How I beat anxiety and depression - Dancing With The Black Dog [Archive]

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Markpacitti

26-09-11, 07:57

Dancing With The Black Dog has had a facelift to make it much more mobile-friendly and app-based - plus a few new / updated features, including:

- a Get Help Now feature, providing instant access via your mobile to 24x7 mental health support lines in 10 countries, depending on your chosen location
- a refocused It's OK To Say If You Don't Feel OK initiative, including faster and more secure checkout facility

If you have a few spare minutes, I'd love to hear any general comments or suggestion. on ease of use, intuitiveness etc.

Check it out at http://www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

Many thanks!

#anxiety #depression #bipolar #suicide #fear #mentalillness #worry #worrying #help #hope #life

14 October 2014:

The next chapter of Dancing With The Black Dog – the story of how I beat anxiety and depression - is now available.

Part 24 is called "Sebastian Coe's Middle Name"

http://dancingwiththeblackdog.com/sebastian-coes-middle-name/

8 March 2014:

The next instalment of Dancing With The Black Dog – the story of how I overcame anxiety and depression – is now available. Part 22 is called "No Present Like The Time"

http://dancingwiththeblackdog.com/no-present-like-the-time/

16th August 2013:

I'm delighted to say that the next instalment of Dancing With The Black Dog is now polished, done and dusted.

Part 21 is called "The Seventh Sense".

http://dancingwiththeblackdog.com/the-seventh-sense/

2nd March 2013:

Part 20 of Dancing With The Black Dog is out now and is called "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Pharmacy"

http://www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-pharmacy/

UPDATE ON 11 NOVEMBER
-----------------------------
The next part of my story is now available online - completely free of charge of course!

Part 17 is called "The Meaning Of Life": http://www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

My story is a warts 'n' all, frank and extremely open account of my experience, with a sprinkling of humour, and a happy ending!

I am telling the ongoing story of my experiences with - and resounding victory over - anxiety and depression.

Keep fighting the good fight and feel free to share my site with anyone who may benefit from it. My story is completely free, you don't even need to create a logon to read it.

Cheers
Mark

william wallace

28-09-11, 10:19

Bookmarked:winks:

Markpacitti

30-09-11, 13:14

Part Three is here!

www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

Markpacitti

17-10-11, 07:56

Part Four is out now and is called Movie World!
www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

Markpacitti

17-10-11, 23:25

Thanks Sandra, I will also check out the blog you pointed me towards. As a friend recently said to me, we are all in it together! Have a nice day
Mark

Markpacitti

06-11-11, 11:27

Part Five has just gone live!
It is called The Medication Of Choice
www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

Markpacitti

12-11-11, 23:07

My website has had a facelift... And I have a furry new mascot!
www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

Markpacitti

29-11-11, 05:13

Part Six is out now! It is called The White Dog Emerges
www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

Markpacitti

11-03-12, 11:35

I'm now up to Part Ten - Confidence Is Chemical!
dancingwiththeblackdog.com

suzy-sue

11-03-12, 12:32

I see youve been a member here for nearly 6months Mark .Are you just here to promote your Blog and Website ? As you appear to avoid posting on any other Threads but this one ..:shrug: Thanks ..hope you dont mind me asking ..Sue

Markpacitti

14-05-12, 11:56

Hi Sue,

Sorry I only just received your message. Yes I am only on the forum to promote my blog but I strongly believe my story has a lot of hope to offer to readers, so I prefer the term "spreading awareness" than promoting - and I do reply to everyone who comments. Also I am not making money out of it, I am giving it away free to whoever wants to read it. My blog was also recently tweeted about by Stephen Fry, Ive talked about it on Australian radio, and have about 6 newspapers in UK, USA, Canada and USA interested in writing about it. I hope this is ok.

I would like to add that it has been nearly 2 years since I found myself in the darkest cave I ever got myself into and when i was in there I vowed to myself that if I should ever make it out I would write openly, honestly and candidly and try to share my experience with as many people as possible. Posting on this forum is one of those ways.

If there are any concerns however about me continuing to post on this forum I will respect that and discontinue from doing so.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Many thanks
Mark

Markpacitti

05-07-12, 12:45

The next chapter in my black dog tale is now available! Part 13 is called The Growler!

---------- Post added at 21:45 ---------- Previous post was at 21:43 ----------

The next chapter in my black dog tale is now available! Part 13 is called The Growler!

http://www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

Overall I have obtained the following publicity for my website:
Featured in The Herald Sun newspaper (Melbourne) - http://on.fb.me/MHclAv
Featured in Melbourne Weekly Bayside Magazine - http://bit.ly/LidYpX
Featured in Melbourne Leader Newspaper - http://bit.ly/P7nb7F
Twice featured in Australia’s mX newspaper nationally
Featured in The Hong Kong Standard - http://bit.ly/N4sJ0s
Featured in The Daily Record newspaper (Scotland) http://bit.ly/LNXJ0D
Interviewed on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) 774 Melbourne Radio
Further upcoming interview on ABC Radio National
Tweeted by Stephen Fry to his 4.2 million followers http://bit.ly/KHpEVK (can't ask for a better reference than this!)
Tweeted by former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to his 1.1 million followers http://bit.ly/Mo4x5z
Tweeted by 40 other Australian, UK and US celebrities and public figures
43,000 unique visitors from around the globe since I first launched my site last September

Where my story differs from that of many others who have suffered from (and hopefully, as I have) beaten anxiety and depression is that mine truly is a warts 'n' all unashamed account of what it is like to suffer from these conditions. I have received feedback from several people saying how just reading my story made them feel for the first time that they are not alone, that there is nothing actually wrong with them, and more importantly, that they can overcome these demons and go on to live a life feeling happy and free. Many have even taken action by finally reaching out and seeking professional help after reading my story. Within just a few hours of Kevin Rudd tweeting about my story on Christmas Day last year, I received a message from a new reader simply saying "I think you've just changed my life!" This is just one example of the type of feedback I receive on a regular basis.

