tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post5336740693726027989..comments2023-10-07T07:17:50.563-04:00Comments on Donuts and Desires: Why I Want to Write a Book About Depression (also, I need your help!)Giselle Renardehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15955755448116234634noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-12473123865775553312014-04-14T22:54:50.660-04:002014-04-14T22:54:50.660-04:00I'm not sure if it's just the mood I'm...I'm not sure if it's just the mood I'm in, but I feel extremely defensive by the suggestion that I would let anyone control me. Maybe that's denial talking... I don't know... I just don't feel that that's the case. Anyway, I'll leave it at that.Giselle Renardehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15955755448116234634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-31621717541718583832014-04-13T14:17:46.040-04:002014-04-13T14:17:46.040-04:00I've read that children of people with mental ...I've read that children of people with mental illness are prone to depression. Gee, wonder why? I wish you and your sister and grandma had continued your conversation -- and let your mother walk out if she chose. Don't let her keep controlling you, please!<br />Lee Rowanhttp://www.lee-rowan.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-49422756511576804672014-04-13T00:16:04.185-04:002014-04-13T00:16:04.185-04:00Thanks, Lena. I appreciate the well-wishes. Thanks, Lena. I appreciate the well-wishes. Giselle Renardehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15955755448116234634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-72184378510901411212014-04-13T00:15:00.146-04:002014-04-13T00:15:00.146-04:00I hope writing about depression has helped you pro...I hope writing about depression has helped you process your own life. That's a big part of the reason I want to write this book. So selfish of me! LOLGiselle Renardehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15955755448116234634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-76392209526511411042014-04-13T00:10:57.095-04:002014-04-13T00:10:57.095-04:00Wow, what a story. Seems like a lot of us have had...Wow, what a story. Seems like a lot of us have had similar experiences seeking family support and not getting it. Thanks for sharing. I really appreciate it.Giselle Renardehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15955755448116234634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-39772820632675654552014-04-12T12:33:33.200-04:002014-04-12T12:33:33.200-04:00I'm not a writer as such, but I've lived w...I'm not a writer as such, but I've lived with depression all my life and so did my mom. It took me 40 years to stop denying that something was really wrong and get help-counseling, medication, etc. Believe me. I know what a battle it is and that all the counseling and medication in the world won't help if I don't decide to keep a positive attitude. I wish you well in writing and that the book is a success.Lena Greyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06598473302061399248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-26396685298394058252014-04-12T10:59:45.018-04:002014-04-12T10:59:45.018-04:00I am a writer as well and write romance and women&...I am a writer as well and write romance and women's fiction. I've been battling depression for 30 years and it is in my mother's family history as well. My daughter now has problems with depression at age 40. I feel the same way you do and make no secret of my illness with anyone. I've been in therapy and take antidepressants.<br /><br />In an effort to get the subject of depression out into the mainstream of romantic fiction, I've written a women's fiction novel that I'm in the process of revising. There is too much depression out there not to address in this genre at some point.<br /><br />It's been a difficult book for me to write, both because writing about some things would put me into depression just going through it all in my head. Plus, I knew I'd never get anyone to read it if I wrote such that the depression was as relentless as it really is. People would put it down as being too depressing to read. LOL So, I carefully injected some humor and warm family times to break up the portions about her illness. I am also writing a blog for Savvy Authors about writing through depression because so many authors suffer from it and one of my main problems writing is getting myself in front of my laptop to write. Writer friends talk about evil day jobs and kids keeping them from writing but for me it is being unable, some days, to type a word or paragraph.<br /><br />I'd be happy to help you with your book. Is it fiction or non-fiction? Ask me anything about my condition and my experience writing with depression. My email address is cracette5@gmail.com. I'll fill out your survey as well and if you'd like to see my own novel, I'd be happy to send it to you as long as you realize this is a rough draft at this point.