A Review Of Darkness Visible
A Review of Darkness Visible by William Styron
In a day of rapidly changing words, I agree with Styron; the word depression has become too commonplace and too easily equated with the rain clouds accompanying a bad day—thus reflecting society's almost lackadaisical view of depression. From Styron's experience and my secondhand knowledge of depression, he best-described depression as being more akin to a brainstorm. I believe there could be merit to changing the term depression to something that sounds more substantial; however, I also recognize the double-edged sword of language. Changing the name could lead to a backslide in acceptance and comfort in talking about depression, especially when we still have much further to go.
Styron’s description of depression was mainly in line with what I have heard before. A friend of mine was diagnosed with depression, PTSD, and DID from a prolonged history of childhood sexual abuse. She opened up to me about her feelings and some of what she was experiencing (not the past abuse). She told me that part of what was difficult was the feeling of being alone. Even though she knew she had her family’s support, she still felt isolated and hopeless. This was one thing that stood out to me: as intense as the pain that is felt from depression, the worst part is the hopeless feeling that there seems to be no end in sight.
As Styron's depression increased, or in his words, as the “Rhythmic daily erosion of my mood–anxiety, agitation, unfocused dread” increased, his anhedonia became more intense. I am familiar with this concept from an academic point of view, but what surprised me was the sudden change in his relationship to alcohol. Styron mentioned he often used alcohol to help foster creativity and relieve emotional stress and pressure. However, it also seemed to be covering up some depressive symptoms. In time, he could no longer drink alcohol, as it would make him sick. It was as if his body was rejecting it, thus forcing him to get the help he needed.
Styrons experience with therapy was discouraging but honest. As a prospective counselor, of course, I was rooting for the effectiveness of therapy. However, the paramount concern was for Styron. I was shocked that the psychiatrist told him to avoid hospitalization due to the related stigma. This advice to avoid hospitalization was a critical eye-opener to the realities of being overconfident in your awareness of your client's experience. For Styron, the hospital's purgatory provided the focus and security necessary for his recovery after experiencing a deep depressive descent to hell. Through focused pharmacological treatment coupled with therapy—specifically art therapy, the clouds parted enough that he could see the stars and, eventually, the light he had been cut off from for so long. Multiple treatment methods are often essential to deliver the most effective care.
Depression is always multifaceted; this is due to the complexity of mental illness. Our society favors the medical model, so we want a clear binary answer to cause and treatment options. Unfortunately, the human experience is not comprised of ones and zeros but rather an amalgamation of all the numbers, which often leads to unpredictable outcomes in which every human life takes unique twists and turns. Styron identified a couple of factors contributing to his depression, including a genetic predisposition from his father, who also struggled with depression, and the loss of his mother. It is impossible to truly know everything that played a role in the development of his depression, but it is perhaps sufficient—for this paper—to focus on what he called unexpressed grief. Life is hard enough without bottling pain and misery and attempting to carry it on your own. This will ultimately lead to fatigue, loneliness, despair, hopelessness, and, finally, depression. Let me be clear: I am not trying to imply that depression is preventable in all cases and, in effect, blame the victim; I am, however, trying to give voice to the importance of family, friends, and helpers. Having a support system may not prevent depression, but it may ultimately save your life. Just as it eventually did for William Styron.
Allow me a moment of pessimism; I don’t believe counseling will cure depression. Counseling is helpful and should always be considered, but counseling alone is not sufficient. Without a support system of family and friends, as well as bright moments in life, I feel it is unkind to those who have suffered from depression and ultimately completed suicide to say counseling would have fixed them. We will never know if counseling or even a different counselor would have helped someone who is gone. But we can acknowledge that if someone is suffering from depression, they should never be as alone as they feel. As counselors, we need to foster a sense of hope and let our clients know that many care for them. This won't be easy, but I genuinely believe that counseling can and does make a difference in the lives of those battling depression. Just as someone fighting cancer wouldn’t rely solely on their family doctor but instead would seek a dedicated team for support, the same is true for those experiencing severe depression. Counseling is necessary, but often so is medication, robust support systems, alternative types of therapy (e.g., art, nature, animal therapy), and anything else that may provide hope.
I stated depression is not preventable in all cases; I stand by this, though I also acknowledge there are exceptions, and for many, it may be avoidable. There is a bevy of research that supports healthy lifestyle changes, such as diet, sleep, and exercise, have an immense effect on reducing and preventing depression. Having hobbies that you enjoy can also allow you to enter a flow state, which contributes to lowering cortisol levels and relieving stress that may build depression. Spending time in nature and engaging in mindfulness are practical and often accessible ways to separate yourself from things in life that are detrimental to your emotional health. A far too frequently overlooked option is service; a chance to help in your community can relieve many who need it. Acknowledging these methods, allow a final thought: If someone is depressed, don’t hesitate to reach out; like the friends of Job in the Old Testament who sat silently with him, simply being present can offer great comfort.
