Maintaining your Mental Health

I am not a medical professional and do not make any diagnosis or recommendations for treatment. This post is a direct connection to my own experience and thoughts. 

Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting, struggle, like the long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven by some demon one can neither resist or understand - George Orwell!

The above quote carries such a weight of truth. It is a struggle, a fight to get the proper words down in the face of a nameless demon we often times never understand. But just as writing is a struggle, maintaining our health can prove to be a challenge. 

I know of some authors who write with an added challenge, an added burden on themselves and it is far too easy to lose ourselves into the dark abyss of something we can neither see nor share. To be honest, pushing through when a writer suffers from anxiety or depression can be quite hard. 

With over 322 Million people worldwide suffering from Depression alone, it may be a safe assumption there are writers out there who are struggling with their mental health and meeting the challenges of their chosen career. It is even more important, knowing the statistics, we as creative beings take the time to maintain our mental health regardless of what we do. 

I have and still suffer from bouts of depression and anxiety. It has been an incredible battle to keep motivated and energized to write, to engage in the creative process to write. More so when one understands, when in the depths of our mental health issues, it can feel as though the world is sitting upon our shoulders and there is no motivation, no interest in the things we would normally take comfort in. 

When it feels like work to simply get up out of bed, the last thing one wants to do is sit down at the computer. However, if one is serious about their writing career, then pushing through the negative energy is necessary. Speaking only for myself, I can say it is incredibly powerful and destruction when dealing with anxiety and depression. One almost feels alone and isolated even in the embrace of those we are closest to. So, how do I deal with these issues and maintain some semblance of my mental health?

Having checks and balances in place are the first step in overcoming my anxiety and depression. Recognizing the signs of a downward spiral before it becomes too late has allowed me to reach out for support. Now, I do not mean having someone hovering over me, checking in to see if I feel okay, or ensure I'm not doing something harmful. No, I oftentimes will implement a system of rewards, breaks, and adjusting goals can and have all helped. Allowing myself to accept me is a major part of it. It allows me to meet my goals, and accept when I cannot. There is a certain positivity to it, a certain self-awareness and confidence I have found. 

I have sought professional help, and giving myself permission to do so has been a huge step to helping to overcome the shadows and demons. My writing has in its own way, become a major part of maintaining my mental and physical health. It has given me outlets for emotion, and a chance to disconnect from the stark realities which drive the darker thoughts.

We as a society need to understand and respect there are issues we cannot always see with a person. Respecting in ourselves and in each other allow society as a whole to heal and better recognize we are all human, flaws, scars, and all.