Donegal Rose Amy Callaghan said the national conversation on mental health she started after her Rose of Tralee interview has given her great hope.
Ahead of her homecoming celebrations in Letterkenny tonight, Amy talked to Donegal Woman about her incredible experience and motivation to tell the deeply personal story of her depression.
The Glenswilly dancer, aged 22, earned much praise for her bravery and willingness to break the mental health stigma in front of thousands of people in the Rose of Tralee dome last week.
She told host Daithi how she battled depression over two years and remains eager to share her story in the hope of inspiring other young people to seek the help she got during her ‘blip’.
“Daithi told me: I think your message here is fantastic, and more people need to hear this because this subject area is being tiptoed around because it’s such a sensitive topic,” Amy recalled.
Amy told Donegal Woman: “I think that everyone goes through their own stint in their life at different times when they might feel like they don’t have a way out
“They are doubting themselves and might not have confidence in their choices, how they look or how they feel and how they may think other people perceive them. I happened to go through mine in sixth year.
“It was just overwhelming for me. There was mixture of things with peers, exams, studying. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I wanted to do dance but I thought that was stupid to say. I felt under pressure to pick a practical course,” Amy said.
Amy always dreamed of being a dancer
2012 to 2014 were Amy’s worst years, but four years later she is more outspoken, self-assured and eager to be vocal about them.
“I was in the Beauty and the Beast musical at the time. I would go to rehearsal and be happy out, then I would get home, go straight to bed and cry for no reason. That’s just how I was working.”
“I loved school but I hated going. It snowballed into this mess and I couldn’t fix myself. Eventually I copped on and said I needed to change it,” Amy said.
It took Amy a year and a half to tell her mother Geraldine that she was not well. Amy’s best friend Riona Hennessy eventually confided in her mum that she was worried about her.
“That was the worst part, to hear that from friends and family, but it’s what you want to hear, because I knew it in my heart or soul. I was terrified to say anything because it’s such a delicate subject.
“Just because it’s not a physical illness means it’s not there. It’s a chemical imbalance, it’s something that needs to be fixed,” she said.
Amy talked to a psychologist who helped her through her problems. She also had great support from her mum and friends and decided to seek happiness through pursuing her real passion – dance.
Amy’s support team of family and friends at the Rose of Tralee
Amy is a talented dancer, as we saw on the Rose of Tralee, and it was only after this change of mind that she cast aside her two years of doubt to begin studying dance in Derry. Amy concentrated on her great loves in life and before she knew it she had emerged from the depression.
“I really put myself in different musicals with Encore. I just did stuff that made me happy, without forcing myself.
“I got into my fitness big time and started eating really healthy. I think that’s what helped. You do have to work and study, but it’s okay to take a breather and be selfish and do the things you love.”
“Eventually those feelings I had weren’t there anymore. It was so dark and I didn’t know what it was, and then it was just gone. Over a few months, with help, with talking to people, it went away,” Amy said.
Amy is a strong advocate for two local mental health charities – Pieta House and Jigsaw Donegal. She plans to continue to promote and raise funds to support their free and professional services for young and old.
Amy has been overwhelmed by the movement she sparked and delighted that other have been inspired to speak out publically about their own mental health issues rather than sit in silence.
“It gives me hope because these people are looking for a solution to get back to themselves again,” she said.
“People need to know it may look amazing on the outside, but there have been terrible days. Everyone has their own story and I didn’t mind sharing mine.
“If my story was to help others and inspire others to go and talk to places like Jigsaw then that’s a pat on the back,” she said.
Amy plans to wear her Donegal Rose sash with pride until March 2018 and share her important message with as many people as she can. She is looking forward to travelling, events and chasing her dream as a dancer and student of dance therapy in the year to come.
A homecoming party will be held for Donegal Rose Amy Callaghan on Wednesday 30th August at 9.00pm at Backstage Bar & Grill Letterkenny, all are welcome to come and celebrate her achievements.
Read Amy’s full interview on DonegalWoman.ie:
Tags:EXCLUSIVE: ‘Why I had to share the story of my blip’ – Amy Callaghan
