Can blogging help you overcome your depression?
I feel that the answer is, at least in my case, a resounding yes.
See, depression can be genetic. I was terrified when I learned this, because I knew that my father had, at least in his past, dealt with some pretty severe issues of depression. We even discussed it briefly during our recent trip together. Well, this week, I’ve been dealing with it a lot myself, and I’m not entirely sure why. It’s more than a little disconcerting to see symptoms and trends in behavior and mood and know exactly what it’s building up to, so I decided that I needed to talk things out a little bit.
I like to do one of two things when I’m feeling low. Thing one, naturally, is reading. Escapism at its best, I know, right? Google it. There’s tons of articles and actual research papers about people using fantasy to avoid the stresses of the real world. Alternatively, I play video games or watch movies, but the end goal is still the same. I get into a world that’s not the normal one I’m stuck in, and I feel a little better for a while. The second thing that I do when the depression hits is attempt to write. It might be a page or two on one of the numerous short stories or novels that are floating around in my head. It might be a shitty poem (or even the occasional good one!). Over the last year, I’ve been sharing my writing with more people than I ever really expected to, thanks to this blog. My wordpress page has helped me get in touch with numerous people who do what I want to do: write. I’m incredibly grateful, because nothing breaks me out of a really low day like hearing from someone who has gone through the same things that I’m going through. Maybe it’s not the blogging itself, but the social aspect that makes this all feel so therapeutic.
I may only have twenty-some-odd viewers each day (if I’m lucky), but you know something? You folks help me more than you could ever guess. Thank you, dear readers. Thank you very much.
The Swords of the Ancients 
7 Comments
I believe that, in a serious depression, you will not have the ability to blog let alone feeling better as a result of it.
Agreed. It’s not something that works for everyone and for every individual low day, even for me. At the moment, though, it helps keep things from getting worse, and I’ll take that any day.
Glad we can be of help to you, Philip. Escapism has been a staple of my life ever since I could read, and when you feel yucky in any way, opening a book, popping in a DVD, or picking up a controller sends you into a world that brings comfort even if only for the predictability and familiarity of it as compared to the chaos of one’s own life. I used to write more than I do now, but I can’t seem to find it in myself as often as I did at one time in my life. Depression can be scary, but at least you have your outlets and your support when you feel it in you.
Thanks, Angela. 😀
Aimer’s blog, thebipolarized, is a great resource, folks. Check it out if you have a chance.
http://thebipolarized.com/
One good thing to get is sunshine and with it Vitamin D which helps in staving off depression. As per looking at your blog, you live in Colorado and I lived there for a bit but there is much more sunshine than Florida. Going outside really helps. I known people with dementia who are cooped up inside all day long and when they get outside in the sunshine and fresh air, it makes a world of difference.
It can certainly help. The beauty of doing my blogging with my laptop and good wi-fi: I can write in the sun. 😀