ROCKFORD, Mich. — As we mark National Wellness Month, one Rockford man says he took a risk sharing his story on social media. He says being honest and vulnerable really paid off.
“I was tired all the time,” said Raymond Hurlbut. “The thoughts started consuming me.”
The 24-year-old told 13 ON YOUR SIDE he struggled with depression for the last several years.
“I think for a lot of people, what happens when we get upset or depressed or sad is that we start focusing on all the negative things and it becomes extremely difficult to get out of that state of mind.”
Doctors diagnosed him with major depressive disorder, and he was medically discharged after a short time in the Army.
“That’s when I knew that I had a real problem,” said Hurlbut.
Kristie Pagel-Compagner, LMSW, is a licensed master social worker and behavioral health therapist at University of Michigan Health-West. She said, “I think it’s important to note that sadness and feeling down are pretty typical for many of us, right?”
This becomes a problem, she says, when that sadness doesn’t go away.
“Withdrawing from activities, staying home a lot more, their sleep is often impacted – either insomnia or they’ll be up for extended periods of time. We notice a change, often in appetite. So, there can be a significant weight loss or gain in a relatively short period of time,” said Pagel-Compagner.
Hurlbut said losing his role in the Army “was the turning point where I said I have to do something about this. I started seeing my life go down hill over and over again. I couldn’t hold a job. I was struggling to get along with authority, my bosses.”
Pagel-Compagner said, “If you’re really struggling and you can say I’ve really been feeling this down, worthless feeling for at least two weeks in addition to some of those other changes like appetites, sleep, concentration can also be significantly impacted when we’re depressed – I would say it’s time to reach out.”
For Hurlbut, therapy helped to turn things around.
“You can’t really cure the mind. What it is is a thought pattern. So, my thought pattern has changed and I’m responsible for that,” he said.
Earlier this year, he started a power washing company, WorldStarPunchOut. He went online and turned to his community for help.
“I knew for my sake and for the sake of my family – to provide and protect – I had to be honest with the world and put myself out there and be willing to take that risk,” said Hurlbut.
It paid off. In a follow-up post thanking his customers, Hurlbut said he’s booked and busy.
He also old 13 ON YOUR SIDE that his posts have helped him gain new clients.
If you’re interested in hiring Hurlbut, call 616-951-9199.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or having thoughts of suicide, there’s help available 24/7. Dial 988.