Rick Nash Managing Director Memorez.org Australia

I’ve just finished reading Tracey Maxfield’s book ‘Escaping the rabbit hole’ an essay on her experience of living with, at times, crippling depression. The most severe of these followed a workplace bullying incident that led to her leaving work as a senior nurse (a 35 year vocation). The rawness with which Tracey recollects nearly 2 years down thew ‘rabbit hole’ and her attempts to find a way out makes for painful but humorous reading-her conversations with ‘DBS’ (death by suicide) her constant companion in this journey being one example. Tracey shows the resilience of the human spirit, the need to not only survive, but thrive-to have purpose and meaning. I relate to everything Tracey talks about, I’ve lived with depression from the age of 15-never good enough, useless, a burden, failure, unlovable, isolated, dis-connected-and the big one ‘guilt’. ‘Just saw a quadruple amputee climb Mt Kilimanjaro-and YOU can’t walk around the park you fat useless fuck’. Yep-it’s constantly there, sitting on your shoulder telling you every way you are pointless, meaningless and not worthy. Here’s the thing-it’s a lie. Tracey’s spent 35 years helping other people-a life choice, not a job. Depressions ‘job’ is to rob you of your innate right to be connected-sack him! Bravo Tracey.  

Related Articles

Financial, legal & health care planning

‘Dementia Aware…what you need to know’ about financial, legal & health care planning  In B.C., approximately 70,000 people have dementia, and sadly, this number will only continue to grow as the proportion of seniors in B.C. population increases over the next 10 to 15 years. Here in the Okanagan, we

Read More »
Children, Teens & Young Adults Mental Health
Tracey Maxfield

#9: What happens when mental illness in children/teenagers is left untreated

According to the World Health Organization: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. Mental health is an integral part of this definition” (WHO, 2019). Recent statistics reveal that 1 in 5 children/teenagers have a mental disorder/illness, yet

Read More »

Paul Crothall, Cert C11 Senior Account Handler in UK

For anyone who is suffering from, or knows someone who is suffering from, depression – this book is well worth a read. I know a few people that have depression. Although I have lots of sympathy and compassion for them, I can not fully understand how badly it affects them

Read More »

Engage Educate Empower episode 5 with Michael Giresi

Mike Giresi, Director of Clinical Development at Family First Adolescent Services Mike found his passion for helping others through his own journey of healing and recovery. He started his career in the mental health field working with adult clients who suffered from complex trauma and PTSD, as well as chemical

Read More »