<br />CindyCynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08825226188430926553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-3179795412593106802014-04-12T10:14:58.851-04:002014-04-12T10:14:58.851-04:00Thank you for doing this, Giselle. I've been b...Thank you for doing this, Giselle. I've been battling depression, anxiety disorder, and abuse-related PTSD most of my life. In high school, I asked my parents to find help for me. My mother's response was, "You don't need help. I've been crazy. When you need help, other people have to tell you, so since you're saying you need it, you don't." Those were her exact words, and I have never forgotten them. I was fifteen.<br /><br />A month later, she caught me attempting suicide and told me, "Don't do it again. You're just trying to get attention. You don't need help." <br /><br />Mental illness in my dad's side of the family goes back at least to his grandmother, and probably farther but we don't know about it. My dad is severely depressed. I don't know about my mother's side, but she's been diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder.<br /><br />When I talk to them about my war with mental illness, my dad is supportive. My mother still tells me to just get over it, stop thinking about the past, and that I don't need help. <br /><br />As the parent of a child (well, young adult now) with the same diagnoses I have, I have done everything I can to let her know that any help she needs will be found, and that these are ILLNESSES, just like diabetes, or fibromyalgia, or any other chronic health condition. They are not something to be ashamed of. Not something that you can just "think better." And if you need help, it's available and you shouldn't be afraid to ask for it.<br /><br />Thank you for doing this project. And positive energy to you for your journey. I'm glad you have a supportive partner. Karenna Colcrofthttp://www.karennacolcroft.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-16179677611314852122014-04-07T17:50:54.406-04:002014-04-07T17:50:54.406-04:00Thank you for spreading the word, Louisa, and I...Thank you for spreading the word, Louisa, and I'm so sorry for your loss.Giselle Renardehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15955755448116234634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-23306470527459875702014-04-07T17:23:42.990-04:002014-04-07T17:23:42.990-04:00I'm coming from a different viewpoint here, Gi...I'm coming from a different viewpoint here, Giselle. My mother was a manic-depressive, and ended up killing herself (it's shocking still to say, even though I headed up that Suicide Prevention blog hop). Anyway, so what you're doing is very important. And especially not to keep quiet about it. I'm going to forward your link to a former student who is Asian, and is a writer. She's had a lot of problems in her community because they don't "believe" in it.<br /><br />I looked at the survey, and it's not really from my viewpoint to answer. But if you have questions for me, feel free to contact.Louisa Baciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12465650692407681636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-42736430824045707872014-04-07T13:46:00.614-04:002014-04-07T13:46:00.614-04:00You'd think my mom would be used to mental ill...You'd think my mom would be used to mental illness by now. We have two close family members who are schizophrenic, and my father was... well, I don't know what, but he was something (he was "institutionalized" at one point, but I don't know what for). <br /><br />After everything my mom's been through in her life, the fact that she takes my depression so personally, like I embody her failure as a parent, really isn't what I need. But I guess it's what she needs to do, so I don't talk about it with family.<br /><br />My girlfriend referred to my family as "sterile" the other day and it made me cry because it's sooooo true. In my entire adult life, I've never told my mom I love her. I can't speak for my childhood because I've blocked most of it out. *sad LOL*Giselle Renardehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15955755448116234634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-23087753749336752982014-04-07T13:34:23.599-04:002014-04-07T13:34:23.599-04:00Awww thanks!Awww thanks!Giselle Renardehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15955755448116234634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-69088874726893948022014-04-07T09:32:53.607-04:002014-04-07T09:32:53.607-04:00Sounds so familiar, family secrets and all. So far...Sounds so familiar, family secrets and all. So far I've only had mild bouts of depression (I'm more of an anxiety girl) but I've still been living with it my whole life. I've heard this as well from my family: my mother has battled severe depression for a long time (among other things), including at least four suicide attempts in my lifetime, and my grandmother's reaction every time was 'what will people think?' and is instantly defensive. Sadly there are so many people who take mental illness personally like this.<br /><br />This is a great idea. I'll be interested in seeing the finished product.A.M. Hartnetthttp://www.amhartnett.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7010960000683285600.post-28812217261036877412014-04-07T04:36:30.467-04:002014-04-07T04:36:30.467-04:00Hugs, and the very best of luck to you for this br...Hugs, and the very best of luck to you for this brave and inspired prjoect.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18100962112172185439noreply@blogger.com