Writers (and Other Famous People) Who Battled Depression

There are so many writers whose wonderful works we have enjoyed while they were suffering and battling with depression.

Several years ago, I read an article titled “Depression: 10 Great Authors Who Battled with This Mental Illness” **. It was a very informative read. Three women and seven men comprised the list. Of the ten on the list, four attempted suicide and two actually succeeded. It was an interesting article. There is no indication in the brief bio summaries that any of these writers received or were under continued medical observation and treatment. Their stories were disheartening, but one sometimes selfishly wonders what their writings might have been like had they not been depressed.

Would people have appreciated their work? Even if people didn’t, it’s a shame their writing was not more therapeutic for them. Don’t you agree? Depression is a very common ailment, often treated by activities such as writing, music, art, etc. Unfortunately, in their cases, it didn’t seem to help at all.

** The aforementioned article had been published via YAHOO Voices, which no longer exists. Fortunately, I located an archived copy by way of the Wayback Machine. and can give the writer proper credit.

All too often, people suffering from mental illness are overlooked, discounted, disregarded, and not properly treated. Although this is not an area of expertise for me, it is definitely a topic of interest. It’s probably a topic of interest to many people, but they don’t want to say that out loud. 

Hope the related links supplied below are helpful.

• 7 Famous Writers With Mental Disorders

• 9 Famous Writers With Depression, From Sylvia Plath To J.K. Rowling 

• 12 Famous People With Bipolar Disorder

• 15 Celebrities Who Are Living Well With Depression

♦ DON'T SUFFER!  GET HELP!

SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration https://www.samhsa.gov/

RESOURCE LIBRARY - The Mental Health Coalition https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/resources/

Mental Health Resources | Mental Health | CDC https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/caring/index.html

Budget and Survival Skills versus In Sickness and In Health

The alternate title for this post is:
“Am I being callous, insensitive, lacking empathy, unsympathetic, cruel and unkind?”


Perusing my eMail Inbox and quickly glanced at a question in one of the messages that made me chuckle. It was about what your knee-jerk reaction is when faced with financial problems.

• When experiencing financial difficulties does your instinct immediately prod you to cut back?

 
Well? I guess so! But more than likely my “cutbacks” happen because there's no money! Not sure my “instinct” was necessary. ((O.o))

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On a serious note, the question provoked my memory recall. A while back, was watching a popular talk show once and it was rather disturbing. It's disturbing that people who do things that don't make sense are always “ill”. This woman supposedly had an “illness”. She would buy stuff she didn't really need!

• If you're filthy rich and you have large barns to store all of your worldly possessions, then it doesn't matter. You would be called a “shopaholic”.
• If you bought a load of crap and had the decency to give it away because you realized you weren't really using it, you'd be called “charitable”.

But when loads of crap are piled up in your house to the point that the place is a junk heap and you and your partner can barely see the bed you both lie down to sleep on and you're making your mate physically ill … then you're sick!

A team was sent in to clean the place up and the team actually got sick from breathing in toxic stuff – dust, spores, mites, who knows what! - from piles of clothing, etc. that had been lying around the home for years. Items bought from the store that still had the price tags on them!!!
 
Listening to the interviewer questioning this woman as to why she was buying things she didn't need and her response was … (not an exact quote): “Because the blouses were on sale and there were different colors available, so I bought one in each color.” 
 
The interviewer turns to question the husband and it seems he gave her credit cards for her spending purposes. You know? Grocery shopping, health and beauty needs, wardrobe necessities, things for practical living, and maybe an occasional gift or guilty pleasure luxury product.


Started thinking to myself. Don't know who the sick person is. The wife or the husband? Seems to me the CURE was taking away the credit cards. YOU CAN'T BUY NOTHING IF YOU AIN'T GOT NO MONEY!!!


It really perturbs me, that people do dumb stuff and get to write it off as an “illness”. OR … am I being insensitive to this poor woman who is clearly not poor because she can afford to buy things she has no need for, has no place to put them, and never even blinked at the thought about making a donation to a charity!!


(Just a rant. Thank you for letting me shout it out.)


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P.S. After shouting it out, friends in my social network told me that I was being a little bit callous and insensitive and that it was NOT OK.  If so, then I apologize.

May is Mental Health Month and That's OK!