BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Whether it is a complex past or stressful job right now, Sharon Dickerson wants everyone to prioritize their mental well-being. She believes if she can, so can others.
“As a nurse, you’re constantly on your feet,” Dickerson said. “You’re constantly responsible for the life of someone else.”
Dickerson spent 30 years as a nurse in several Birmingham-area hospitals.
She knows the pressure of working in a high intensity job and knows the value of protecting one’s mental health in the middle of it all.
“What I have found to be helpful is to, A, not work too much,” Dickerson said. “Don’t pick up every hour, cause that will increase your stress levels science has shown. Also, even when you’re working, take time. Take a five-minute break to yourself, no phones.”
For some, past trauma contributes to their mental health challenges, for which Dickerson can also relate.
From past sexual abuse to suicidal thoughts, she has found hope and come out of the other side.
She said her faith and science are what made it happen, a journey outlined in her book Slaying The Giant of Depression.
She said antidepressants have proven effective for her and so has professional counseling.
“It’s an opportunity to tell someone how you’re feeling,” Dickerson said. “If you put everything out there an outside person can kind of figure out your feelings and where you should go.”
People’s mental health journey can begin right now, she said, by closely watching the way they speak about themselves.
“There is no where you’ve gone that your mouth and your thoughts haven’t gone first,” she said. “Plus the Bible says you live and die by your words.”
She said physical health in another important aspect, that means putting down the fast food and turning to healthier alternatives.
Dickerson added that breaking a sweat is not only good for the body but also the mind.
“You don’t have to run a marathon,” she said. “You don’t have to go to the gym every day. You can incorporate parking farther from the store, walking, going up stairs. Science has shown every drop of sweat you give for exercise helps your brain.”
It is a journey she has been through that she hopes inspires others.
“You don’t have to start tomorrow,” Dickerson shared. “You can start today.”
People who want to read more about Dickerson’s story this Mental Health Awareness Month can check out the local author’s book Slaying The Giant of Depression on Amazon.
Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.
Copyright 2025 WBRC. All rights reserved.
