My Story
Meet Bill Carson…
Professional Experience
Bill Carson brings expertise in Mental Health and Resilience as a Principal Master Instructor of Mental Health First Aid to organisations in Australia in the following industries – retail, legal, manufacturing, healthcare, aged & community care, and advertising. Bill is also a regular volunteer Lifeline Telephone Crisis Supporter.Bill Carson has over 20 years of experience and expertise in sales, marketing, management, service culture, business development, key account management, facilitation, and coaching across a wide range of industries.
His long list of achievements never indicating what was happening beneath the surface.
Through a lived experience of over 30 years’ suffering, ‘hiding’ and overcoming his own depression and anxiety, Bill now blends his personal and professional expertise into developing Wellbeing, Mental Health and Resilience solutions for professionals.
Bill has a strong background in personal and professional development, including facilitation and coaching gleaned from many different industries including Manufacturing, Professional Services, Banking and Finance, Insurance, ITC, Healthcare and Retail.
Bill’s Qualifications
Bachelor of Science - Metallurgy from Menlbourne UniversityDiploma of Management – BSB51107Adult Education and Certificate IV – Training and Assessment – TAE 40110Certified Coach and Master Trainer in Sales, Leadership and ServiceAccredited Mental Health First Aid Master InstructorAccredited Resilience Coach, Wellbeing Coach and Social & Emotional Intelligence CoachCertified Neuroscience of Coaching 2011
Executive Coaching – ICCP (Sydney University)
Bill’s Expertise
Mental Health First Aid - Principal Master InstructorWellbeing Skills & Resilience Skills CoachingSocial and Emotional Intelligence CoachingExecutive CoachingTrain the Trainer and Presentation SkillsLifeline Volunteer Telephone Crisis SupporterLeadership, Organisational Culture & ValuesPersonal DevelopmentTeam Alignment and Interpersonal SkillsSales Training, Sales Coaching, Sales Management, Negotiation SkillsCustomer Service Excellence, Call Centres and Service Management
My Personal Experience Story
Challenges with anxiety and depression, and now subsequent freedom through balanced brain chemistry and positive psychology methods.
Ever since I was a young teenager I had suffered from depression and anxiety.
When I was four I had major heart surgery, and my father died in a car accident when I was five, which was very traumatic for me.
I was the eldest of three siblings at the time. My mother remarried five years later and they had three more children. My stepfather’s coping skills were severely challenged, and I experienced a lot of physical and emotional abuse through my teenage years.
I had a very rough time in my twenties with depression, and contemplated suicide on more than one occasion. The anxiety had always been there. Fluctuating mood swings were a constant struggle; I would feel up, excited and motivated, and then go into my depressive, anxious cave and procrastinate for weeks and weeks.
My first marriage was also very challenging. One year into our marriage my wife suffered a debilitating back injury. She had numerous surgeries, unfortunately, developed lupus disease, and suffered immensely. She made two suicide attempts.
I had always tried to cope by being positive. For years I have constantly devoured self-help books in an effort to heal, along with occasional therapy sessions.
I am a typical guy in which I attached a lot of shame and weakness to these aspects of my life, so I would keep it to myself, put on the ‘smiling’ face and just keep going! Most people had no idea what was really going on beneath the surface.
I had a particularly difficult time in 2014 when some client work did not go well. I had a pretty rough time with self-blame and guilt. I was suffering from depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, with mild thoughts of suicide. At this point, my struggles significantly impacted my work – to the extent that it cost me over $100,000 of lost revenue over a 9 month period.
The Breakthrough
In May 2015 I had some ‘divine intervention’, and came across Dr John Gray’s book – “Staying Focused in a Hyper World.” It was here I first started to learn about the impact of brain chemistry on mood.
I also started to learn how to heal my feelings of self-blame, shame and guilt.
A couple of months later, my current wife Lee-Anne went to a workshop on Neuroscience and bought a book for me by Dr Daniel Amen – “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life”. I found this book to be extremely valuable because it explained the relationship of inflammation in various parts of the brain to symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
I then embarked on a substantial research journey and read Dr William Walsh – “Nutrient Power” and Dr Patrick Holford – “Optimum Nutrition for the Mind”, and many others.
What I discovered from all of these specialists was that symptoms may be aggravated by ‘possible’ inflammation in my brain, and an imbalance of my brains’ chemistry, as well as external triggers and stressors.
I went on an intense personal journey of discovery about how my brain works, how I can reduce inflammation and improve the chemical balance, and how to use it more effectively overall.
Freedom
Finally (as of May 2016), through stabilising dopamine and serotonin levels, training and exercising my brain on mindset and positive psychology, and visiting an excellent nutritional specialist, I am free of the horrible negativity that has followed me my entire adult life.
The net result of all this is that I have found a way to manage depression and anxiety symptoms, and function at my full potential. I’ve even started doing triathlon training.
I am now able to focus on my work and become the best version of myself. Happy, resilient, calm, and content. I’m honoured to be able to blend my professional skills and qualifications, with my personal experiences to help companies, and their people ‘stay focused in a hyper world.’
Everyone’s journey is unique, but my story proves it’s worth persisting to find the right balance and brain-training that you need to thrive professionally, and personally.
If any of the above resonates with your own experience or someone you know – then it is time for you to reach out!
“There is nothing Bill would need to do differently. Nothing! Many trainers say they can train – Bill is part of a small handful I have met over my 25 years in HR that actually can. He is able to challenge people in a way that is positive.”
- Geoff Dunleavy, previously Human Resources Manager, Bradken Manufacturing
References
1. “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life” by Dr Daniel Amen
2. “Optimum Nutrition for the Mind” by Patrick Holford
3. “Staying Focused in a Hyper World” by Dr John Gray
4. “Nutrient Power” by Dr William Walsh
5. “Letting Go” by Dr David Hawkins
6. “Coping With Anxiety” by Dr Edmund Burke
7. “The Upside of Stress” by Kelly McGonigal
8. “The Compassionate Mind” by Professor Paul Gilbert
9. “Lost Connections” by Johan Hari
Websites
1. Lifeline
2. Beyond Blue
Podcasts
Bounce Back - Dr Andrew Rochford - Ep 13 with Ben Crowe
Line and Length
Pebble in the Pond
Jay Shetty - On Purpose
“People join companies and leave Managers. Every Leader/Manager has the capacity to leave a positive legacy in the lives of the people they lead and work with – what will yours be - helpful or harmful?”
~ Bill Carson