Personal battle inspires pastor to help others

ANSWERS SHARED: Ray Codling will run an eight week depression and anxiety recovery program in Millicent and Mount Gambier from October to December. Information sessions will be held in Mount Gambier on Tuesday and in Millicent on Wednesday. Picture: BRITTANY DENTON

RAY Codling is eager to share what he believes is the answer to overcoming depression and anxiety.

Following successful workshops in Naracoorte, he will run the acclaimed eight-week Nedley Depression and Anxiety Recovery Program in Mount Gambier and Millicent from October to December.

Mr Codling said the program helped him manage his own depression and was confident it would help others identify the causes of their depression and anxiety.

“I went down with depression in 1998 and I was diagnosed with PTSD,” Mr Codling said.

“I still have hits of depression but I manage it much better since I discovered this program three years ago.”

Mr Codling said lifestyle management was key to overcoming depression.

“Part of the process of recovering is changing your lifestyle, thinking differently and eating differently and that’s what this program teaches people to do,” he said.

“I went to Sydney to hear Dr Nedley, who founded the program, and I was very sceptical but after I heard him speak I signed up to be a facilitator.

“I did extra training and now I’m an assistant director because I truly believe in the program – it does have the answers and I want to share them.”

Four, two-hour sessions are held each week during the eight week recovery program.

“We will host information sessions next week for people who might be thinking ‘this is just another fad’,” Mr Codling said.

“You’ll come along, meet me and hear what I have to say and watch a short video presentation on what the program involves.”

Mr Codling said the program would teach people how to improve their emotional intelligence, eat for optimal brain function and enhance their energy levels and mood.

“Most people who come to the program get it right the first time,” he said.

“For the people who feel it doesn’t work for them, they are welcome to come back a second time for free.”

Four Mount Gambier information sessions will be held at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 63-67 Suttontown Road, at 1pm or 7pm on Tuesday September 26 and  Tuesday October 3.

Millicent information sessions will be held at Evergreen at Millicent B&B at 1pm or 7pm on Wednesday September 27 and Wednesday October 4.