Using depression as a writing inspiration?&

[AnnonyBox]

Could using my depression and emotional issues as a source foe creative writing be a valid means of working through my problems? It doesn't seem to be helping much, but I do like the story I've produced from it thus far.

 

[whywere]

Just my stupid opinion , but if it helps and /or works for a person, why not? I have tried lots of things through the years and you have a great workable idea. Walter

 

[weepingfree]

I'm a writer so here's a hack at your question. We depressed people have intense thoughts, and sometimes we take them for granted. We have emotions that are hard to talk about with other humans. Take that empty page and write these things down. I guarantee they will look and feel different from when they were bouncing around in your head.

Give yourself a brief prompt to start with: What could I never tell a therapist? How do I want people to remember me? What if I come back as a pigeon?

I'm not sure if you're asking if depression can inspire creativity, but I think that link is highly overstated. Depression has absolutely destroyed my creative output. Yes, there are lots of depressed people who make great art… that's a correlation. Hi, Kurt Cobain. Kurt's beautiful mind and bravery were what made his music. His depression was an influence but he created even as depression pushed against his will to live. Eventually the depression won.

So write and reflect, and take it gradual, and of course share it with us. I hope it helps you.

 

[timf]

There are different types of writing. If you are writing fiction, you may be able to give your characters greater emotional depth. However, there is a danger that your own greater emotional depth may slant a story in such a way as to make most of your readers uncomfortable.

If you are writing poetry, your emotional content might resonate with some and perhaps less so with others.

If you are writing teaching, narrative, or technical material you might find that depression is not a factor unless it makes the tedium more difficult.

 

[logan]

There are different types of writing. If you are writing fiction, you may be able to give your characters greater emotional depth. However, there is a danger that your own greater emotional depth may slant a story in such a way as to make most of your readers uncomfortable.

If you are writing poetry, your emotional content might resonate with some and perhaps less so with others.

If you are writing teaching, narrative, or technical material you might find that depression is not a factor unless it makes the tedium more difficult.

The question then is whether you want to write something to record and reflect on your thoughts or to write a "BestSeller".

 

[brutalus]

hello i do a lot of creative activities. regardless of what it is, when im very depressed i get this feeling: "I am worthless piece of shit, but at least i can make beautiful things." and this is a great consolation for me... although not as much as in my youth, when i dreamt of being some sort of artist.

 

[samsaragothands]

hello i do a lot of creative activities. regardless of what it is, when im very depressed i get this feeling: "I am worthless piece of shit, but at least i can make beautiful things." and this is a great consolation for me... although not as much as in my youth, when i dreamt of being some sort of artist.

this is such a lovely sentiment and i feel it too. art is one of the last great things that makes me feel connected to other people; even if i feel subhuman, i realize that having the capacity to express myself is an implicit rebuttal to that feeling.

and op, i definitely recommend writing if you're looking to work through your feelings! writing is a great channel in particular for your emotions-- in fact, many therapists recommend journaling to vent and ultimately keep track of patterns in your ways of thinking. like others on this thread have said, writing and making art to cope can be hugely rewarding, but you have to be more discerning if you hope to channel your emotional energy outwards. it's not so clear from your post, but it is ultimately more beneficial to start by writing through your emotions for yourself before you begin to write for others.

 

[LostSoul1609]

Yes
I'd say you should look into art therapy and similar too.
What comes out won't probably be beautiful on the outside but it will help you cope a lot, shaping beauty comes with time.

Also look into "Sunset Limited", I feel like that book/play was written with the same spirit behind it, personifying the internal monologue of the author about suicide.

 

[Pluto]

The process of venting can be quite powerful and fulfilling, but is not likely to be a permanent solution.

 

[kukukoko]

oh gosh you gave me flashbacks

When I was younger I went once to poetry slam for adolescents. I think they were all between 14 and maybe 20 and they just read what they wrote.

All except of one wrote a rant. They were simply yelling about their friends/exes/parents shortcomings and what problems they had with them. Maybe packaged in a story with protagonists with a different name, but it was still clear that it was about their life.

It was horrible.

Like JRR didn't become successful with their personal diary and those who wrote about their life were either people like bejamin franklin who had an interesting life or even people with depression like andrew salomon, but it became more an informational book about depression and not a rant lol

So yeah idk just be aware what you do, actual creative writing or just a diary lol

 

[subj]

Would this be similar to Victor Frankll's work Man's search for meaning. after being in a concentration camp?

 

[Nevsky69]

When my partner died, I started writing a kind of diary. Every time I write something I cry a lot, but I think it's a good thing for me.

Do not think if it serves for something or not. If you like it, do it.

I think about the number of great composers, musicians, writers, painters who were addicted, which indicates some kind of mental problem. Maybe for an extremely sensitive person life is very difficult. But they get the most out of a ten and they have given us great works.

 

[us_1999]

Trying to write my depressive thoughts and dreams into a novel, but depression constantly overtakes writing.
Doubts: Are they worth writing about? "My life is shit and I'm a narcissistic asshole. My thoughts and feelings are good for nothing. I'd better kill myself..." it repeats.

 

[Sherri]

Usually doctors say it's good to write when we are depressed, that it's a way to let things we have trapped inside go away. I Write my diary almost everyday. Sometimes I lose track I realised I wrote 6 pages in a row.