Depression is not as uncommon as it seems, especially amongst people who seem all too normal on the surface. Hiding the sadness and yearning for oblivion becomes a daily practice, almost like second nature. Amongst the many careers, depression afflicting writers is not unheard of. Writers like Ernest Hemingway suffered from it through something as seemingly simple as experiencing writer’s block. What is even more baffling is hearing about depression not from a medical provider’s perspective but from someone who undergoes acceptance and treatment for depression.
“Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness” by William Styron tells the tale of a man (himself) who suffered from depression and came to that conclusion in a roundabout way. Through hospital visits, psychiatric session, and even hospital confinement he learns to overcome his depression. Styron writes in a firsthand perspective where he takes the reader along, detailing…show more content… Styron is initially put off by his psychiatrist, penning how lame the specialist is and how incapable he is of providing proper treatment. He worries about how the drugs prescribed by the hospital to control his depression bouts are not working. He writes, “Many psychiatrists, who simply do not seem to be able to comprehend the nature and depth of the anguish their patients are undergoing, maintain their stubborn allegiance to pharmaceuticals in the belief that eventually the pills will kick in, the patient will respond, and the somber surroundings of the hospital will be avoided.” What we as future health officials need to understand is that our patients have a different viewpoint than us, a different way for seeing the bigger picture. What they want and need in that moment may differ from what we think is best. This is an issue we need to be quick in understanding because in some situations, timing is
