Seven Story Publishing

There’s something worse than writer’s block on the block, and it is a subject matter often spoken of in reference to personal, relationship, financial and emotional and spiritual aspects of life.

However, it is a very real phenomena in the writing world as well and, if used correctly, it can be the catalyst for some of the most beautifully painful stories that we all come to know and love when reading fiction, or non-fiction.

Depression.

That feeling of hopelessness, that lack of motivation and drive to do even the most basic things you do without thinking about it. The things that once brought you joy just don’t seem to have that same spark as they used to. They don’t fill you with the same dopamine rush and everything suddenly looks dark, grey, and gloomy, like nothing is going right even though your life is objectively better than times past.

And that’s the ironic thing about depression, isn’t it? It strikes when everything in your life is going well, like a spiritual bandit stealing the essence of your soul and leaving you with nothing but a meat suit you call a human body to function in.

Enough about that soul stealing bandit. . .

How do you deal with depression as a writer? Well, some might say just channel it into your characters. But, what if your characters abandon you and you have no creative spark during this period? What’s the next method of recourse?

Some might say go for a walk in nature or go outside and get some fresh air. Well, what if it is snowing in the middle of winter and it’s negative two degrees outside. We don’t know anyone who is casually strolling in those conditions.

Some might say call a family member or friend and talk about it? Well, what if you don’t like your family that much and your friends are not exactly the best people to talk serious things with?

You get the point.

All of those are valid ways of getting over depression but there’s one problem: all of those ways lie outside of you.

Depression is an internal problem that requires an internal solution. It is the absence of that spark within you that brings you to life. It is a spiritual matter that has to do with a lack of energy and drive toward achieving your goals and living out your dreams, it is a diminishing of who you are, a shell of yourself and requires some deep introspection to investigate what’s been taking your energy and forcing you to operate at a lower frequency.

To get over depression as a writer, you need to figure out when and why you stopped writing. What’s been going on in your life as of late that has you in a bad mood. Is it your relationship, job, finances, family, friends, fitness? What is it that has been going wrong that you feel the most depressed about? What is it in your life that you want to set right?

Dealing with depression in general sucks and it is magnified when you are a creative. It’s bad enough you don’t write consistently enough as it is and now you’re depressed and want to stay in bed all day and watch depressing TV shows about people whose lives suck worse than yours.

That’s no way to live and it needs to stop.

So, how do you stop it?

You stop it by taking care of yourself. You know, washing your face, brushing your teeth, reading good books, meditating to center your mind, watching a good show instead of a sad one, treating yourself to a nice meal (or making one), etc.

The main theme of depression is not taking care of yourself and focusing on everything external to the point you sacrifice who you are to keep things a float. Beating depression is about you taking back your power, your time, and your energy as an individual.

Depression is a lack of emotional and spiritual and creative energy and you need to work to get those things back up to par. It will be difficult but it can be done and you’re the only one who can do it.

We believe in you!

The question is, do you believe in yourself?