Heads-Up! I’m mindful about sharing my experiences and respectfully aware of the “sensitive and subjective” nature of the “One -Size-Fits -All Ideal”. My intention is to share and create an empowering and light-hearted account of my personal history that feels both inspiring and relatable to readers. Accompanying and empowering individuals navigating their own experiences and also accompanying and empowering family members in their supportive and caring roles of others.
Co-Creational Relationship Mentoring enabled my healing and recovery from clinical depression, diagnosed in 2004. A several week hospital stay, followed by a 10-year pharmaceutical road trip. Trial and elimination navigating distressing physical side effects on anti-depressants which added another dimension to my depression.
At that period of my life experience, I was 34 years young. Wife and mom of two sons, 4 and 6 years old. Fearful yet acutely aware of the harmful cost and consequences to my “relationship with myself” and to my relationships with those nearest and dearest to me. I was desperate yet determined to find an alternative to the previous 10-year diagnostic, prognostic and prescriptive experience that was no longer serving in my best interest.
For me finding meaning, sense and reason of the “how and the why” of my clinical depression diagnosis was fundamental and instrumental in my healing journey and ultimately ,the gateway to my personal recovery.
Dr Tony Humphreys philosophy is the reason I was able to make “reasonable” sense of “WTF” (What the feeling’s) going on inside .For the first time in 10 years, attending Tonys seminar in Killarney, I felt the feeling of a forgotten yet familiar energy spark in every cell of my being ! Tony was speaking my language sharing his personal history and professional insights.
Resonance Is Evidence ! Anne Barry was back in the building ! Me not It, visible and validated ! Light-bulb Moments ! Gamechanger! I was on board ! More importantly “trust and safety ” were on board ! I invested the following two years in therapy with my remarkable mentor at Dr Humphreys Practice in Middleton, Co. Cork.
Inspired by my gradual recovery and empowered by my re-covering sense of self and self-determination, I graduated with a HDip In Relationship Mentoring ,under Tony’s Inspiring , Insightful and Compassionate Wing. If you feel evidence of resonance with my shared story and yours or another’s. I welcome you to jump aboard !
I had never imagined my answers would be founded and grounded in “Relationships” established from early childhood and most encouragingly would be resolved in Relationship! I was to further discover the most important and precious relationship, was the one I had with myself! However, I found myself in a place of support and safety with my mentor, getting up close and personal with the “how and the why ” I was not in a secure place of relationship with myself.
A whole new world of language, perspective and opportunity was opening up for me and the “purpose and intention” of my depression began to reveal itself/herself . When my mentor asked, “ had I ever considered depression a friend”, I almost bolted out the door! My immediate thought was “she’s more troubled than I am!” Be-friending what I had experienced as the enemy within! Well! Obviously I didn’t bolt!
I had tried everything else before in previous therapies and never had I been asked to consider the depression from a place of friendship! I was open to the concept as this new language spoke to me Anne, not my Diagnosis. Together my new “best-friend” and I went on a road trip down memory lane.
This road allowed me to part ways with a pathological journey and follow my own “path-way“ healing those fractured parts of me which I continue to “be-friend” and heal daily.
On the receiving end of a diagnosis of clinical depression, I lost all sight of Anne Barry and completely identified with depression. I lost sight of myself from a very young age and my insecurities followed me into adulthood, relationships and environments. One of my valuable learnings and this one feels the most bitter/sweet, Depression Showed Up to Wake Me Up! The depth and duration of my depression was a measure of the depth and duration of how lost I was to My Self.
“The Most Important Relationship You’ll Ever Have Is The One You Have With Yourself” , and the most important environment deserving of your care and attention is your “Inner Environment”.
Be-friending both, is the most precious gift you can gift yourself, and another! From that “Inner solidarity ” all external conflicts, are opportunities to “be-friend” and deepen relationship within and between.