|
Easing Your Depression With Paper and Pen
Celestial Arts 2008 ISBN #978-1-58761-319-7 When I became aware of this book, my first thoughts were - this is me! I have dealt with low level depression my entire life. It has never been formally diagnosed, and I have never taken any medication (other than over the counter medications) for it - but I know that it is there. I know that I will always deal with it. And … I know that I can keep the effect to a minimum, and live an authentic life with clear intent. If I was not inclined to write (I have been writing, in different formats, all of my life), my "end story" might be very different. I might not have been able to live an authentic life without professional help. Because of all of this, I went into reading this book with a very open mind. In fact, I came from a place of serenity, because I was very happy that Dr. Schaefer was sharing this wisdom with others. A bit about Dr. Schaefer - she is a science journalist, editor, and author who suffers from bipolar depression. Her truly great gift to all of us is that since 1988 she has been teaching a Creative Writing course for people with mood disorders through Stanford's Psychiatry Department. Side note: I was impressed with Dr. Schaefer's explanation of how she screens people coming into her class, as well as how her classes are conducted. A safe environment is created for all of the participants, so that they feel free to share their thoughts and experiences (although there is no obligation to share). "Writing Through The Darkness" is divided into three parts, which can be worked with in any order that the reader desires. Part 1, "The Writing-Depression Connection" addresses the diverse relationships between writing and depression. It also talks about whether writing is "therapy" for depression, and how various writers have used depression in their work. Part 2, "Write It Out: How To Write Through The Darkness", addresses the fundamentals of writing - journaling and freewriting - as a means to developing a consistent writing habit. From there, Dr. Schaefer explores writing poetry, fiction, memoir, as well as writing speeches, and writing for publication. Part 3, "Where To Go From Here", addresses healing from depression by working in a group setting, developing a writing group for those that suffer from depression, and encouraging your own writing, as well as the writing of others in the group. Dr. Schaefer talks about the "tools of the trade" - the notebooks that we write in, the pens that we might choose to work with, and the option of journaling by computer. A bound notebook is preferable to loose pages, because it has a natural sense of order. This allows an individual to see the progress that they have made. Dr. Schaefer also notes that using different colors of pen can be a healing experience in and of itself. Dr. Schaefer adds the thought that while nice, formal journals are beautiful, sometimes writing in a very inexpensive notebook frees the writer up to put their thoughts down with greater ease. On the issue of writing by hand versus writing by computer, Dr. Schaefer asks that the individual who wants to journal by electronic means also takes the time to try journaling by hand. She asks that they note how they feel about the different types of journaling, and which makes them feel closer to themselves. How they choose to journal is up to the individual, but it needs to be a conscious choice. I found this book to be a powerful tool of empowerment and healing. Through sharing of her personal story, and the stories of her students, Dr. Schaefer helps us to become aware how the simple tool of writing can help us live a better life. It is appropriate for people from all backgrounds, and is an excellent resource.
Bonnie Cehovet
Graphics by Art for the web |
