
John Keats – 19th Century English Romantic Poet most famous for his poetry series of “Odes.” Keats experienced periods of severe depression.
Clincal depression is a mental illness indeed, but Keats wasn't diagnosed with clinical depression. What Raphael means I think is that Keats had a lot of tragedy in his life and was prone to bouts of depression, not surprisingly, and particularly so in his last few months.
He certainly to my mind, and from personal experience, seems to have suffered some form of mental illness at particular times but no-one knows for sure.
Either way, it should not be seen as a weakness, mental illness is as serious [and sometime more] than any physical ailment and should be treated as such. I know personally what a stigma it is for me and people I've known with mental health problems.
Rant over
Yes, Saturn and Raphael, depression is not something to be ashamed of; it is an illness with definite physiological foundations. Mental illness, in general, is nothing to be ashamed of and it is not a person's "fault" if they have one. I've had too many family members (lots of depression in my family) and friends (I have a friend with schizophrenia) who have had to bear a great deal of suffering in the name of social stigma. I am all for bringing all mental illnesses "out of the closet" so that the misconceptions, fears, and prejudices surrounding them can be dispelled.
As regards Keats, evidence (from his own letters and the accounts of others) points in the direction that he suffered from bouts of depression most of his life. He often called them his "blue devils". They tended to be triggered by painful events in his life (the weeks and months just after his mother's death, the realization that Tom would die, when he learned that George was getting married and moving to America . . . those are a few times he appeared to suffer greatly from depressed moods and, I believe that the last two examples overlapped somewhat). Certainly there was no understanding back in Keats' day of mental illness as we know it. And, as he is dead and cannot be examined, no actual diagnosis can be made, but it is safe to say that he did suffer from depressed moods.
Malia wrote:Raphael,
I think that Keats's depressions were more than just "feeling down." His brothers, as well as others, testified to his dark moods--moods in which he at times contemplated suicide. His symptoms (as he, himself, described them) speak of the almost debilitating ennui that can occur with a depressive episode.
I'm sorry to hear about your eczema, Raphael. My dad has it on his elbows and it is certainly a painful condition.
I remember an acquaintance I had back in my undergrad days had it very bad on his hands and I think he felt embarrassed about it--because of the way his hands looked with the condition.
But he had such a gregarious nature--he did his best not to let his condition overpower him or become the only "mark" of who he was.
I hope you find some relief for your condition.
Raphael wrote:When I wrote *feeling down*- I did mean that, was putting it politely in respect for him. I still think they were a result of his sufferings though - a reaction to the sometimes unbearable situations and sufferings he faced. I don't think it was clinical depression ( cause unknown, possibly chemical imbalances in the brain as stated by doctors)
Raphael, clinical bouts of depression can be "triggered" by life events. In fact, a traumatic experience in life can alter a person's brain chemistry and make them more susceptible to depressive episodes. Sadly, that is what happened to my Aunt, who just died from the effects of alcoholism (brought on by depression that began from a traumatic childhood event--the suicide of her father).
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