Link between being a writer and depression?

Oblivion_Rain · Jun 24, 2011

I've read that many writers or other creative types are disposed to more emotional travails than most, and I was wondering if anyone agrees with this. Look at Hunter S. Thompson, Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, and so on, all having struggled with bouts of deep despair and took their lives in grim succession. I, myself, have been subject to recurring sadness throughout my life, so I think that writing can act as a potential incendiary. Since authors tend to focus on dark, deep-seated emotions for the sake of their craft, perhaps this increases the likelihood of depression. Not all combat this, of course, but a staggering amount it seems. Thoughts?

Shady Lane · Jun 24, 2011

I think you're looking at it the wrong way. Writing doesn't make you depressed. Being depressed makes you write.

Don Evan Scott · Jun 24, 2011

Yea. Writing makes me happy.

Getting paid to write would make me happier. Lets try that...

Becca C. · Jun 24, 2011

Depression makes you want to write, and writing forces you to explore yourself and that can make you more depressed, and so on. Writers tend to be predisposed to a lot of mental illnesses (I have a book called Psychology for Writers and in the section about different jobs, there's an enormous list of all the things writers are predisposed to... yikes). Do writers write because they're depressed, or are they depressed because they write? I don't know. To be honest I think it's both.

Marzipan · Jun 24, 2011

Ditto. What Don said. Writing gives me hope and a reason to live. So when I'm depressed I write. Best drug out there for depression

Oblivion_Rain · Jun 24, 2011

I didn't say I thought writing makes one depressed, per se. I was voicing the possibility of it feeding into sadness and other difficult emotions.

Jehhillenberg · Jun 24, 2011

Don Evan Scott said:
Yea. Writing makes me happy.

Getting paid to write would make me happier. Lets try that...

Hell yeah!

I agree with Becca C also, but I don't think writing makes a person depressed (not me anyway), maybe more so the professional process. I love writing and maybe there is something deeper, mentally, with us writers but man can it make for GREAT stories.

thothguard51 · Jun 24, 2011

Oblivion_Rain said:
I didn't say I thought writing makes one depressed, per se. I was voicing the possibility of it feeding into sadness and other difficult emotions.

And the guy working on the GM assembly line is not depressed doing the same thing day in and day out?

You think the girl waiting on you at red lobster enjoys busting her ass for a measly 10% tip? Talk about depressing...

I don't care what profession you work in, if it ain't something that makes you happy, then YES, a form of depression can form.

The arts are no different other than most people in the arts are creative...

Don Evan Scott · Jun 24, 2011

Yea, I don't get depressed writing -- frustrated a lot, yes, but depressed no. Why? Because I can make the world I write about however I want it, where the evil people get what they deserve and the nice guy doesn't finish last all the time.

Real life? Can't control those things ... lots to be sad about.

Becca C. · Jun 24, 2011

Sometimes writing kind of weighs me down, mentally. It can be a LOT of work, especially if you're doing revisions and it starts taking over your life. I wouldn't have it any other way, but some people wonder why I willingly submit myself to such torture XD

Tromboli · Jun 24, 2011

Shady Lane said:
I think you're looking at it the wrong way. Writing doesn't make you depressed. Being depressed makes you write.

This.

Mind you I am not depressed nor have I ever been remotely close to it (not that I haven't been sad.. I'm not a robot :tongue

) but I think if there is any link it is more than likely that people who are often depressed are more inclined to write. You have more dips in emotions and a very strong need to express that.

I guess if one is already predisposed to depression then writing could (emphasis on could) cause one to have more frequent or deepened depression, caused by dealing with such strong emotions. I don't necessarily agree with that, but there is a chance, and I wouldn't really know would I?

thothguard51 · Jun 24, 2011

Becca C. said:
but some people wonder why I willingly submit myself to such torture XD

For the same reason's atheletes (amateur and pro), push themselves, they enjoy it and to be the best they can be...

Don Evan Scott · Jun 24, 2011

Me either by the way (not depressed). I certainly don't mean to compare myself to people who have clinical depression. Still, the world can suck a lot

COchick · Jun 24, 2011

I don't feel depressed when I write...but the publishing experience can get me down. The waiting, the nail-biting, the rejection, the asking whether-or-not it's all worth it...those things can drag down my mood in no time.

Oblivion_Rain · Jun 24, 2011

I appreciate all of your opinions. I wanted to make this post because there appears to be a large correlation between writers and suicide. The list is jaw-dropping. Hundreds have died by their own hands.

Becca C. · Jun 24, 2011

thothguard51 said:
For the same reason's atheletes (amateur and pro), push themselves, they enjoy it and to be the best they can be...

