Sassy comedian Ruby Wax has battled depression since childhood, so she got together with a neuroscientist and a monk and put together a new kind of stage show that helps others understand depression.
In recent years Wax has put time into learning as much as she could about her own depression. Today, at 64, armed with an Oxford degree in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and an OBE for her services to mental health, Ruby is a best-selling author and star of popular stage shows aimed at helping the rest of us to stay sane.
Here are her top tips to keeping depression at bay:
1. Compassion
Sit quietly and closely examine a photo of yourself, especially the eyes and the area around the mouth. There you might detect some vulnerability, or some childlike, innocent qualities, and you can start to feel compassion for this person who is doing their best.
2. Social media
Use Facebook and social media as a practice of generosity rather than a search for validation. Often, we post our experiences on social media to see if other people like them before we even allow ourselves to like those things. We can end up needing others to validate our experiences.
3. Food addiction
Sit down with a large plate of food in front of you. Take a few breaths through your nose, smelling the food. Now be aware of picking up the fork and the sense of spearing the food. Feel the movement of lifting it to your mouth and your lips pulling it off the fork. When your mouth is full, focus in on the texture, taste, chewability, and maybe your urge for more will vanish.
4. Other people
When you’re walking down the street, notice who’s smiling and who looks upset. Over time, intentionally focus on people who seem light and content, allowing their emotions to rub off on your own and then send the feeling back.
The ministry of health recommends talking to someone or getting in touch with mental health services.
If you need to talk to someone
Need to talk? (1737, free text or call)
the Depression Helpline (0800 111 757)
Lifeline (0800 543 354)
Samaritans (0800 726 666)
Youthline (0800 376 633)
For the full interview with Ruby Wax, see the latest issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly, on sale now.
