For years, I have been saying that one of the three keys to healing from depression is to have social support. We cannot heal from something as overpowering as depression or anxiety in isolation.
The healing power of social support does not only apply to recovering from depression. Human beings are social animals, and we need each other to accomplish anything worthwhile. The truth of this principle recently played out in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Nicole Pikus-Pace was attempting to do something she had never done before in the women’s Skeleton event–win a medal. Although she had been a World Cup and world championship medalist, she had never won an Olympic medal. In 2010 at Vancouver, she finished fourth, one-tenth of a second from bronze. In 2006, a serious injury kept her out of the Olympics in Torino.
But in 2012, Pikus-Pace came out of retirement one more time. Despite a history of injuries and setbacks, she had something special going for her–the support of her parents, husband and two young children who had come to Sochi to cheer her on. When interviewed on television before her event, Nicole expressed how much fun she was having with her family all around her at the games. Taking in all of that love made her joyful and relaxed before her big moment. I thought to myself, “With all of the love and support Nicole is receiving, something good is bound to happen.”
Sure enough, Pikus-Pace finished a strong second behind Great Britain’s Lizzy Arnold. Moments after she crossed the finish line and clinched her Silver Medal, Nicole said, “It wasn’t just me crossing the finish line. I said ‘We did it.We did it.’ It wasn’t just me–it was a whole team!”
Click on the link below to see a photo of Nicole celebrating with her support team moments after winning the silver medal. The healing power of love and connection is a universal principle. Let’s continue to use it to heal from depression.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1960720-comeback-completed-noelle-pikus-pace-wins-medal-as-us-skeleton-flourishes
