A guest blog post by Jon Stanton…

I’ve known Jim and his family for what seems like forever, although we didn’t actually meet until my sophomore year of high school. Jim and I, both “band geeks,” became fast friends. And during my senior year of high school, Jim’s brother Kevin sat next to me in band because we both played the French horn. I was shocked and saddened by his sudden death, and I remember reaching out to Jim at the time with the ubiquitous “I’m so sorry – will keep you in our thoughts and prayers” message, and then thinking to myself, “Jim will be fine; he’s one of the happiest and most grounded people I know.”

When Jim launched his blog sometime later, I immediately signed up, figuring it would be filled with humorous anecdotes and funny stories. I didn’t realize what it was all about until I started reading and realized Jim had really struggled. I was drawn in even more because of my own struggles with depression and anxiety…and because I, like so many, have remained silent about it for most of my life.

I’ve never lost a close loved one, and my life has been fairly easy compared to many people in the world. But depression has been with me for nearly as long as I can remember, although I didn’t know how to recognize or identify it until much later in life. Many people who struggle with depression develop coping mechanisms to cover up the pain. I have several, but the two that are most prominent are humor and eating. Of the two, eating has been and remains my “go to” activity for when I’m feeling blue.

As you might imagine, this has led to a significant weight problem. Looking back on the years behind me, I now realize that I lived most of them on the proverbial hamster wheel. Depression fueled my eating, and eating fueled my depression. It was a vicious cycle and one that I continue to battle each and every day.

A few years ago when I finally decided to reach out for some help, my therapist suggested I journal. I wasn’t sure whether I would stick with it long enough for it to help, but I agreed to start. By that point in life, I had been writing – both personally and professionally – for quite a few years. Words come naturally to me. And as an author and editor, I can usually organize my thoughts quickly and efficiently and get them on paper in a fashion that would make Ms. Pohl (fellow Ovid-Elsie High School graduates will recognize that name) proud.

Journaling was different, though. Trying to write about my feelings was hard. I didn’t want to actually see on paper what my brain was thinking. I was afraid someone would find what I had written and think I was a nut job. I had learned over the years to keep my negative thoughts, feelings, and self-talk to myself and myself only – a daily newsreel running in my head about how horrible a person I was, how fat and disgusting I looked, and all the reasons God and everyone else in the world hated me.

It took a while, but eventually I realized that the ability to write things like what I just stated above was key if I was going to find my way to a better state of mind and quality of life. Like most problems in our lives, admitting they are there is the most important first step. And I slowly began to realize that writing was cathartic. As I poured out years of pent up emotion on paper (or on my computer screen), I slowly began to feel better and discovered a willingness to be more open and share about my struggles.

This eventually culminated in the publication of my book, “FAT: A Life Unfiltered.” Much of the book contains funny stories of experiences that happened to me over the years because of being fat. But often there is pain underneath those stories – sometimes openly expressed and sometimes not. I write about my victories, such as a 230-pound weight loss I managed to keep off for almost five years, and my defeats, such as gaining back more than 100 of those pounds as I’ve now done. The book is a combination of laughter, tears, and inspiration to never give up – whether your challenge is weight, depression, or something else.

Writing, in whatever fashion suits you, can help with depression, anxiety, and many other mental health challenges. I encourage you to pick up a pen or open a word processor and give it a try. What do you have to lose? I can offer some suggestions as to what you may lose – anxiety, fear, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, remorse, and pain, to name a few. And what might you gain? The possibilities are endless.

Jon is such a good writer. I hope you have enjoyed his first guest blog post as much as I have. If you did (actually, even if you didn’t), you really need to get yourself a copy of Jon’s book. Whether or not you have struggled with your weight, his book is relatable on so many other levels! So, go to https://hopefortheheavy.com/book/ to get your copy today!

Please comment below to start a conversation, or feel free to contact me privately.

Be well…

P.S. If you have a story to tell and would like to join Jim Ladiski Writes as a guest blogger, please contact me!