[stylist] Writers and depression

Mon Jan 26 18:25:05 UTC 2015

I think we do need to point out, though, that there's a difference between
being unhappy and having depression.

Also, while synthetic medication is certainly the number one way most treat
depression, there are a lot of various treatments for all the degrees of
depression, many being holistic and not requiring medication.

And while some may recommend drugs the minute a person expresses being
unhappy or blue, the fact of the matter is that depression is a very real
diagnosis, and without treatment, especially medication, many would not be
able to function or their depression would affect their life, and for some,
may destroy their life.

It's always a fine line, and I always suggest moderation, but this is a much
bigger issue, and depression is a real thing that can be debilitating.
Feeling unhappy or blue may be beginning symptoms of depression, but not
necessarily. So you can't write off people who have been diagnosed with
depression, or those people recommending treatment, especially if working in
psychiatric care.

The examples of writers given here were clearly people who suffered from
depression. I mean, Hemmingway killed himself. You don't do that just
because you feel a little blue or are unhappy with something. People commit
suicide because they have a severe chemical inbalance in their brain
affecting their judgment, clouding their ability to be logical and not view
the world in such extremes.

So yes, we can say that lots of people labeled depressed are in reality just
unhappy or living vicariously through the emotions they feel as a writer.
But many actually suffer from depression that's real, and we can't
marginalize them or minimalize the issue.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vejas
Vasiliauskas via stylist
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2015 10:01 AM
To: EJ Kobek; Writers' Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Writers and depression

Helen,
I think that your point makes a lot of sense.
I feel that people do not really understand the degree to which one is
unhappy because they can't step into your head and really understand it.
The last half of junior year, for various reasons I did not like going to my
school (meaeaning the particular high-school campus I attend), and I
hated/dreaded going back after taking a vacation but always went in anyway.
Well I've pulled through, still go to the same school and am happier with
it, but if my family really knew how unhappy I was at the time, I think I'd
be at this school today.  Much of it just had to do with what was going on
there at the time.
I'm just giving this example because people know you are unhappy, but just
don't know HOW bad.
I want to be an English teacher and an advice columnist for a newspaper, and
like reading Dear Abby in my spare time.  If someone wrote about being
unhappy, Abby would just advocate medicating them.
Honestly, no matter how badly that I am feeling, I would never want to be
medicated.  I would be perfectly willing to talk out my problems but no, I
would not want to use medicine that would change me into some mechanical
person.  I've also heard that medication stalls your creative writing.
I think that some of the time when we are unhappy it is about one specific
issue and if that issue is resolved, it is better.  But sometimes when we
are unhappy about multiple things, they all blend so much that it is hard to
know the exact reason.
Vejas
----- Original Message -----
From: EJ Kobek via stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 17:33:35 -0500
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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