Dear Writers, Your Mental Health Matters
Here’s why you should make it a priority
The art of writing is one which could occasionally take you on an emotional roller coaster.
Writing a successful piece requires a lot of attention, thinking and processing of information.
The process of planning and creating is not as easy as it seems.
Sometimes, the thought process of a writer is overstretched.
Hours of deep thinking, imagining and developing ideas can be very strenuous.
The truth is, many writers seek to help others through their writing, without realizing the need to cater for themselves first.
The very nature of writing dictates that we spend a lot of time on critical thinking, fact-finding and re-shaping ideas till it’s readable enough to make sense to the human mind.
For the above reasons and more, writers are constantly looking for new ideas, strategies, tricks and quick schemes at every stage of their writing journey.
Sometimes, writing could become so intense that some writers are forced to adopt extreme measures such as avoiding human interaction, overthinking, isolation and stretching themselves thin because they need to meet their writing goals.
The following are regular problems which could pose a threat to a writer’s mental health:
- Anxiety over what to write.
- Worrying about being accepted or rejected.
- Tension while awaiting the publisher’s response or reaction from readers.
- Feelings of inadequacy.
- Deeper struggles while writing selected topics.
- Long nights and insufficient sleep due to a need to meet deadlines.
- Comparison to other writers.
- Stigmatization, criticism and misjudgment based on revelation of personal experiences.
The above-mentioned circumstances have the tendency to take a toll on any writer’s mental health.
The connection between writing and mental health issues
As writers, we often think that we are resistant to mental distortion because of our abilities to express our thoughts on pen and paper.
Sadly, this isn’t always the case.
In a study carried out on Swedish patients, it was found that writers are at a greater risk of having depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and anxiety disorder.
Even when compared to other creative professionals like scientists and artists, writers were particularly found to be more prone to having mental imbalance.
This risk faced by writers is attributed to a number of reasons amongst which are: low income and frequent rejection. Whereas, other professionals who suffered same fate and endured similar circumstances did not develop adverse mental conditions.
As writers, we constantly rely on our tool of self-expression to purge emotions because we feel it gives instant relief.
However, this doesn’t always help because we deal with a lot of emotions, based on the deep realities and harsh truths we are exposed to while writing.
Indeed, writing goes beyond being a fact-finding or revelation mission. It’s much deeper than that.
Ancient times have also shown that writing can be linked to mental imbalance. It’s no news that great writers like Ernest Hemingway, David Foster Wallace, Sylvia Path and Virginia Woolf were known to have had mental health issues which eventually made them commit suicide.
Writing: Unveiling a box of emotions
The truth be said, writing unveils a range of emotions : sadness, happiness, anxiety, hope, etc. It is the complete package.
The intensity of mixed feelings that come with writing is what contributes to writers being susceptible to mental health problems because they see the world as it is.
Just as some individuals would rely on the bottle to drown their emotions, writers will clutch at writing.
Kari Stefansson, founder and CEO of deCODE , a genetics company , described in a journal on neuroscience that: “To be creative, we have to think differently … and when we are different, we have a tendency to be labeled strange, crazy and even insane.”
When people are creating something, they end up straddling between sanity and insanity- Kei Stefansson.
Are writers truly at a greater risk of having mental health issues?
According to a US Health website, writers belong to the group of vulnerable professionals who are more likely to experience mental health problems such as depression.
Isolation, irregular pay and uncertainty are contributory factors to this problem. Asides these, other overlooked issues are:
- Many writers are introverts who may not be able to deal with the public assessment and review of their work.
- The problem of insecurity that comes with writing, where it’s a full-time profession.
- The short-lived euphoria of a successful piece of work and the anticipation that comes with expected success of the next piece.
- Negative feelings that come with not wanting to be a failed writer.
To write, you need a healthy mind and body
Neglecting your mental health can negatively affect your writing.
You are bound to lose your creative spark if you commit yourself to writing without sufficient rest.
Burn out is real.
It’s your body’s way of telling you that it is tired. Remember that you are human and you need to hibernate once in a while.
There is some element of truth to the stereotype, but you don’t need to be depressed to write — just as you don’t need to be mad to be creative
— Alan Manevitz
Here’s how you can nurture your mental health:
1. Get enough sleep
Writers may not use a lot of physical activity, but their energy use is powered through their brains.
They use their minds more than anything else.
For years, research has shown that poor sleep reduces performance, particularly intellectual and academic performance.
In agreement, Dr Matthew Carter, PHD notes that: “…we are not getting enough work done because we are sleep deprived and we are not sleeping because we are not getting enough work done.”
To be the best you can be, you must rest.
Sleep is an essential part of wellness and if you are missing out on it because you want to get work done, there is a great chance that you are putting your health at risk.
Loss of focus, less productivity, bad decision-making, mood swings and low efficiency are all side effects of one who is experiencing sleep- deprivation.
Neil Kline, the spokesperson for American Sleep Association recommends that having a healthy sleep pattern and proper night-time routine is essential for everyone who wants more productive output.
2. Socialize
A lot of writers are lone-wolves: Herein lies the problem.
Socializing could seem like a waste of time, especially when it cuts into your writing time. However, it exposes you to more ideas and is a means of getting more insight.
Communicating with others is necessary.
Share ideas and rub minds. Discuss how you feel with others.
Writing doesn’t have to be a lonely journey. Writing alone could lead to more isolation and loneliness.
There are communities of writers to interact with.
If you are an introverted writer, push past your comfort zone and meet someone of like interests. You can start with writers in the same area as you, before moving on to a larger group.
At the end of the day, socialization is what makes it possible for us to fully function as humans. It starts with interaction.
Socialization is known to make people happier, especially if done through meaningful conversations.
“There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t met yet.” -W.B.Yeats
3. Get help if you need to
If you ever feel like you are reaching a breaking point, seek therapy.
Getting help may provide some form of relief.
Talking to a counselor or therapist about your thoughts can make you feel better. This is because these are experts who have been professionally trained to listen and identify problems. Not only do they listen, they are also available to proffer solutions to whatever issue you may be dealing with.
What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.” — Glenn Close.
