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How a Niagara man wrote his way out of depression

Darcy Patrick hopes more men dare to seek help for their mental health
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Darcy Patrick will share his story on overcoming depression at the Thorold Library on January 30. Photo: Gloria Katch/Thorold News

“To think that six years ago, I was close to killing myself. I would have laughed if you’d told me that I’d be talking about depression and would’ve written three books about it,” notes Darcy Patrick, a Niagara area resident, who has found his reason for living and purpose in life by assisting others to overcome mental health and addictions through the holistic approaches of writing, running and meditating.

Due to the social stigma of mental health, many men don’t seek help out of fear of looking weak or being judged negatively, a feeling he knew all too well.

Patrick’s approach is simple, easy and “at the ground level,” for everyone to adapt to their own choosing.

His students want something they can apply to their personal lives.

“I’m a survivor, and I reach people on that level,” he said.

In retrospect, Patrick believes his depression started in grade school, but because of the stigma of mental health he didn’t call for help until he was 42 years old. “In my own world, I was overcome with stress,” he said adding the trigger or tipping point occurred at work soon after being promoted to an Assistant Manager’s position.

The job involved a heavier workload and responsibilities, which left him constantly feeling overwhelmed and under pressure in attempts to meet sales quotas and other cost factors.

He recalls his rock bottom moment involved just walking out of work one day and looking for a place to jump.

When he returned, a close colleague, who noticed his despair and the work stress he was experiencing told him he wasn’t leaving the building until he sought help. Fortunately, Patrick found a private therapist on-line that day who replied to him immediately.

Unfortunately, going through the mental health system is not always a positive experience for many people for many reasons.

If the association is a part of the government bureaucracy, they tend to see people in terms of “ratios and numbers,” and not on a personal level, he said.

While he understands, sometimes medication is necessary, there are too many psychiatrists who are “pill pushers,” and do not deal with changing the patient’s thought processes.

For people with low self-esteem, repetitive or habitual negative self-talk or anyone suffering from trauma or abuse, therapy is necessary to maintain success.

Many people who have mental health issues are “brilliant,” but they have an overactive mind that races with negative thoughts that wreak havoc on their mental and physical health. 

Patrick teaches people how to journal in a structured way to turn their negative thoughts into positive outcomes. 

“What the writing does is slow you down. You have no choice but to be in the moment in order to express yourself—that’s the power of journaling,” he said. 

“It’s so simple and personal. Anyone can grasp it.”

Since Patrick decided to step-down from his position and only work part-time, he now devotes many hours to promote wellness. 

In 2016, he published his first book on the benefits of running. “Why I Run” is actually a metaphor for his hectic life.

Initially, he began running because people at work were making fun of his weight, and so on a bet, he started running and lost 80 pounds.

At this point, he admits to running out of exasperation, “I was cycling through my negative thoughts,” with every step.

Eventually, when his knowledge of psychotherapy developed, he began feeling a sense of accomplishment and well-being from jogging.

Since then, he has started running groups who talk about life as they pass through scenic trails to greener, healthier pastures.

“You hear some great stories,” said Patrick adding: “Running is like a drug. It brings oxygen to your brain and gets those endorphins pumping.”

Now, Patrick has a sense of fulfillment from his life through book signings and classes when: “I see their eyes light up and people’s faces change,” after teaching them to share experiences and write in a way that unburdens their soul.

An elderly lady actually gifted him with a $200 silver pen after one of his classes, which he confesses: “almost made me cry”.

Patrick is always looking for venues to teach his program, but said because he is not a clinician, he often doesn’t get a reply from certain mental health and addiction agencies.

However, he appreciates the opportunity libraries, the YMCA and the Niagara Region’s Public Health department, among others have given him to help those plagued by depression, anxiety and other mental disorders.

“There is no reason to struggle in silence,” or “wait until you hit rock bottom,” points out Patrick, who’s erased the misery of “the last 38 years in six”, because of therapy.

He encourages those interested to take that first step.

“Everything happens for a reason,” he exclaimed.

 

EVENT DETAILS:

Author, public speaker and writing coach, Patrick will be sharing his philosophy of maintaining mental wellness on January 30 at 6 p.m. at the Thorold Public Library. 

The session is free, and audiences are welcome to ask questions.

On Feb 8 at 2 p.m. at the Thorold Library, Patrick is offering a following-up session, which covers the first section of his book, on how participants can structure their writing to change negative and damaging thoughts into healing tools.

There is a fee of $5 for this two-hour program. Bring a pen and notepad for this session.

Patrick’s books are available at Coles bookstores and online.

Information on his upcoming classes and events are listed on his website at: darcypatrick.com. Please register for the upcoming Thorold library sessions by calling: (905) 227-2581.