Winnipeg author David A. Robertson says new memoir on anxiety like 'large group therapy'
Robertson lays bare his journey with anxiety and depression in new book
"You're not as alone as you think you are," says award-winning author David A. Robertson, as he lays bare his journey with anxiety and depression in a new book.
Robertson, a Swampy Cree writer and novelist based in Winnipeg, compared his latest work All The Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live With Anxiety to a large group therapy session.
In writing about his own experience with mental illness, he invited readers to join him to embrace what is and to heal from what was.
In a conversation with CBC Radio's Up To Speed guest host Chloe Friesen, Robertson shared that he went through a nervous breakdown in 2010, which was around the time that he started to write about characters with mental illness in his books as an outlet for what he was going through.
Robertson referred to the "little monsters" as chronic, debilitating, filled with anxiety and panic and, at times, depression — especially in the time following the death of his father, Don, in 2019.
He said that writing the book was a cathartic experience that gave him an opportunity to connect with other artists who were also dealing with mental health struggles.
"Sharing my own struggles helps people feel like they can share theirs as well," Robertson said.
There are many people who can relate, said Scott McFadyen, executive director of the Anxiety Disorder Association of Manitoba. "One in four people" live with anxiety, he said.
The association offers free resources and educational programming for individuals, families and other organizations that are living with or impacted by anxiety disorders of all kinds.
Its program design uses a peer-support model, which means all the staff have lived experience with mental illness.
"When you're talking to someone who's really been struggling and you can see there's a bit of a wall that they put up …the second you say, it's something I've dealt with and dealing with now, that wall immediately drops," he said. "And so that is truly the magic potion in the peer-support model."
McFadyen said that in his first year as director of the association, he has seen a steady increase of people accessing its services, with the call volume increasing by 10 to 15 per cent.
'Allow it to happen'
Robertson, who has authored more than 25 books, described his new book as being written for two audiences: those who are living with anxiety, depression or other mental health disorders and those who aren't — but might know someone who is.
Acknowledging your mental health is a big part of living a meaningful life despite experiencing chronic mental illness, he said.
His advice for anyone who experiences anxiety was to "sit with it, and allow it to happen." He said the best thing is to "live with it and not fight against it."
Robertson's cross a variety of genres, including the Misewa Saga series, picture books On the Trapline and When We Were Alone, graphic novel Breakdown, and his memoir Black Water, which won two 2021 Manitoba Book Awards. Robertson is the winner of the 2021 Freedom to Read Award.
All The Little Monsters will be released on Jan. 21.
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental illness, here's where to get help:
- Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.
- WRHA Indigenous Health — Centralized Services at 204-940-8880 or 1-877-940-8880; email [email protected] or visit www.wrha.mb.ca and go to Indigenous Health.
- This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Up To Speed