This book I’m writing about the power of music will certainly explore a song’s ability to impact our health. I’ve already posted a blog about a woman’s breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery (link to that blog here) and my book will share other stories I’ve received about the challenges we face with our physical health. But thus far, I’ve only received a few stories about our struggles with mental health. I think I know why.
Though one in every four adults deals with a mental health issue—such as depression, anxiety, addictions—it remains a misunderstood illness, often laden with shame and guilt. Further complicating matters is, while people think of physical illness as something that happens to us, we often falsely believe that mental health is something we do to ourselves. That’s why I was grateful to receive a song and story about depression from Vince Markowsky, but before I share his song’s story, let me share some of Vince’s life story.
In his sixty years, Vince has accomplished a lot, but perhaps he is best known as an effective therapist who’s helped many with their mental health issues. One reason he is such a gifted counselor for those suffering is because he understands it personally.
“I’ve had six major depressions in my life,” Vince explains. “During those times, I’ve been unable to enjoy anything or anyone. Those depressions were pain, suffering, being unable to work, no motivation to connect with others or engage in life.” And here’s how Vince describes himself when he’s not in depression: “Who I genuinely am is someone passionate about loving my fellow human beings, animals and the environment. I’m extremely sensitive and love to express my emotions, both of joy and sadness/hurt/destitution.”
One of the ways Vince passionately engages in life is with music. When not helping people as a therapist, he’s healing others as a guitarist and singer. And it’s a song from his favorite band, America, that he chose to tell the story of his troubled journey with depression: “Riverside.”
With just one listen, I could understand why Vince considers the song so impactful. “Riverside” opens with guitars playing a rhythm that sounds to me a lot like something—or someone—coming to life. Vince agrees.
“When I listen to ‘Riverside,’ it reminds me of and helps to regain my incredible sense of resilience, recovery, and return back to strength, pure joy, and my strong need to fight for myself and my life. At times, ‘Riverside’ feels like the song is grabbing hold of my hand and pulling me out of my depression.”
Vince’s six depressions total about 10 years of his life and he admits that he “continues to experience grief and sadness for the loss of those years.” But instead of allowing that grief to hold him back, Vince focuses on his recovery, which he describes with a unique choice of words. “ ‘Riverside’ represents my celebrations of ‘comebackisms’ and ‘standbackupisms,’ transitioning out from my deep depressions and back into the joy, passion, and happiness that I’ve brought to my career as a mental health therapist, to my life passions and to my love and companionship with my loved ones, friends, my beautiful dogs, and most important, with my God, my high sense of spirituality, which includes my sense of gratitude, through my experience.”
For certain, every health challenge—physical or mental—is as unique as each person facing that challenge. Finding the right diagnosis, therapy and cure is an individual journey. For Vince Markowsky, music is an integral part of that journey. How about you? Has there been a challenge—perhaps one you’ve previously been uncomfortable to share—that had a song to help your journey? Sometimes telling your story is part of the healing. You’re welcome to share it here.