Dr. Jenny Godley

Hello! My name is Jenny. I had anorexia when I was 11, and I was diagnosed with severe depression in my early 20s. It took some time and several psychiatrists to work out the correct medication for me, but eventually we found it. I have been taking anti-depressants for over thirty years now. Depression is part of my life, part of who I am, but it does not have to rule my life.

A community of amazing people have held my hands and my heart along my recovery / life journey – many professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, nutritionists, and fitness experts), and literally dozens of wonderful friends and co-travelers (you know who you are!). And for the past fifteen years, I have had the great fortune of being loved just as I am, through all the ups and downs, by my amazing husband and son. To each one of you in my community, across the years and across the miles, I repeat, “I could not have done it without you.”

Over the last few years, I have learned not to feel ashamed to talk about taking medication for my mental health. I am grateful for the connections I have made by being more open about my mental health struggles. Being in recovery means being empathetic, being open to others’ struggles, and being in community. Whenever I share my story or talk about my mental health with a student, a colleague, or a friend, I learn more about them. We connect, and our work together becomes sounder and stronger.

We are so incredibly lucky to live at a time where the stigma around mental illness is fading, and we are able to connect with our fellow travelers. The road is still bumpy, and certainly not straight, but there are many of us out here, living our best lives, holding each other’s hands and hearts.