It's amazing how many people don't understand that, isn't it?

Al Stevens · Jun 24, 2011

I don't know about depression, what it is, what causes it. I do know that writers tend to be self-involved, self-indulgent people. Perhaps our persistent inward view doesn't yield what we want to see, and there is no where else to look. That could be depressing.

But, look on the bright side. It's an occupation where you are allowed to drink on the job. Pass the Yuengling, please.

Don Evan Scott · Jun 24, 2011

*passes it*

Writers see the world in a different way than other people do. Wouldn't you all agree? We see all the little details and we feel the underlying meanings in our very souls. I don't think you can be a writer, especially a successful one, without being profoundly affected by the world, which is a cruel and heartless place. As far as a causal relationship, who knows, but I don't think there is any denying that writers, and many other artists, are looking at this life in a very different and very special way. And lets face it, it's very rarely a happy view.

Becca C. · Jun 24, 2011

Don Evan Scott said:
*passes it*

Writers see the world in a different way than other people do. Wouldn't you all agree? We see all the little details and we feel the underlying meanings in our very souls. I don't think you can be a writer, especially a successful one, without being profoundly affected by the world, which is a cruel and heartless place. As far as a causal relationship, who knows, but I don't think there is any denying that writers, and many other artists, are looking at this life in a very different and very special way. And lets face it, it's very rarely a happy view.

I definitely agree. Writers are almost always more sensitive to the world around them than non-writers. Hell, metaphorical things sometimes make me cry. Once I cried like a baby because I had cookies but no milk (I had the luxury, but I lacked the essential... it was very profound at the time

).

Shady Lane · Jun 24, 2011

A quick note: there's a big difference between feeling depressed and having clinical depression. Being sad is not the same as having depression. Being very sad, in response to something, is not the same as having depression. It's a difficult thing to explaint o people, but...trust me, please? It's a different thing.

Don Evan Scott · Jun 24, 2011

I know...I think we all do...depression is an overused word that we are all perhaps guilty of.

thothguard51 · Jun 24, 2011

Oblivion_Rain said:
I appreciate all of your opinions. I wanted to make this post because there appears to be a large correlation between writers and suicide. The list is jaw-dropping. Hundreds have died by their own hands.

You haven't studied the sucuide rate for dentist have you?

And as a side note, airline pilots have a higher divorce rate than most professions...

shadowwalker · Jun 24, 2011

Oblivion_Rain said:
I appreciate all of your opinions. I wanted to make this post because there appears to be a large correlation between writers and suicide. The list is jaw-dropping. Hundreds have died by their own hands.

I would wonder if the correlation is any larger for writers than for some other broad categories of work.

At any rate, I don't think writing affects the depression. It may affect frustration levels, but depression (clinical) is an actual illness which writing cannot cause. Situational depression is caused by an extremely stressful event or series of events - again, writing is not *that* stressful.

People with depression may tend to turn to writing or other creative endeavors because it allows them to express the emotions and frustrations, so no, it doesn't surprise me that many writers commit suicide.

KellyAssauer · Jun 24, 2011

People without hope not only don’t write novels, but what is more to the point, they don’t read them. - Flannery O'Connor

There are theories out there that now try to attribute some sort of mental affliction to some historically creative artists, writers etc. Depression, esp the swinging highs and lows of bi-polar is a popular one.

Clinical depression - wait - rephrase, Clinical Major Depression doesn't allow you to do much of anything because you don't really enjoy doing anything. So, that's out. Clinical depression may or may not have it's creative release side. There is no known link between creativity and clinical depression that I know of.

The bi-polar highs & lows can show a creative outburst link, as well as several other symptomatic behaviors that might not be so creative. OCD can (depending) allow for creative works.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that their isn't any proven correlation between any particular mental illness and writing.

Don't forget William Styron in your list of those affected - I keep a copy of Darkness Visible with me where ever I go.

Tromboli · Jun 24, 2011

Also, as someone else implied, you'd have to look at the suicide rate in all other professions as well in order to conclude a correlation. Suicide (and depression) is fairly common, maybe more so than we all realize. You may see a lot of suicide and depression in writers but that doesn't mean there isn't an equal (or almost equal) amount in other professions.

p.s. correlation doesn't means causation... didn't I learn that in high school science or something? lol.

p.s.s. there was a pretty big thread about bi-polar disorder in the novels section. I was surprised to see how many people commented saying that they too were bi-polar or something close. Might want to head over there and check that out, might add to your theory (or is that where is came from?)

Link between being a writer and depression?

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