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I was scrolling through Reddit the other day and came across a post entitled “Depression and Writing”. I was intrigued so started reading.
Needless to say, it was a bit depressing, BUT also eye-opening.
The author of the post wrote:
I have no motivation. No interest in anything else in my life besides reading and writing. I find no joy in whatever appears in front of me. I’m not interested in relationships or outdoor activities. Yet cannot write.Yet, I cannot read. I can merely exist in a space that is far from living.
…How do you do it, depressed writers, how do you muster up anything?”
Reddit: u/Artistic-Mall-2254
This thread was huge and a lot of people commented that they too felt the same way–that what he was describing was also their life.
The whole thing was so sad because so many are in the same boat but are stuck to the lifestyle or self-imposed exile.
Depression is such a catch-all phrase isn’t it? It cover such a huge gambit of thoughts, life-style, action and non-action.
According to the American Psychiatric Association depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:
- Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue
- Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide
As you can see the list goes from mild to extreme and is not something to fool around with.
A lot of these things can also be related to outside influences, substances, or biological/genetic factors of the individual.
There’s an old saying that misery loves company…. what this refers to is being around like minded miserable people who support the ongoing lousy moods.
Does this post sound like you? or someone you know? What do you do to combat the darkness?
One responder on Reddit wrote:
…Depression is romanticized so much when it comes to comics and writers and “troubled artists”. Don’t fall into the trap of depression being your key to creativity. Go get treated.”
Reddit: destroyerofpoon93
This is wise advice. There are many ways to treat depression now. I’m not a doctor but perhaps you need to see one.
My fellow blogger Pooja LifesFineWhine talks about her struggle with anxiety and depression and her use of CBD oil. You can read it here: Natural Remedies for Depression
While this may not be for everyone there are a miriad of medications, therapies, and coping mechanisms that can be explored.
Being a writer means writing.
If you’re a depressed writer, fine, but you still have to write or you’re simply a depressed person identifying as a writer.
It’s like me saying I’m a depressed ballerina, but I can’t dance because I’m depressed–well, guess what–ballerina’s dance.
I guess the main difference to the above example is that I’m really not a ballerina, but you may be a writer who’s so paralyzed by mental health issues that your need to find help.
Be truthful with yourself.
The thing is that everyone goes through bouts of sadness or questioning, but when it becomes debilitating to the point of not being able to function, there’s no choice but to seek help. Simple as that.
Don’t cheat the world of your creativity. Find what works for you and start writing again.
Here are some numbers in Canada for Help
Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566 (24/7)Â
or connect with Wellness Together Canada for support and assistance.
Get help! Get Writing!
Thanks so much for reading my post. If you liked the post, please like, comment, share, and follow.
If your medication for clinical depression isn’t working, you may not be depressed. You may be suffering from ‘soul sickness’. Yes, it’s a real medical condition that requires a different treatment. Your soul wants something else in life than what you’re providing. Be warned – if you do an Internet search for soul sickness, you’ll see many sites created by religious groups because of the word ‘soul’. While you may find the info useful, be cautious – it may also take you in the wrong direction. Good luck.
Thank you so much for this Aggie. Yes, we do need to remember that not everyone is depressed but perhaps lost. And I mean this in the sense of which you speak. The longing to do or be what you want but not finding that path. For some I’m sure a personal search through their soul is necessary. Meds are not always the answer. Help comes in many forms. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting Aggie. It really is appreciated. xo
Thanks so much for linking my post and for this post. I’m not sure why but it seems writers are very prone to mental health issues especially depression and anxiety. Like you said, the first step is admitting that you need help and then moving on from there and finding what works best for you.
Hey Pooja. It’s true. I find it actually quite pronounced with creatives. Maybe it’s because we’re willing to engage different sections of out brain and tap into the emotional side. Yes. Admission and opening the discussion are crucial.
Yeah I guess so. I also think creatives tend to be more sensitive so that may have something to do with it too.
I agree with you. The sensitivity of many creatives can really play a big part. xo
I remember a few years ago I would find myself googling depression and getting that list of symptoms “loss of interest” and thinking “now if I had a loss of interest I wouldn’t be googling depression now, would I?” and that’s the problem. If you’ve been down for months and years on end you really can’t remember how it was NOT to be depressed… that’s the problem I always had, anyhow…
I wrote my own depression article earlier on.
https://zadenzane.wordpress.com/2021/09/10/a-long-history-of-depression/
Not one person has read it which is really making me even more depressed, so you are welcome to drop by 👍🤪
Hey Zaden!! Happy Saturday. Thanks for stopping by! I **will** read your article. I admire your boldness. Take a look at my other blogs too about building an audience or interacting with other bloggers. So much to learn and build an audience. don’t worry …I won’t forget… I’ll be back.