Mayor’s Wife Shines Light On Disease Of Depression

Last week, Long Beach’s first lady, Nancy Foster, was honored as a Mental Health Hero by the Mental Health Association.

Mayor Bob Foster’s wife received the Golden Ducky Award for going public with her story of living with and overcoming bipolar disorder. She has since used her position to publicize the need for people suffering from depression or other mental maladies to seek help.

Here, in her own words, is why Nancy Foster thinks it is important to note that May is Mental Health Awareness month.

“With so many people who suffer secretly with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, it is so important that our community speak openly about our mental health. How many times have you heard someone say that they were having a difficult time because they were depressed or that they were not able to attend an event because of they were too anxious to leave their home?

“Never.

“What they have done is made up another excuse. I know I have done this.

“I have shared with others about my spells of severe depression and anxiety and not being able to cope. I even thought of taking my life. Only the responsibility of caring for our sons, Kenny and James, made me realize that I had to be there for them.

“There were days when I didn’t leave the house or I was too anxious to be in a grocery store. There were days when I was driving on the freeway and had to turn around and go back home. I was feeling so strange and anxious that I knew I was a danger to others.

“I was feeling apart from the rest of the world, in an unreal world. I so longed to feel like a “normal” person and to feel well again. I wanted to be able to make arrangements with a friend to go to lunch. I longed for the simple joys of life while living in a pretty home.

“I felt like this during several spells of depression and anxiety for 11 years. Finally I realized that I needed help and I saw a psychiatrist. He diagnosed me with bipolar disorder. This was when I was 35. I started on medication for depression and to also level out my mood swings.

“After three weeks, I was no longer obsessed with feeling horrible but was living a full life. I was so thankful.

“I want others to realize that there is help for them also. When you suffer with depression, you hide it from others and feel ashamed. Depression takes away your energy and it takes energy to think positive thoughts and so the thoughts become negative.

“To end the cycle, sometimes it takes professional help. Be a friend to yourself and seek that help.

“Like me, you will be grateful that you did. Your loved ones and family will, too.”

Foster said that, since first coming out with her story, she has been encouraged to tell it again and again, because others find courage to speak of their own problems. The awards ceremony was not exception.

“A nice gentleman introduced me,” she said. “He was so excited that I had come forward with my story of bipolar disorder, and he felt if I could do it, he could do it, too.

“Any time I get a chance to share and to talk about mental health, I move on it. It is so important for people to seek help and not be ashamed of having problems with depression, bipolar disorder and other mental health problems. It has been wonderful that so many people have shared their story with me.”

Foster’s original story, published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram, still is available on-line at www.presstelegram.com/ci_7551478.