Gen X Journey

Total. Shock. Marian Keyes, Irish author extraordinaire, queen of the snappy dialogue, conjuror of the ultimate laugh out loud scenario, the woman I most seriously want to enjoy a girls’ night out with–is seriously depressed. She’s not going to be writing for a while, she can’t eat, sleep or do much of anything useful because of her illness.Well there you go. Here’s someone who seems to have it all, acknowledges the fact that she does, and still she is consumed by this crippling illness that strips away her talents. Very sad.

But what is very interesting are people’s reactions to people’s reactions. There are the customary responses to Marian’s depression similar to that of any bad news. The standard responses that can be used from hearing about someone contracting cancer to a death in the family–sympathy, kindness, empathy, the opportunity to tell their own story, making it about them, unsolicited medical advice–any or all of the above.

But then it gets nasty. An empathising British journalist (oxymoron or what?) tells of her own depression and her treatment with SSIR antidepressants. Actually I think she was swinging off Marian’s coattails by writing the story but did the journalist deserve to be attacked by the anti-depressant mafia over her use of antidepressants? Others go on to criticise the use of psychology and even the fact that Marian has revealed her condition.

Perhaps criticism and controversy is the side effect of an illness like depression. People are immediately on the backfoot because, let admit it, many people think that depressed people should–well–just snap out of it. Unfortunately it’s that sort of thinking that makes depression such an unsympathetic and unglamorous illness.

Let’s get one thing straight though. Depression is a real illness that has tragic consequences for individuals and families. Let’s be grateful to celebrities like Marian Keyes, Lorraine Bracco (ironically the psychiatrist off The Sopranos), J K Rowling et al who have made their condition public. It may help others seek appropriate treatment.

Get well soon Marian. 

Pic: Fanpop