who is that bloke in the kilt?
G’day! My name is James.
I’m a father, husband, musician, educator, I have a silly-big competition winning beard, and I love wearing kilts.
I try to be a positive, kind, and compassionate influence on those around me.
I have also been clinically diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety.
While these feelings haven’t been constant, they have always been with me to varying degrees since I was a child. This is due, in part, to a chemical imbalance in my brain, which reduces my ability to naturally produce normal levels of serotonin and dopamine.
For a long time, I was very careful with whom I shared this information, but after a while I realised that this wasn’t helping me or those around me. If anything, it was exacerbating my issues, causing me to feel shameful, and stopping me from dealing with the causal issues.
I found that being open about my mental health issues has been overwhelmingly positive and helps those around me.
With that in mind, feel free to ask me anything you’re interested in.
Throughout the year, I will be expanding on this page somewhat, as well as keeping a journal and sharing many of my thoughts about mental health, life, and whatever else I may be experiencing.
(Just in case there was any confusion, I’m the kilted beardy guy, not the incomparably amazing Bandleader, Composer and Bassist, Michael League of Snarky Puppy!)