Out of the Darkness

According to Benedicte Page of The Guardian, writing is on the top-ten list of vocations in which people are the most likely to suffer from depression. It's up there with teaching, a job I'm quite familiar with. That means, as Ben Allen describes the symptoms, scribblers have trouble concentrating and sleeping (or they have insomnia), they're irritable and they overeat (or experience loss of appetite), they have feelings of emptiness or worthlessness and even suicidal thoughts. This is caused by the usual factors, but there are additional causes particular to writers: isolation, introspection, financial issues, and lack of physical activity.

This all can lead to writer's block, although some people say that the darkness caused by depression can actually help the writing; Denise Mann acknowledges that "being familiar with misery, pain and suffering may guide the process for some writers." But author Elizabeth Moon is emphatic that "depression beyond the very mildest level...destroys creativity." When you are depressed, she explains, it's difficult to begin new things or make decisions. "[Y]ou have less courage, less resilience, less ability to handle ordinary stressors."

Many famous writers dealt with deep depression. Douglas Adams jumped from one odd job to another, and, even when he was creating such enduring works as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, he doubted his own self-worth. Hans Christian Andersen was a manic depressive who channeled the negative thoughts into his famous fairy tales; but he still had an unhappy personal life, was plagued by dark despair, and ultimately died alone. Before becoming the billionaire author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling was a broke single mother suffering from clinical depression. After being fired from his job as an oil-company executive, Raymond Chandler successfully turned to mystery writing, but he also drowned his sorrows in alcohol. Another renowned scribe who relied on mood-altering substances for a while was Stephen King; he barely remembers pounding out the horror tome Cujo because he was bingeing cocaine. The list could continue, but I don't want this post to be excessively long.

So, how should a writer handle depression? She or he can try to write through it, and novelist Simon Brett admits that writing "can be wonderful therapy." However, the necessity of self-examination can lead one to negative thoughts and feelings because, let's face it, everything in our past and even our present is not sweetness and light. Plus, if you're writing to keep the demons at bay, what happens when you stop? Alexandra Styron revealed that father William, author of Sophie's Choice, was filled with despair when he wasn't writing because "his sense of himself [was] so tied up with his art."

There are other options besides battling the demons with a pen. Patty Somlo of the blog Writing and Wellness recommends therapy because solitary people like writers can benefit from "having a trained, caring person to listen and help you go deep and discover the roots of the depression and anxiety, as well as your potential for healing." She also says yoga and meditation can make a big difference. But the depression isn't going to go away immediately, and in fact it may never do so. Therefore, the writer will have to deal with that and also get the work done.

Kristen Kieffer advises keeping a writing ritual, honoring your highs, channeling your emotion, and giving yourself some grace. Somlo suggests practicing that regular-writing ritual early in the morning, before the events (and troubles) of the day can intrude. But, according to Anne R. Allen, it's not necessary, or even advisable, to write seven days a week: "I believe that if you have nothing to say, it's best not to say it."

I can attest, from my personal experience with deep depression and anxiety, that these feelings will challenge a writer's ability to produce good work or any at all. It's important to have structure to the writing practice, to have goals, and to work toward those goals (in other words, finish the work). And, honestly, therapy can't hurt, because it's helpful to be able to unload the feelings on a sympathetic person who can provide another perspective on the issues. It's not necessary to suffer in silence, and it certainly won't do the writing any good.

Additional sources: Emily Asher-Perrin (Tor.com); Look and Learn #413, Dec 1969.

#writers #writing