I was reading a self-help guide for mentally frazzled adults the other day. It was all about dealing with stress. I wonder if Jonathan Trott has a copy?
I thought one of the coping mechanisms suggested might help those of us traumatised by events in Brisbane and Adelaide.
Basically, every time a colleague drops the ball at work and leaves you to clear up the mess – or every time your toddler wees all over the person sitting next to you on the train (it happens) – just take a deep breath and say to yourself “at least … such and such didn’t happen”.
For example, if you’re about to be sacked, just think “at least I didn’t crash the car today”.
Or, if your wife has just left you, think “at least she didn’t leave me for David Warner”. You get the general idea.
Now lets apply this to England’s current situation down under:
England usually start series away from home slowly but
At least we normally improve as the series goes on and turn things around
We might have been bowled out cheaply in three of our four innings so far but …
At least we showed improvement in our last dig
None of our batsmen have scored a single miserably century amongst them but …
At least Cook, Carberry, Root, Pietersen, Bell and Prior have all scored fifties
Half our the side might have got out pulling but …
At least we showed positive intent and didn’t let that man with the horrific moustache (we can say that now as Mo-vember is clearly over) intimidate us.
Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson look in awesome form but …
At least the rest of the Aussie side, except Ryan Harris, is pretty ordinary
Australia might have won the first two games, but
At least there are three more tests to go. We could still win 3-2!
Winning two of the next three tests might seem impossible but …
At least the next match is at a ground where we usually do well. The WACA’s an ideal place from which to launch an England revival. No wait.
Remember, it’s the hope that kills ya.
James Morgan
Books about dealing with stress do not help people who have depression. It’s amazing how little people understand about this illness. Stuart Broad for example made a big show after the Brisbane test saying we’ll smash David Warner to make Trott feel better. Well guess what Stuart, people with depression don’t feel better based on whether or not you smash David Warner. And also, even if smashing David Warner was an instant cure for depression, Trott would still be depressed because of your miserable failure in Adelaide.
You’re right. Books dealing with stress do not help people with depression. They do, however, help people with stress. As Trott has a ‘stress related’ illness, I think it’s fair to say he has been suffering from stress as well as depression – and the two are often related. Meanwhile, many self-help books deal with both stress and depression.
I agree that many people don’t understand the true nature of depression, and Broad’s comments do seem quite ignorant, but please don’t classify us as part of the problem (if that’s what you’re getting at … I’m not sure). We wish Jonathan all the best, admire him tremendously, and wouldn’t want anyone to think we’re belittling his condition in any way. I know a little about mental illness and wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
Get well soon Trotty!