[stylist] Writers and depression

[Jacobson, Shawn D]

The one I've heard is that conservatives are the worshipers of dead liberals.

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of EJ Kobek via stylist
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2015 5:34 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [stylist] Writers and depression

If we're thinking about depression = unhappiness, then writers' heightened consciousness could be an element. Consciousness of injustice, suffering (ours and others')....

As Alice James was quoted as saying in her journal, however, (included in my book *Everyday Cruelty) *"Ah, those strange people who have the courage to be unhappy! Are they unhappy, by-the -way?"

I know there are biological underpinnings (I.e., neurotransmitter problems, poor uptake, adrenal gland burn out, thyroid issues, etc.) *sometimes* to unhappiness, but I think our culture far too often labels mere misery and yawning consciousness as depression, thus neutralizing our voices, relegating those such folks to, oh, "mentally ill," instead of aware and articulate. Another favorite quotation, related: "Societies honor their live conformists and their dead rebels." Something like that.....Medicalizing unhappiness is a superior and effective way of silencing people's deep and true voices.

Oh, joy. Sob. Whimper. Sigh. Be okay. Be fine. Be great.

Helen
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