I don't make any money out of giving my story away online – that is not my want nor my need. With the ability to change people's lives for the better in this way, that’s way more than enough for me! My aim is to do my bit to help raise awareness of mental conditions, to eliminate the stigma associated with them, and to show as many people as possible that they can be beaten, and they can go on to experience a far more normal, a far greater quality of life than they ever dreamed was possible. I know this is all possible because it happened to me!

Many thanks!
Mark

R.Barratt

06-07-12, 12:46

Thank you mark :)
You are so brave to go through anxiety and depressionand coming out the other side and to want to help others. So thank you xxxx

Bramwell

07-07-12, 12:33

Marc - there's a Neil Diamond song which contains the line: '...apart from the name and a few other changes...you could talk about me...the story's the same one...'.

I've only read a couple of chapters up to now, but I'm sure myself and so many others can say, 'Hey, that's me...'.

Keep it up, I intend reading the lot.
Well done, and continuing good luck. :)

Markpacitti

22-07-12, 11:53

Thanks guys for the kind comments! You can also hear me talking about www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com on Sydney 2GB radio via this link: http://bit.ly/OdWryF

Thanks and keep fighting the good fight!

Mark

Markpacitti

21-08-12, 10:30

Hello,

The next part of my story is now available online - completely free of charge of course!

Part 14 is called Shifty Shades Of Grey: http://www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

I also had my story tweeted about by Stephen Fry for a second time last week: https://twitter.com/stephenfry/status/236388903425302528

Keep fighting the good fight and feel free to share my site with anyone who may benefit from it. My story is completely free, you don't even need to create a logon to read it.

Cheers
Mark

Markpacitti

26-08-12, 00:02

Tune in online Mon 27 Aug 05:50 AEST / Sun 26 Aug 20:50 UK at http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/programs/listenlive.htm I'm discussing http://www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com on 702 ABC Sydney Radio.

Markpacitti

09-09-12, 12:47

The next part of my story is now available online - completely free of charge of course!

Part 15 is called R U OK?: http://www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

Markpacitti

13-11-12, 11:08

UPDATE ON 11 NOVEMBER
-----------------------------
The next part of my depression-busting story is now available online - completely free of charge of course!

Part 16 is called "Oh Little Town Of Battambang": http://www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com

devonte

17-11-12, 12:17

Be proactive and Integrate Life Activitie.

Markpacitti

27-11-12, 11:34

Hello,

The next instalment of Dancing With The Black Dog is now rolled out and ready to read.

Part 17 is called: The Meaning Of Life

http://dancingwiththeblackdog.com/the-meaning-of-life/

Hope you enjoy the read!

Cheers,
Mark

Markpacitti

28-12-12, 07:07

Hello,

The next instalment of my depression-busting, stigma-eliminating tale "Dancing With The Black Dog" is now rolled out and ready to read.

Part 19 is called: The Phone Call

http://dancingwiththeblackdog.com/the-phone-call/

Markpacitti

08-01-13, 09:36

Delighted by a double dose of media exposure for the dancin' black dug's latest post today. First appearance was a posting by http://www.facebook.com/ruokday in their Facebook feed that has an incredible 209k followers.

This was followed shortly afterwards by another feature in the more tradtional media of the Hong Kong Standard:

http://thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=16&art_id=129840&sid=38634594&con_type=1&d_str=20130108&fc=3

Here's hoping that as a result even just one person makes the phone call that could change their life.

Markpacitti

02-03-13, 07:20

Part 20 of Dancing With The Black Dog is out now and is called "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Pharmacy"

http://www.dancingwiththeblackdog.com/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-pharmacy/

Markpacitti

16-08-13, 08:02

16th August 2013:

I'm delighted to say that the next instalment of Dancing With The Black Dog is now polished, done and dusted.

Part 21 is called "The Seventh Sense".

http://dancingwiththeblackdog.com/the-seventh-sense/

Markpacitti

08-03-14, 10:30

The next instalment of Dancing With The Black Dog – the story of how I overcame anxiety and depression – is now available.

Part 22 is called "No Present Like The Time"

http://dancingwiththeblackdog.com/no-present-like-the-time/

Markpacitti

14-10-14, 07:31

The next chapter of Dancing With The Black Dog – the story of how I beat anxiety and depression - is now available.

Part 24 is called "Sebastian Coe's Middle Name"

http://dancingwiththeblackdog.com/sebastian-coes-middle-name/

Markpacitti

04-07-15, 00:41

Davit

04-07-15, 00:49

I was going to ask that too.

---------- Post added at 16:47 ---------- Previous post was at 16:46 ----------

I think I will stick to what I'm doing.

---------- Post added at 16:49 ---------- Previous post was at 16:47 ----------

Persistant isn't he.

mezzaninedoor

18-07-15, 16:16

I have only read 2 parts of the blog thus far and it is readable.

So far I have read quite a bit about the medications working wonders for Mark. Ive been battling Anxiety and Depression for years and recently Ive been in an episode where my medication is being tweaked and all the frustrations happen as I seem to make little progress with medication , self help CBT & Mindfulness, talking therapy needed as well ...... it's great to read of someones success but it also makes me feel like im not getting anywhere myself. That's not negative at Mark but just that he possibly writes so well that it almost doesnt feel like a struggle for him though I'm absolutely sure it is.

Im so poor at motivating myself to run, physically do things that would help me at the moment in other peoples eyes because as well as anxiousness and flatness im also tired a lot of the time

thanks Mark

( read part 10 & 11 thus far )