Jessica Steiner (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jessicasteiner) wrote2013-02-27 05:18 pm
jessicasteiner) wrote2013-02-27 05:18 pm
Review: Writing Excuses on Mental Illness
I was going to write about something else today, but then I listened to the latest Writing Excuses episode and I felt I had to comment on it.
Writing Excuses is a fabulous podcast about writing that I have talked about before. Generally the episodes are short and snappy, it's full of great and useful tips for aspiring writers, and the authors are all experienced and talented. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in becoming a professional author. It's not only enjoyable to listen to, but useful.
In Season 8 Episode 8 the regular hosts, as well as Dan's brother Rob Wells, talk about their personal experiences with mental illness and the general pervasiveness of mental illness amongst creative people generally, and writers in particular. Oddly, it's an upbeat and hopeful 'cast, not depressing in the least.
I personally have not suffered from depression, anxiety, or self-harm, or any other mental illness, but my wife is clinically depressed and so are many of my friends. I also deal with people who suffer from mental illness every day at work. I know very well the stigma that exists in our society, as well as how difficult it is for people to face their own condition and to get useful help.
The other day I played a game called Depression Quest, which I think who is not currently working through their own depression (it can be very triggering to people who are untreated and suffering from depression at the moment) should play immediately. It's a game created in order to help people who don't have depression to understand what it's like for people who suffer from this condition. Having spoken to other people who played it, it seems to accord well with people's experiences, and to really validate the experiences of people who have dealt with depression.
We all need to understand that anyone can get a mental illness, just like how anyone can get cancer. It doesn't make someone weak, or mean that they are a bad person. It doesn't mean that they are dangerous. Any person you know could be suffering silently, afraid to tell people or reach out for help because they fear the possible reaction. This only causes the problems to get worse.
I think it's a very courageous thing that they did in this podcast, talking about their experiences openly and without shame, and I salute them. Thank you.
Also, I am very curious about these standing desks they talk about. I have a really hard time integrating my writing time with having a full time job (as I was mentioning in my last post) and incorporating exercise just seems almost impossible. Yet I know my own mood and energy are hugely improved if I exercise, and that has a positive cascade effect everywhere else. Ugh.
Maybe I should suck it up and try dictation while I walk around or something. I'm sure I'll just feel self-conscious or what I write will be terrible, but I've never actually tried it.
Writing Excuses is a fabulous podcast about writing that I have talked about before. Generally the episodes are short and snappy, it's full of great and useful tips for aspiring writers, and the authors are all experienced and talented. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in becoming a professional author. It's not only enjoyable to listen to, but useful.
In Season 8 Episode 8 the regular hosts, as well as Dan's brother Rob Wells, talk about their personal experiences with mental illness and the general pervasiveness of mental illness amongst creative people generally, and writers in particular. Oddly, it's an upbeat and hopeful 'cast, not depressing in the least.
I personally have not suffered from depression, anxiety, or self-harm, or any other mental illness, but my wife is clinically depressed and so are many of my friends. I also deal with people who suffer from mental illness every day at work. I know very well the stigma that exists in our society, as well as how difficult it is for people to face their own condition and to get useful help.
The other day I played a game called Depression Quest, which I think who is not currently working through their own depression (it can be very triggering to people who are untreated and suffering from depression at the moment) should play immediately. It's a game created in order to help people who don't have depression to understand what it's like for people who suffer from this condition. Having spoken to other people who played it, it seems to accord well with people's experiences, and to really validate the experiences of people who have dealt with depression.
We all need to understand that anyone can get a mental illness, just like how anyone can get cancer. It doesn't make someone weak, or mean that they are a bad person. It doesn't mean that they are dangerous. Any person you know could be suffering silently, afraid to tell people or reach out for help because they fear the possible reaction. This only causes the problems to get worse.
I think it's a very courageous thing that they did in this podcast, talking about their experiences openly and without shame, and I salute them. Thank you.
Also, I am very curious about these standing desks they talk about. I have a really hard time integrating my writing time with having a full time job (as I was mentioning in my last post) and incorporating exercise just seems almost impossible. Yet I know my own mood and energy are hugely improved if I exercise, and that has a positive cascade effect everywhere else. Ugh.
Maybe I should suck it up and try dictation while I walk around or something. I'm sure I'll just feel self-conscious or what I write will be terrible, but I've never actually tried it.