Sitting alone in front of a computer, tapping at keyboard for
months or years, writing query letters, receiving rejections from agents and
publishers, requesting reviews from bloggers and readers, not selling enough
copies… Ufff! Being a writer is like sleeping on a bed of nails.
If you’re a writer, there’s an outside chance that you’re
vulnerable to the D-thing: Depression, the thing we hate to talk about. And
this thing often comes with it’s cousins like bipolar, anxiety, panic disorder,
OCD, schizophrenia, and personality disorders, some of which are genetic to our
misfortune.
But it’s not as bad as it sounds. You can deal with this D-thing
if you remember these tips:
Know your plot –
Know your basics. Depression is a medical illness: a chemical imbalance in your
brain. It needs treatment. So keep in touch with your psychiatrist and keep
taking your meds.
Know your heroes
– Anybody who loves you, understands you, or respects you and doesn’t judge you
is your hero. Your heroes could be anyone. They could be your friends, lover,
relatives, parents, students, teachers, colleagues, or even strangers. Your
psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist could be your biggest hero.
Know your villains
– Did you watch that movie again that strips naked your bad childhood or your
history with your ex? Did you not get enough friend requests on facebook, or
emails, or comments on your blog today? Did you not make enough sales today? Yes?
No wonder you’re feeling crap this evening. Any thing or person that makes you
feel crap could be a trigger. Know your triggers. For example, romantic fiction
is a trigger for me, so I avoid it. Your trigger could be even bunnies. If
social media is a trigger for you, avoid it with discipline. And if you can’t
avoid triggers, talk to your heroes.
Ah! The gray
characters – I hate caffeine and I love caffeine. I hate it because it’s
addictive, but I love it because it gets me started. If you are lying dead on
your bed and you can’t get up, ask somebody in your family to make a cup of
coffee for you. It tea works for you, it’s even better. Orange juice works for
you? Get it arranged. But do get that kick start and get up from bed. And if
you don’t have a family, it’s hopeless. Kidding. If there’s nobody around,
promise yourself that in ten minutes you will get up and make that coffee
yourself. If you can’t get up in ten minutes, increase your window by another
ten minutes. Keep increasing your window even if it becomes ten hours or even
ten days, but get the damn drink. Also, cut short on your daily coffee intake.
In some cultures like mine, they add milk instead of water
in coffee. It adds more taste, more flavor, more nutrition value, and more kick.
You can also try that.
I wouldn’t advise smoking or drinking at all, but if it’s
your habit or you are addicted, then have some to get started. However, get rid
of that habit as soon as possible.
Sidekicks – Guess
who can be your helpers when nobody is around? We, the internet people. We are
on twitter, facebook, blogger, yada yada yada. We are like air. We are
everywhere. Find out communities on internet and you can meet people like
yourself and you can share your stories and thoughts. They would help you and
you can help them. Other writers also might help you if you’re friends with
them. You can try blogging. You can write every crap you want to share on your
personal webpage, but be little careful.
Bring out the action
– One of the toughest things to write is action, isn't it? But we all
love it.
Doing some action releases endorphins in your body that help against
depression. It could be a rigorous workout of lifting weights in gym or
something
as simple as shaking your legs. Find a spot and start jumping, that
helps too. But
don’t workout in excess, because it will consume calories and salts and
that
can make you drowsy, again.
Humor
– Are you
sure that writing action was toughest? Try writing humor. Of course I
don’t
mean that write humor to shake off depression. What I’m saying is,
having fun can distract you from depression. Watch funny videos, read
some jokes or funny books, share laughter with
friends and family.
Spice things up – If you're depressed, try having sex. It helps sometimes. Don’t lie to me that you don’t have a sex
partner. Your very first sex partner would always be there with you, your own
hand.
Ray of hope – If nothing
works for you, try deep and slow breathing. The more you concentrate on it,
the better. It’s very similar to pranayam, a yoga exercise. You can breathe
lying at one place, can’t you? You just have to be slow and deep. It’s very
effective. It can get you started.
Climax – Forgive
yourself for all the mistakes you have committed. It’s normal to fail. It’s
fine to be imperfect and be rejected. Love yourself. I love you, no matter wherever and whoever you are, and there are many others who would love you. I
can understand the predicament you are in, but it could have been worse, a lot
worse.
If you think this article would help other writers, please
share it. And if you have any more tips, leave comments. And if you think this
article or this blog needs some work, shout and scream.
