May 17, 2012

TV star offers “blueprint” for depression sufferers

One in five South Carolinians suffer from depression and that number is surely aggravated by things like economic worries.What happens when the blues come out of the blue? South Carolina Radio Network recently spoke with Paige Hemmis, the star of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. You might know Hemmis as the spunky blond designer who improves lives and brings joy to families. But there was a time –in the middle of a successful series–when she experienced exhaustion, sadness, and withdrawal from her job.

She explains, “Because I was helping these families with these dire situations and I almost felt guilty that I was having these kinds of depression because i thought well my life is good I have no reason to complain so I almost kept it inside longer just because I felt like I had no right to feel this way. ”

Hemmis says, that like an important project, it starts with a plan, or as she says, a blueprint.

” When dealing with depression in a treatment plan its so important to find whatever blueprint works for you and it might be different for every person even within your life it might change but just getting that conversation open with your doctor and starting on that plan I think its a important thing. ”

To offer help, Hemmis has launched a free website called blueprintforhope.com

Hemmis says, ” I’m not alone there are so many people going through it too and its so many resources that are out there. “

SC House and Senate seeing almost eye-to-eye this year on state budget

State lawmakers continued their final budget discussions from the floor of the Senate Wednesday.  Finance Chair Hugh Leatherman of Florence applauded his colleagues for not supporting Governor Mark Sanford’s refusal to sign for $700 million in federal stimulus funds. All except for a few senators supported Leatherman’s position to take the money on the table.   “This to me is a bridge.  There are those who say we need to go ahead and fall off the cliff this year.  I’m not one of those.   I believe the economy will turn.  But to come in here just with some ideology, and penalize our people…I just can’t do that.”  [Read more...]