'Like any other injury': UPEI hockey player shares story of mental illness

The din of the compressor, hum of the bright lights, the chill in the air,the hockey rink may not be everyone's idea of home.It isto TeaganPringle, and the place she's most comfortable talking about her mental illness.

"Like any other injury to the bodyyou know it's an up and down process," said the fourth year student and UPEI Panthers hockey player. "The brain is so unpredictable compared to other injuries unfortunately."

Pringle'sdepression and anxiety has been building for years. In the last 12 months it became too much school, maintaining the schedule of a high performance athlete and performingon ice overwhelmed her.

"It was an unsustainable manner and way of life," Pringle said of her decision to eventuallycheck into hospital. "Just cause you can't see a mental illnessdoesn't mean it's not there and not real."

Making it official

TheGlenboro, Man., native only received an official diagnosis last January, major depressive disorder.

She learned the triggers and how to deal with the daily stresses, and to balance it all. She's writingher feelingsdown in a journal, and a day planner isa constant companion.

"I'm graduating this year and you would think by that time you're able to depict the brain and all that's happening," added Pringle, ofher psychology/sociology double major."It helps me get a better understandingof like reality versus what ishappeningbecause ofmy illness."

Pringle said days like Bell Let's Talk day can be a bit overwhelming, especially when there are 364 other days to talk about mental illness.

"You know I'm so much more comfortable speaking about it," she said of her work helping others on campus."I've gotten involved in some great opportunities around mental illness."

Later this week Pringle is taking another step.For the first time in months she's lacing up her skates and hitting the ice.She wants to share her experiencewith another personhaving a tough time,doing it where she's most at home.

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