Tips for Writers Struggling with Anxiety and Depression
I’m sitting on my couch with an unmarked piece of paper, constantly clicking the pen I’m gripping tightly in a state of nervousness. My head is spinning with creative thoughts that I can’t seem to find words for. When I finally make some sort of scribble on the page, I’m unsatisfied. I cross it out, but I persevere, determined to create something publishable. When I do, I hit send, and somehow I’m still worried that my words will be misinterpreted. This is a cycle that feels like an enclosed rabbit hole.
I don’t like to say I ‘have’ anxiety and depression because, in reality, everybody deals with nervousness and hopelessness at times. I don’t want it to sound like a scary, incurable disease that I’m stuck with. But sure, I went to the doctor and saw several therapists who tried to read what was going on inside my head. There it was, written on a piece of paper in messy, almost illegible handwriting — an anxiety and depression diagnosis. Little did I know how much this mental illness would affect my future career as a journalist and creative writer.
Writers often don’t have set 9 to 5-hour schedules and can do their jobs from home, which can fuel anxiety and depression and hinder your goals. If you’re caught in the endless cycle of being extremely particular about your work, but also don’t have the energy to perfect it, here are a few adjustments you can make to smooth out the process.
Create a writing space away from your bed
If you’re often working from home, it’s important to set up an office space — that way your brain transitions into work-mode when you enter that space. You don’t necessarily need a whole room as your office filled with a giant desk and filing cabinets. It can be as simple as setting up a card table that’s home to your planner, notebooks and laptop. Maybe have an end table beside it filled with a few things that make you happy, such as an oil diffuser, a salt lamp or a plant. Whatever this space may be, keep it out of your bedroom and away from your bed. That’s where you allow your brain to have breaks and relax at the end of the day. If you try to work there, you’re bound to curl up in your bed and regret being unproductive.
It’s also beneficial to go to a coffee shop and hammer out your work, especially on the days it feels impossible to get out of bed. Simply stepping out of the house and working in a new environment can leave you feeling more motivated and uplifted. When you’re anxious, you tend to be more sensitive to your surroundings. Popping in your earphones, even if it’s just to block out some of the noise, can help you focus.
Write about it
Take advantage of those emotions of being frustrated, confused and stressed and write about them. Not only is it a way for you to cope with your feelings, but it could help others who are struggling, too. Several years ago, I posted a poem on my writing Instagram about how I wish I could walk around with ‘I have anxiety’ written on my forehead and someone commented saying they felt the same way. I was so comforted reading that comment and knowing other people related. Don’t be afraid of writing about having anxiety and depression. Use your feelings to fuel powerful, distinctive pieces of art. Art of all forms is driving further understandings of what it’s like to live with a mental illness.
Read
You can still be productive by reading. The more you read, the better you’ll get at writing yourself. If you’re really struggling one day, sip on a cup of coffee or tea and break out a book: a young adult novel, a romance, or even a book on writing advice. I find curling up in bed with a book and getting caught up in another world calms my feelings of nervousness.
Reading also steers your eyes away from the screen and from social media, which are known to cause symptoms of anxiety and depression. This is also why I recommend writing in a notebook instead of on a computer every so often. According to How Technology Makes Us Anxious on Psychology Today, technology leaves you uncertain about meaningless things, allows you to avoid face-to-face contact with others and gives you a warped perception of people’s lives.
Read more: 7 Books That Will Make You A Better Writer
Be easy on yourself
A therapist once told me, “on the days you feel like you can’t get out of bed, even changing into a fresh set of PJs is an accomplishment.” The meaning behind this also applies to your writing. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re glued to your bed for one day — it could be your body saying you need to recharge. Maybe you write one article instead of two or get half the amount of edits done that day than you planned on. Simply wake up the next day with a fresh mind and try again. Your health is more important.
Read more: How Being Part of a Writing Community Can Help You Achieve Your Goals
Here are a few other tips:
Stick to a writing schedule that includes breaks, otherwise, your brain will get overwhelmed and tired quickly
Write out your reading and writing goals and place it in your writing space — this can make you more motivated to work towards them day by day
Don’t just write about the bad times, focus just as much on the happy moments
Reward yourself at the end of the day by doing something non-writing related that relaxes you, such as having a bath or visiting with friends
The author of the article is not a medical professional. Visit a licensed health practitioner for information about diagnosis and treatment. If you are having thoughts of suicide, contact a helpline in your area.
Nurturing your mental health doesn’t have to be done alone. Join our tribe of writers in our new course, 30 Days to Create a Sustainable Writing Practice, where we delve into limiting mindsets, negative beliefs about our writing and unpack the reasons we love to write while forming a practical writing routine.
Together we can achieve our writing goals and find healing in the process.
About Jayda Noyes
Jayda Noyes is a journalist in Saskatchewan, Canada, but has been a lover of creative writing for much longer. She’s fresh out of university with a bachelor's degree in journalism, and now writes for a small city's daily newspaper. While she's passionate about giving others a voice, creative writing is how she gives herself one. She shares her poetry on Instagram and her website connecting and drawing inspiration from other creators.