Writing is Good Therapy

Over the past year, I have had numerous conversations with people who seem to be struggling. It was the coronavirus, but it was also other stuff — work, relationships, creative struggles, the state of the world.

Everyone seemed to be running to a therapist, sometimes to talk, but a lot of times to get referred elsewhere for medication. My own views on medication have advanced considerably in recent years; I wasn’t raised in a family that dealt with therapy in any serious way, and we didn’t turn to doctors so quickly to solve problems we felt were solvable ourselves. The words depression, anxiety and trauma were hardly in my vocabulary until a few years ago.

But that’s a maturation of thought, I think. Our society has grown more comfortable with talking about mental health. Maybe even too comfortable. Nowadays, you can pretty much get out of anything by saying you’re depressed. Having a tough time at work, just say you need a mental health day. Cheated on your spouse, mental health. Forgot to pay your taxes, mental health. Anyone argues, just say they’re not receptive to your trauma… or something. It’s a get out of anything free card. Really.

Anyway, I’m not a master at self-care, and I’m not sure anyone can really claim to be. There was even an article published recently that said too much meditating is bad for you. Which makes sense. I mean, even a cursory knowledge of Buddhist thought would tell you that meditation is more linked to suffering than it is wellness. But hey, it’s America. We are a country that needs…