially after the last three years,” she said. “A lot of people that never experienced mental illness are now suffering. I was 15 when the pandemic started, still in high school, and when everything got cancelled, it caused a lot of emotions.

“I have many friends that were forced to stay home with families that are not the healthiest, so it was a challenge for them. I’m privileged with a wonderful family and things are good, but there is no denying that it was a hard adjustment for most school kids still feeling the effects of the lockdowns.”

When things become overwhelming, Kedy advised to take a deep breath and step back. Surrounding oneself with a social support network is also important, she added.

“Life can become overwhelming sometimes and your mental health matters,” she said. “So, give yourself grace sometimes when you feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed and take some time for self-care.”

NEED HELP NOW?

Mental health services are on offer across the East Coast provinces.

P.E.I.:

For mental health and addictions in P.E.I., calls are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week by a trained mental health professional at 1-833553-6983 (toll-free).

For more information, visit: Mental Health and Addictions Services | Government of Prince Edward Island

Nova Scotia:

For those seeking to talk with someone about a mental health or addiction concern in Nova Scotia, call 1-855-922-1122. Calls can be taken from Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Tuesdays until 8 p.m.).

The provincial mental health and addictions crisis line: 1-888-429-8169

For more information, visit: Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions (nshealth.ca)

Newfoundland and Labrador:

For those experiencing a mental health and addiction crisis, call 811.

Mental health and addictions systems navigator: 1-877-999-7589 or 709-752-3916.

Provincial Lifewise Warm Line: 1-855-753-2560 or 709-753-2560.

For more information, visit: Mental Health and Addictions — Health and Community Services (gov.nl.ca)

For emergencies, call 911 or visit your local emergency department.

HEALTH

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2023-03-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

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