Here’s the 9/2/15 appearance on Taboo Talk with Lady Charmaine Day http://www.blogtalkradio.com/taboo-talk/2015/09/02/taboo-talk-focuses-on-natural-spiritual-cures-of-depression-with-stephen-cuddy
I appeared with NAMI officials on the “For the People” Connisseur media broadcast on 11/9/14 on The Fox 95.9, Star 99.9, WDRC 102.9. We talked about NAMI programs and hope for recovery of mental illness. We also talked about my mental illness. You can find the broadcast by googling “For the People” by John Voket.
WTNH News Channel 8 filmed my run for cancer http://sportzedge.com/2014/06/14/cheshire-runner-jogs-10-hours-straight-to-raise-money-for-cancer/
Hartford Courant article on my ultra-run in support of The American Cancer Society Relay for Life event in Cheshire CT http://www.courant.com/community/cheshire/hc-cheshire-relay-for-life-20140611,0,5976434.story
American Cancer Society Press Release
Local Runner Preps for 10 Hour Marathon to Benefit the Relay For Life of Cheshire
(Rocky Hill, CT) April 30, 2014 – Stephen Cuddy of Cheshire is helping to change the course of cancer this June by literally hitting the ground running in an all-day marathon to benefit the American Cancer Society. Cuddy, an experienced ultra-marathon runner — exceeding distances of the traditional 26.2 mile marathon—will be running for 10 hours throughout Cheshire on June 13th in an effort to bring awareness to cancer and raise funds for the Relay For Life of Cheshire. This year’s Relay For Life of Cheshire will take place at Cheshire High School on June 13th beginning at 4pm. Cuddy is planning to end his 10 hour journey at the Relay For Life of Cheshire in time for opening ceremonies.
To make his miles more meaningful, Cuddy is looking for fans of defeating cancer to join him during his day long marathon and donate to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. Dollars raised through Relay For Life enable the Society to offer free programs and services that help people fight cancer with courage and optimism, while it provides day-to-day help, emotional support, and 24-hour information to help ease the cancer experience. Additionally, Relay contributions provide the Society with much-needed dollars to fund groundbreaking cancer research, educate people about the importance of cancer prevention and early detection and advocate for meaningful public health policies that benefit the community.
Cuddy hopes this ultra-marathon will not only promote the Relay For Life of Cheshire, but raise awareness on the of the impact of physical activity and nutrition on early detection and prevention of cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, becoming physically active for at least 150 minutes each week, and eating a healthy diet in an effort to reduce your cancer risk.
In May 2014, The Cheshire Herald ran a nice article on the Relay for Life event.
Click here for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) March 2014 newsletter article on a day on the trails
On February 22, 2014, an interview on mental health aired on WYBC 94.3 FM radio.
WABC radio segment on mental illness and violence. Mine is the last segment of the January 18, 2014 show. Go to WABCradio.com then Podcasts then “The Saturday Cafe” with Laura Smith to play the show. http://www.wabcradio.com
TV broadcast “Coming Out of the Shadows…A Conversation on Mental Illness.” I am the last called-upon speaker in the show. http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=9801 ….
New Haven Register article on depression’s toll among seniors – nhregister.com/health/20140105/depression-takes-toll-on-some-greater-new-haven-seniors …
Pratt Whitney Military Engines Finance & You Newsletter – April 2014
My Life with Depression by Stephen Cuddy
My name is Stephen Cuddy. I’ve had the good fortune to work at Pratt & Whitney for nearly thirty years. Yet, I’ve wasted much of my life under the weight of depression. I am now in recovery and spend my time counseling others on how not to waste theirs’. Here’s the story of my life with depression.
