Discussion Fiction and depression

[mothman._.]

i feel like fictional universes unintentionally have such a terrible impact on my mental health. reading and watching stories about chosen ones and magic and breathtaking worlds gives me such a rush of bliss, being taken out of my world and put into another. That is until i walk away and am thrown back into the cruel and unremarkable existence that i've always known; it's genuinely painful to me. do any of you feel similar or am i just a nerd?

 

[CTB Dream]

V understand this, not worry ,fictn simil life see magic come rl see no magic. This know feel dsapont, all type posbl feel smtm fictn cruel feel sad hapn char smtm amaze but no able stay ficyn world come world see awful, vry understand thus brain scary pain hug

 

[One Sad Donkey]

I've definitely experienced this. When you're miserable, reading a happy story can feel like a slap in the face. I like reading horror for this reason. Usually a happy ending is just not dying.

 

[cowie]

I felt this way sometimes when I was younger and finished a really good book I was reading for hours.

There was a whole recognized condition of people who saw the film Avatar in 2009 and then experienced depression after leaving the theatre because the real world was so much uglier.

 

[247sadgirlhours]

yes, i know this feeling very well! i think the worst part of it to me is that, in fictional worlds, truly good people actually exist. there's a black and white divide of good vs. evil. it's obvious what "good" is, and obvious what "bad" is. in the real world, selfish, greedy behavior is rewarded/applauded and true good gets stomped out eventually.

as well - it genuinely upsets me when ppl point to fictional characters for inspiration. "don't be depressed, you can do it! just like how [fictional character] did [fictional heroic act] in [fictional series]!!" please, come the fuck on. harry potter/frodo/luke skywalker/aang DON'T EXIST. they were written to SUCCEED. please do not compare my very real struggles with this very real world to fictional characters in fictional worlds.

 

[articspiral]

i feel like fictional universes unintentionally have such a terrible impact on my mental health. reading and watching stories about chosen ones and magic and breathtaking worlds gives me such a rush of bliss, being taken out of my world and put into another. That is until i walk away and am thrown back into the cruel and unremarkable existence that i've always known; it's genuinely painful to me. do any of you feel similar or am i just a nerd?

I know what you mean. When I was younger, all I would do was read or draw or write; it gave me somewhere better to go and somewhere that I knew, no matter what, would always end up being OK. Now, it just depresses me to no end knowing that none of it matters at all. It doesn't even hold a candle to the universe of our own. I hope that one day I can enjoy fiction again, and your post definitely resonated with me.

 

[LookingOverTheEdge]

My whole life I've gotten drawn into stories. And given the option I'd far prefer to exist within them rather than the reality I'm in.

So no, not just you. I imagine there's at least a few of us here :)

 

[Forever Sleep]

Yes- I know this feeling. Especially when I was younger. I became obsessed with certain television series and characters. I guess it's a coping mechanism but back in those days- there was no internet and I didn't have a video player. I used to almost panic when a series was coming to an end!

I transfered all that obsession into art and a few bouts of limerance. Still not healthy of course. Being creative allows me to disappear from this world- so- I used to do it as much as I could. It was actually pretty effective for a long while but now I'm not making enough money from it. Still- sorry- I digress. Anyhow- I do know how you feel- if that's any comfort.

 

[Viranamari]

i feel like fictional universes unintentionally have such a terrible impact on my mental health. reading and watching stories about chosen ones and magic and breathtaking worlds gives me such a rush of bliss, being taken out of my world and put into another. That is until i walk away and am thrown back into the cruel and unremarkable existence that i've always known; it's genuinely painful to me. do any of you feel similar or am i just a nerd?

That does not make you a nerd. Personally, fiction appears to be better than reality as in fiction, I can be the 'chosen one' or the main character while in reality, everything is dull and boring and I am just a waste of space. This is probably some type of coping mechanism. If you do not like it very much or if it does not benefit you, you might want to consider trying out a new coping mechanism.

 

[LaVieEnRose]

Seems lots of people can relate. I know I can.

 

[Pluto]

Fantasy as a coping mechanism can also take many other forms. That includes the internal experience of fantasising about ideal circumstances (daydreaming).

Even everyday human creations such as sports, the arts and knowledge-gathering activities are for the most part forms of escapism. Did I mention drugs or sex? One starts to get a sense of the pervasive nature of suffering. Few are content to simply be where they are.