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Similar to ENF - Christian Sullivan
Similar to ENF - Christian Sullivan (16)
ENF - Christian Sullivan
- 2. Pretty much I Lived for Surfing, School didn’t really interest me sure I had
great friends but for some reason I didn’t like learning. There were a few
interests like Film making, Cooking and Wood work though.
Thank God I’ve changed now, I love to Learn everyday single day and
also love to connect with People.
In School I was Shy, unconfident and really was just there and that was it.
In hindsight I wish I would of done a lot more, but of course there’s no
turning back time. After I left School in Year 10 I wanted to Snowboard
and work in the Snowfields, I had a two friends I surfed with who worked
down there, so I had a idea of how to do it.
In 1997 I did I my first Season after Snowboarding a handful of days for
about 3 years beforehand. I ended up doing about 6 Seasons of riding
Snowboarding in New Zealand, Japan, Perisher and Thredbo. Except for
Japan I worked at all of them, the people I met and times I had I can still
remember today and I’d recommend it to anyone.
It was the time of my life 100%.
Above Photo: Where I grew up Bar Beach, Newcastle
Through all this time there was something that was always in the back of
my mind Self Image.
- 3. I had a big problem with it, after Snowboarding and travelling I settled in
Newcastle and got right into Filming and Mountain Biking, I also Filmed
earlier in the Snow aswell.
Having a interest in Design I ended up getting into the Sign Industry and
for many years worked in Sign manufacturing, Machine Operating, Sign
installs and more.
But the whole Self Image issue was still there…..and in the very end of
2007 my whole world came crashing down. I had Depression and it was
really BAD, I was suicidal at times, didn’t go to work for a month and
relied on my Parents, Brother and Ex Partner for help. I thought I was
going insane, I sat day in day out with my head in my hands for at least a
week. I got on various meds after some time they seemed to work.
Now this was from years and years of a Self image issue, that I keep
pushing to the back of my mind. To put it Bluntly I didn’t like the colour of
my Skin, I’m fair skined and that wasn’t what I wanted to look like or to be
like, as I loved being out doors daily. Some days I felt cheated like why
me ? There was a point where I was scared of being in the Sun, sounds
crazy hey ?
Well it was and I’m very greatful those feelings didn’t last to long.
It took months to get back on track but I still remember to this day how
hard it was to be back at work, people asking what was wrong, people
asking where have you been etc…
Fact was I didn’t want to talk about it “AT ALL” !
As I’ve realised now that was only making it worse, not talking to people
about my situation. I later realised talking to people helps so much and of
course I highly recommend speaking to a professional first.
- 4. It tooks me years to realise it was OCD related, after having depression 3
more times I really had a lot of time to put the pieces together and realise
what had happened and why.
Depression is the hardest thing I’ve never had to go through, it feels like
you can’t do anything, your stuck in life, you feel alone, you feel like not
living…After going through it more than once you get to know it and get to
know what to do to get through it quicker and easier if that’s possible.
It was hard on my Family, my partner and of course my whole mental
state and health. On average, 1 in 6 people – 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8
men – will experience depression at some stage of their lives in Australia.
It’s a major issue and shouldn’t be hidden away
or not talked about.
What does Depression teach you ?
It tort me that I can be anyone I want, do anything I want to do and push
through challenges in Life. But most of all “NEVER QUIT” on what I
wanted to do in my Life. So from early 2008 till now has been a roller
coaster, I’ve learnt so so much just in the last year let alone 7 years.
Having a daughter who is nearly 4 years old is the best thing to ever
happen to me.
Meeting a mentor who lives his life on his terms and is teaching me to do
the same has been a massive opportunity and something I’m very
blessed to have and I’m very Greatful for. Having a Vision, being
Determined, Motivated and a REAL hunger to help people is something I
really never even thought of even 2 years ago.