During my early life, I was not aware of a mental illness. Prior to college, I felt inadequate, experienced low self-esteem and was indecisive and insecure. I did not attribute these feelings to an illness. Starting in my early twenties I noticed discrete symptoms of mental illness that appeared. In my thirties, I remember being in my backyard covered in a deep, dark haze. I felt like I had been carried off in a spaceship to some unknown, scary place. Episodes like that scared me out of my mind. Even so, I still did not associate these instances with a mental illness. I got married in my mid-thirties. I could not be present for my wife. I could not be present for myself. I just wanted it to end….and I didn’t care how. But it wouldn’t end. It couldn’t end. I had no idea how to end it. I could imagine what hell was like. That’s what depression felt like for me. Hell on earth….unimaginable torment. Not until my mid-forties did I get my initial diagnosis of depression. In my early-fifties, PTSD/Developmental trauma became my “true” diagnosis.
Acceptance was a long and painful road for me. Although experiencing symptoms of mental illness for most of my life, acceptance did not come. Family and friends fueled the belief that I was really okay. “Everyone has bad days,” they said. I convinced myself that I had “a touch of anxiety,” a quirk in my personality. I had no way to determine what was wrong with me so I did nothing to change the painful road on which I traveled. I was afraid of diagnosis. Stigma got in the way. What would people think? I was afraid of medication. The status quo remained. I developed strategies to continue to function…to hide my illness. But I was barely surviving. These weren’t treatments. How could I devise treatments for an unknown illness? In my mid-forties I was diagnosed with diabetes through the help of a dear friend. At the same time, I fully came to terms that I had more than “a touch of anxiety.” I had full-blown depression. It became easier to accept depression once I faced the undeniable truth of diabetes. Funny….how presentation of one illness leads to recognition of another.
Once I accepted my mental illness, I began to seek treatment. I decided to learn about treatment options, exercise being paramount. I did not seek professional medical help at first. For a while, exercise was the only thing I did to feel better. After some time passed, I realized that exercise was not enough. More recently, I’m seeing a therapist, Naturopath and Holistic Psychiatrist. From these professionals, I’ve learned about natural cures: food-based supplements, relaxation techniques like meditation…strategies for dealing with real-life situations that could lead to depression. I also researched other natural cures: love, charity, forgiveness. I always check with medical professionals regarding these natural cures. About a year ago I began taking an anti-depressant. Now that my body has adjusted to it, I’ve noticed that this medicine has helped memory, focus and energy. I highly value my medical professionals. They and I collaborate on my treatment plan. Having an entire treatment plan takes the pressure off any one element of the plan. I don’t panic when I’m not feeling well. Managing my depression is a daily process.
I have a variety of coping skills for depression.
• Good sleep habits: Early to bed and early to rise, don’t oversleep.
• Proper nutrition: Complex carbohydrate diet (minimize simple carbs), fiber, protein, portion control for “bad” foods for me like sugar soda and candy, watch saturated fat intake like French fries and red meat.
• Exercise: Run, swim, bike, gym classes, sign up for athletic events.
• Routine: Structure but not the point of loss of flexibility and spontaneity.
• Spending time with positive people, but also people struggling with negative thoughts (by helping them I also help myself).
• Dealing with stress: Meditation, avoid Flight vs. Fight living / learn to follow Relaxation Response living.
• Hobbies: Writing, community outreach on mental illness.
• Spirituality: My relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Gratitude journal: Record things for which I am grateful each day.
• Humor: Good test for how I am really feeling.
• Leisure time: Seek it / Don’t fear it
• Forgiveness
• Avoid fear because that is what gives depression its power.
Success for me used to mean a total cure of mental illness à no relapses. Today, recovery means a normal life, a life just like people without mental illness, a life of boundless opportunity and hope with depression. I am now able to return the love and care for them because of my recovery. My fiancé, Linda, and I treat each other with love and respect. We recognize my depression in our relationship. We don’t fear depression….not anymore. My relationships with my two daughters are good today…even considering that they are teenagers! Today I am a mental health advocate…reaching out to others…improving relationships that involve depression. Today, I advocate and promote natural cures and gifts of depression (yes gifts…something good can come out of something bad). Today I treat depression as a dear friend.
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