Schaefer, Elizabeth Maynard. (2008). Writing Through the Darkness: easing your depression with paper and pen. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts. ISBN: 9781587613197.
Using writing strategies, from journals to essays and fiction, as a strategy for handling depression and working through emotional problems is not exactly a new idea. But Elizabeth Schaefer PhD. manages to offer guidance for anyone who wants to do so in a nonthreatening, fulfilling way. The book is written both for people naturally drawn to writing (even professional writers) and for non-writers facing depression and other mental illnesses who want to try this a as a strategy. Schaeffer is quick to point out that doing this on your own is not a replacement for cognitive therapy, and that professional advice and care is needed for people with severe depression or people facing an emergency situation.
There is a section of the book that deals with the connection between writers and depression, which is fascinating and worth getting the book just for that.
This book offers great tips for beginning a regular writing routine, as well as its primary purpose of using writing to help deal with depression.The book gives a great many writing exercises and topics to write about to help deal with emotional issues and dealing with the causes and management of depression. Also included is a section on starting a writing group for people who want to write about depression, including advice on how to lead such a group. The writer also has a blog at http://writeoutofdepression.blogspot….
Hi Brian,
Thanks for reading and for your kind words about my book. Several writing groups for people with depression are cropping up around the world now, which is great to see, and I appreciate you getting the word out. Your blog looks fascinating — I’m picking up some good book suggestions! Have a great weekend.
— Beth
Beth, Thank you for commenting here. Your book is an important one. When I read it I realized that many of the things you write about are things that have unconsciously driven me forward over the years and have inspired my own private journal writings and this more public blog forum. And even though the audience of this blog is primarily nonwriters, depression affects so many that I felt I had to share your book here.