depression -

23Jun 2014 by Dianna L. Gunn

13 Ways to improve your day — and your life

For many writers, life is a constant struggle. Those of us whose books remain unpublished after years of work doubt our ability to write and wonder why we started. Those who have found success fear with each book that their chain of success will be broken. Many of us also struggle with depression. Many writers don't make a living on their work and instead have jobs they hate--or at least jobs that don't fulfill them but are necessary to pay the bills. While I'm lucky enough to be working from home as a freelance writer, I've struggled with depression for years and I may not ever fully conquer it. But now I spend most of my time happy and enjoying life. You may need something more drastic than anything on…

Writing through Depression

Inspirational, Mental Health, Writing

For the last two weeks I've been struggling through a bout of depression, and it's no secret that this is a common affliction for writers. Many of the most famous writers have struggled with and written about depression, and some of the most famous, such as Hemingway, have killed themselves. Others use writing as an escape, and it saves them from their depression--this seems to be the category most of the writers I've met fall into. No matter which camp you fall into, it can be difficult to write when you're depressed. Some days it's difficult to do anything, but you have to push through it. Nine times out of ten, pushing through and writing will make you feel better. Over the years I've suffered several bouts of depression, and…

Caring For Your Mental Health

Mental Health, Writing

Not long after my dad died, my grandmother gave me a book called 'Soul Catcher'. A 'Soul Catcher' is like a dream catcher, but for the soul. It's a journal full of inspiring pictures and prompts designed to help you find yourself and escape depression. While I never really used the 'Soul Catcher' for its original purpose, I can't forget that book. What I can't forget about the book is the story of the woman who wrote it. She talks about how she reached her professional goals and wrote prolifically for the public on a number of subjects, but that her own writing, her journalling, grew more tortured even as she gained more success. She reached the darkest part of her depression one day when she uprooted herself, moved to…