On the surface, it would seem Bruce Ross has led a charmed life.
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The 62-year-old retired a few years ago after a 32-year career at what is now Mainstreet Credit Union, in Chatham, rising to senior-president of finance, earning a Master of Business Administration and other degrees along the way. He’s also run five marathons and three triathlons and traveled extensively across North America.
But, it may come as a surprise that he’s achieved all this while carrying the burden of depression that began more than 45 years ago when he was in Grade 10.
The former Chatham resident has recently published a book on his life journey, titled: ‘Breaking Free of Depression’s Grip – A Powerful Success Story.’
Ross didn’t really know much about depression when it first struck.
“I knew something was wrong, something just didn’t feel right, I was just kind of bummed out and down and uninspired.”
Ross struggled along for 20 years and while continuing to search for answers, he got married in the mid-1990s and credits his wife Cheryl for figuring out what was going on.
“She said, ‘Bruce, I think you suffer from depression.’”
He went to his family doctor and was prescribed Prozac, which didn’t help.
Then Ross went to his wife’s physician, the late Dr. John Button, who escalated his treatment, before referring him to local psychiatrist Dr. Ranjith Chandrasenna, who has been on this journey with him.
Diagnosed with depression in 1995, it would be another five years before Ross would begin confiding in close friends and associates.
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“I was very selective in who I told, because there still was the stigma back then,” he said.
Ross received some tremendous support along the way, including from his former boss, credit union CEO Janet Grantham.
Noting she have him a forum to do a presentation on depression at work, Ross said, “She was very supportive.”
Citing his internal fortitude for keeping him going, Ross spent decades trying to find a solution for this depression, including various medications, therapy sessions with multiple doctors, enduring electroconvulsive therapy and experiencing investigative treatments.
“It was definitely a roller-coaster for sure, because I would get my hopes up that a new treatment. . . or a new medication would work and when it didn’t, I’d become deflated again,” he said.
Ross said it wasn’t difficult to pen the book, because writing a “self-help measure” he began many years ago, after reading if you take information in your mind and put it on paper “it kind of relieves some of the ruminating thoughts and so forth.”
He said it evolved, especially during COVID-19, which saw increased mental issues with numerous people
“I decided there’s a market to get my message out there that you can do well despite having depression.”
Ross enlisted the help of Bill Wilkerson, a well-known mental health advocate for pioneering principles of mental health in the workplace, to help him in writing the book.
“Breaking Free is an important story about combating an especially invasive kind of mental disorder,” Wilkerson said in a media release. “It is a success story, and we need that today.
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“It is a story of universal truths, and it is a story we can all learn from,” he added.
Ross said the sooner you accept you might have depression the sooner you can move on with your life.
“There’s no shame in having a depression,” he said. “It’s a physical illness just like cancer and diabetes is.”
He added it is also important to remain hopeful.
“I say that fully understanding one of the main characteristics of depression is losing hope, so it’s kind of counter to the thought,” Ross said.
“But, you have to remain hopeful that there’s a solution,” he said, adding there is not a one-size fits all solution.
Ross is having a book signing on Saturday, March 12 at Turns & Tales: Chatham Board Game Café & Bookstore, at 213 King St. W., from 2-4 pm The book is also available through www.ICBookstore.ca.