ESSAY

It’s Hard to Write When You’re Down

But you are not alone

Need I list all of the terrible things going on so far in 2020? Do I need to make a bullet point review of the state of our world?

If you’re a writer, you are likely hyper-aware of the states of our nations, the issues facing our planet, the struggles of humanity to get along with each other, to survive, and to find some sense of happiness in our lives. Most of us find happiness even in the darkness, because it’s what we have to do.

Forgive the wet-blanket introduction, but I am a writer and chances are you are too. We writers are a moody bunch and for good reason.

Writers and Mood disorders, suicide, substance abuse

Research supports that writers and other creatives are prone to mood disorders and depression. I’d put poets at the top of the list. If the research doesn’t scare you into some seriously dedicated self-care, I don’t know what will.

• Poets die younger and have high rates of suicide.
• Writers are twice as likely to commit suicide than the general population.
• Writers are more prone to mood disorders.
• Writers struggle with addiction issues more often than non-creatives.

The takeaway here is that you are not alone. Many writers and creative spirits suffer from depression and other mood issues. Add in the complexities of civil unrest and a global pandemic (not to mention the woes of environmental issues) and you have a pressure cooker situation.

The conflict of treatment

Many writers fear that if they treat depression or other mood disorders, or if they give up the substances they use to tap into their creativity, that the very lifeline of their writing will be dried up and their creativity will plummet.

Many choose to simply live with their issues for the sake of their own creative output. It is a dangerous and costly decision, as demonstrated by the higher statistics of substance abuse and suicide among writers.

But fear should not be the driving factor behind our choices. We may be a moody bunch, but we are also a brave one.

When the stakes are raised

If you have been able to manage with your current treatment plan, you may find that when societal issues arise, you react with a greater impact to your health. This is the time to double-down on your self-care. This is possibly a time to follow up with your doctor or make that initial call. This is a time for you to take your mental and physical health very seriously.

You may be at greater risk if you have recently:

• experienced a greater need for substances such as alcohol or illegal substances
• found yourself feeling overwhelmed or feeling helpless / hopeless
• have noticed greater health symptoms such as high blood pressure, anxiety attacks, loss of interest, insomnia
• have had thoughts of harming yourself or giving up
• have made irrational or impulsive decisions with negative consequences

What you can do

The first line of defense is to contact your doctor or mental health professional. Treatment plans take time to be evaluated and implemented so during that time you will have to raise your level of self-care, be honest with your loved ones, and seek emergency help, if needed.

For help and more information:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services SAMHSA National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1–800–273–8255

If you feel you are simply down and frustrated, but that your mental health is not at risk simply needing more attention, then there are many things you can do to give yourself the support you need during these tumultuous times.

• Raise self-care and hygiene. The more time you invest in caring for yourself, the more time you have for healing and repairing your spirit.
• If you are a spiritual person, spend some extra time seeking peace and spiritual support. Contact other people in your spiritual community for support as well.
• Step away. If the news is too much, turn it off. If certain people are too much, distance yourself. If Facebook is sucking you of your energy, unplug.
• Get outside. I cannot stress this enough. Get outside of the walls that confine you and make you feel isolated, and spend some time outside in the fresh air. At the very least, some healthy Vitamin D from the sunshine will help to boost your mood. Vitamin D will help to fight depression and to stave off illness.
• Exercise. Depression and anxiety symptoms often improve with exercise.

Regardless of how you choose to handle the situation, give yourself the honesty, the permission, and the support you need. Give yourself a break. Allow the time and energy you need for healing, even if you have to borrow that time and energy from your creative work.

You cannot write if you are ill. You cannot write if you are unstable and unwell. You certainly cannot write if you are dead.

As a fellow writer who’s dealt with mental health issues all my life, I empathize with you and I care about what you are going through. I implore you, take the time for healing. The writing can wait.

More from this author:

When Negative Flattery Threatens Your Creative Well-Being, When Writing Becomes a Chore, The Amazing Health Benefits of Ginger Tea — So Easy to Make, My Days Are a Delicate Dance of Routine Through Pain

Thank you for reading.

Christina M. Ward is a well-living blogger, a poet (her first collection is organic), and a nature-loving Carolina girl who enjoys finding the lessons in life (especially in nature). You can follow her on social media or subscribe to her Author Newsletter.