Writing & Depression

[dr_mabeuse]

Statistics from a 1995 issue of Scientific American state that writers and artists are ten times more likely to suffer from depression than other members of the general population, and may be as much as 18 times more likely to commit suicide.

(This is from It Takes A Certain Type to be a Writer)

So does writing make people depressed, or do depressed people tend to write more?

---Zoot

 

[minsue]

B

 

[Classical_Wizard]

going to go with B Editted: Think that they have more to tell, and i dont think writing creates depressed people.

 

[Guest]

You and many know my story; writing has never depressed me. After meds, it's helped me live as well as possible. In some way its also why I have to write.

Perdita

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

(B) Depressed people become interested in composition while trying to write a really special suicide note. http://www.addis-welt.de/smilie/smilie/wc/1asp050.gif

 

[cantdog]

B

Yo.
http://no-troy.planetaclix.pt/images/mexico.gif
I admit to being amazed how many here have 'way too much familiarity with antidepressants.

 

[Guest]

.

 

[minsue]

(B) Depressed people become interested in composition while trying to write a really special suicide note.

Not funny, sweets. Really.

 

[minsue]

Re: B

Yo.
http://no-troy.planetaclix.pt/images/mexico.gif
I admit to being amazed how many here have 'way too much familiarity with antidepressants.

How much is too much, cant? And how do you know that others you know aren't just as familiar, but keep their mouths shut because of attitudes like that?

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Well, I was suicidal at one point too. The funny thing is though that I never lost my sense of humor. I was able to see how absurd the whole thing was, and how ridiculous it was to even be depressed, but I couldn't do anything about it. You kind of cry for a while, then laugh at yourself, then start crying some more.

For me, my sense of humor is King. More important than sex, more important than truth, more important than religion. There's times when laughing's in bad taste, but there's nothing that should never be laughed at.

--Zoot Q. Mabeuse

 

[cantdog]

Re: Re: B

How much is too much, cant? And how do you know that others you know aren't just as familiar, but keep their mouths shut because of attitudes like that?

I have 'em, and I wish I didn't have to.

That's my attitude.

 

[minsue]

Well, I was suicidal at one point too. The funny thing is though that I never lost my sense of humor. I was able to see how absurd the whole thing was, and how ridiculous it was to even be depressed, but I couldn't do anything about it. You kind of cry for a while, then laugh at yourself, then start crying some more.

For me, my sense of humor is King. More important than sex, more important than truth, more important than religion. There's times when laughing's in bad taste, but there's nothing that should never be laughed at.

--Zoot Q. Mabeuse

Laughing at myself and my madness is one of my hobbies. I just take issue with the way the Burly's post was written and, especially, the emoticon chosen to accompany it.

Of course, it probably also has much to do with the fact that I've been well along the road back to hell for a number of weeks now. I get a bit bitchy when I'm depressed.

 

[cloudy]

Laughing at myself and my madness is one of my hobbies. I just take issue with the way the Burly's post was written and, especially, the emoticon chosen to accompany it.

Of course, it probably also has much to do with the fact that I've been well along the road back to hell for a number of weeks now. I get a bit bitchy when I'm depressed.

I think we all get that way, occasionally, sweetie. I know I tend to be a bit sensitive about it myself.

Cloudy

 

[angela146]

It's very difficult to make a living at writing or art, even if you're pretty good at it. On the other hand, an average Visual C++ programmer can work part time and have a fleet of servants to mow the lawn and make ice tea.

If you're anything less than a great writer, you end up working at something else just to live so that you can write.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Anyhow, I think we write because we want to communicate, and yet writing's such a frustrating means of trying to do that.

You know how there's this big thing where yuppie parents want to do everything to give their kids a head start in the intelligence department? I always thought that if you wanted to raise a really smart kid, you should try and make them miserable. Unhappiness and dissatisfaction seem to be condusive to intelligence, whereas being well-adjusted and complacent as a kid seems to lead to a more mediocre type of mind.

At least, most of the intelligent people I know are more or less unhappy, and most of the happy people I know seem to have a certain "What? Me worry?" air about them.

---Zoot

 

[angela146]

You know how there's this big thing where yuppie parents want to do everything to give their kids a head start in the intelligence department? I always thought that if you wanted to raise a really smart kid, you should try and make them miserable. Unhappiness and dissatisfaction seem to be condusive to intelligence, whereas being well-adjusted and complacent as a kid seems to lead to a more mediocre type of mind.

I'm reasonably sure it's the other way around: intelligence leads to unhappiness, largely because you see all the unrealized potential in the world and in your own life.

 

[minsue]

I'm reasonably sure it's the other way around: intelligence leads to unhappiness, largely because you see all the unrealized potential in the world and in your own life.

Yup. That's exactly what I was going to say.

I think the cruelest combination of traits a person can be given is intelligence and sensitivity. I've been fortunate enough to know a few in this world who are both extraordinarily intelligent and extremely sensitive and empathetic. It kills me the way they suffer.

 

[wishfulthinking]

I'm reasonably sure it's the other way around: intelligence leads to unhappiness, largely because you see all the unrealized potential in the world and in your own life.

I have to disagree. It's like saying dumb people don't know what they are missing out on, or people living a simpler [less intelligent] life are happier because there is nothing they aspire to.

And I think both A & B just to be difficult Writing is very isolated thing, it cuts you off from the world, but it is mostly dealing with emotions, and like music can alter your mood, it has to have some impact on you.

But I am surprised as Cant - but for a different reason. Every one is open about it here, where in the real world people won't talk about it. I have a very close friend who has depression, and I can't pretend to understand, but I am there for her if she needs it.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Nice thread Zoot,

I'm an artist and a writer, so I've doubled my chances.

~A~

 

[cantdog]

Laughing at myself and my madness is one of my hobbies. I just take issue with the way the Burly's post was written and, especially, the emoticon chosen to accompany it.

Of course, it probably also has much to do with the fact that I've been well along the road back to hell for a number of weeks now. I get a bit bitchy when I'm depressed.

Min.

What can I say? That's terrible. I wish we weren't so helpless.

cantdog

 

[Boxlicker101]

Well, I was suicidal at one point too. The funny thing is though that I never lost my sense of humor. I was able to see how absurd the whole thing was, and how ridiculous it was to even be depressed, but I couldn't do anything about it. You kind of cry for a while, then laugh at yourself, then start crying some more.

For me, my sense of humor is King. More important than sex, more important than truth, more important than religion. There's times when laughing's in bad taste, but there's nothing that should never be laughed at.

--Zoot Q. Mabeuse

I thought about suicide a lot when I was in my twenties and thirties but never followed through on it. (obviously) I was living in Oakland for most of that time, which was depressing enough, and thought the way to do it would have been by hanging myself from the Golden Gate Bridge. When I was 40 years old, I finally found a woman who was willing to marry me and such thoughts ended.

 

[minsue]

Min.

What can I say? That's terrible. I wish we weren't so helpless.

cantdog

There's nothing to say, cant. Except that I apologize for misinterpreting you earlier.

And, Burly, I apologize to you, as well.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Nice thread Zoot,

I'm an artist and a writer, so I've doubled my chances.

~A~

You're doomed.

What time's the funeral? Open bar or BYOB?

---Dr. Zoot

 

[cantdog]

No apology needed.



Best to you. Good luck to all of us.

Fred

 

[ABSTRUSE]

You're doomed.

What time's the funeral? Open bar or BYOB?

---Dr. Zoot

Let's do an Irish wake!!!!
Just make sure my family doesn't dress me