Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
I haven't written since seventh grade. But I feel like if I start again, it might help my depression. The problem is finding my inspiration again. I haven't had the urge or imagination to write for quite some time...
I think writing was the creative outlet that helped me most when things were at their darkest.
Don't worry about the imagination. Sit down and start typing away. Go stream of conscious and write down anything and everything that comes to mind. And remember the old thing about writing what you know. The first short story I wrote after I started doing it again was about a depressed guy who has a life and death discussion with his images in various mirrors. It helped me put some of my emotions into context and it would up being an OK story. Really, how good it was didn't matter. What mattered was I was writing again. Since then, I've written over 60 pages of what I'm hoping will be the story of my Dysthymia, depression and divorce because there are very few stories like that told from a male perspective.
I promise, once you start writing, it will come back to you. Jut go for it!
Here's a couple things that I was told/taught. Find anything you've written lately- a journal entry, heck even this posting itself. Take whatever your first sentence or two was. Rewrite it, and just keep typing. Don't re-read it, don't worry about grammar, structure, tone. Don't think, just do (which makes me sound like Yoda, but it's true). Then put it away after 20 minutes (set a timer).
The next day, pick it up and find a sentence or an image that intrigues you. Do the same thing- type that sentence and just go for 20 minutes. It's more to get your mind thinking like a writer than anything else.
Finally, on the thrid day, take one of those images and this time pay attention to it. Write a half page and go from there.
One other trick I was taught- take an ordinary object (we used a plain old cracker). Look at it for two minutes- look close, touch it, taste it. After two minutes describe it in as much imagery as you can. That will get you thinking outside of trying to find the perfect story idea and start describing images.
No guarantees, but what do you have to lose? You can try do one of those and start getting into the groove, or not do them and always wonder why you never started writing again.
Don't think, do! You can do it. Instead of thinking of reasons why you can't, just ask yourself one question- "What good things can happen if I start writing?"