(Submitted photo/Lianne Albers)

By Josh Ryan

Mental health

Local electrician shares story for mental health awareness

Feb 18, 2021 | 10:22 AM

As people across Saskatchewan have struggled with their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, one woman is hoping her story will help others reach out.

A journeyman electrician for 13 years, Lianne Albers has always been in a unique position in a predominantly male industry. She said she often found herself applying pressure on her ability to both fit in and excel, which meant not taking the time to address any issues one might have and push through them instead.

“You want to keep up with the boys, so sometimes you kind of act like a guy, where you want to be tough and nothing bothers you,” she told battlefordsNOW.

That determination contributed to a difficult period for Albers after she suffered a significant concussion while snowboarding two years ago. In the ensuing weeks, she struggled going back to work. Albers said being at home was particularly hard.

When you’re stuck at home and watching life continue around you, that was a really big struggle for me,” she said. “You’re almost envious. And you don’t want to speak about it because you don’t want to look weak in front of everyone.”

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One of the biggest challenges for Albers was being unable to articulate what she was going through to others.

“You break a leg or arm, you have a cast everyone can see you’re injured,” she said. “When there’s something like a brain injury or something like dementia, you look fine and sound normal for the most part, but then you get that feeling that people looking at you think you’re stupid.”

“You almost just wish you had a sticker on your head that said ‘I have a brain injury’, so people would understand you better.”

When back at work, Albers found she couldn’t access everything she used to know. Not being able to complete basic tasks and perform as she should, she eventually decided to move on from her career.

“That was very frustrating, working alongside other journeyman and not feeling at the same level as them, even though I knew I probably had more experience,” she said.

Working with a naturopath in Edmonton who had already helped her with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia in the past, Albers began recovering through changes in diet, improving muscle health in her neck and allowing herself to rest. While the latter was particularly difficult, she said it’s crucial, as the brain can only heal through rest.

“It’s been tough learning to not over-do it,” she said. “I’m that type of person used to running a million miles a minute all the time and now to say on a Tuesday, ‘no, I have to stay home and just make supper’, that’s been very hard.”

Recently, Albers shared her story on social media, in the hope that others would find some encouragement, particularly those working in trades. Given the isolation many feel during the pandemic, Albers said she wants everyone to feel that they can reach out about any challenges they are facing, especially with mental health, and help break stigmas that have long existed in that industry.

“So many people don’t tell anyone what’s going on and push through, so I just wanted to let other people know I feel the same way they do,” she said to battlefordsNOW. “It’s okay to talk about it and there’s other people in the same boat.”

As she continues in her marketing role and other duties for K.R. Electric in North Battleford, Albers said she’s grateful for the support system she’s had throughout her recovery. While there’s still highs and lows every week, she’s optimistic about her future.

“I believe I am going to continue to get much better, but I have to remind myself to slow myself down more often.”

In addition to saying it’s okay to share your struggles with mental health, Albers said she wants people to not accept that the damage has been done and think there is no path to recovery, as she was told prior to looking to naturopathy.

“Don’t settle for an answer you don’t like, continue to seek and find the right person.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports