inspiration needed

slipchuck · 07-04-2007, 05:00 PM

I was put on steriods a year ago due to an neurological disorder.... now I am in a major depression from them.

I would like to hear some stories from others on how photography helped you through some tough times

thanks

randy

RussellW · 07-04-2007, 06:43 PM

My best friend who introduce me to photography many years ago, died suddenly in car accident a few years back. He and I wanted to and did travel the world in the eighties visiting many race tracks from F1 to Indy car and hell of lot others in between. These days when I go to the track like this Sunday, I always think of him and some his funny things he would do.

mate, all I can say to you is hang in there you WILL make it, I know what it is like to loose someone close.

bdavis · 07-04-2007, 07:09 PM

When I'm in a funk, my photography (along with most everything else) makes a stunning swan dive into the toilet or trashcan. What tends to help is breaking the routine, and to some extent, pushing through the discomfort. Doing something for yourself, too, can be helpful. Get up early and slip out to take a photo of the sunrise, or some other interesting thing at dawn. Splurge and buy something small; a rocket-blower, a hi-speed memory card, a trinket to make a still-life-type study out of (and then give the trinket to one of your daughters!), maybe a Tilley?. Most of all, don't be hard on yourself.

Don't worry---be happy, Randy. Have you talked to your doctors about alternatives? If you need anything...

leadbelly · 07-04-2007, 07:14 PM

I am new at photography, but the short time that I am immersed in it has helped me loads. I too suffer great bouts of depression because of my medication for my many ailments(too numerous to mention).

I took up photography to be able to look at the world in a different light, to find the beauty in all things rather than be glum about life. My bouts of depression always makes me feel that the world is an ugly place and that I'd rather not be a part of it, but ever since I took up photography and seeing the pictures posted here, the contests, it inspires me to find the beauty all around me as well...

hang in there buddy... you've been at this way longer than I have, you know how to find the beauty in all things better than I can...

and remember, this too shall pass...

little laker · 07-04-2007, 08:19 PM

I've got a similar problem although probably not as bad due to prescription pain killers Randy, which is why I only take them when necessary.

I can't offer you any story, although if you can make it to the Okanagan in August I'll promise you that you'll cheer up

The other thing is pack up a bag and go fishing for a few days

You'll feel better then

Mr Hyde · 07-04-2007, 08:39 PM

I dont know if this will be helpfull or not but this subject strikes so close to home for me that I felt the need to reply.

I'm a police officer. During my career I have spent 18 years investigating fatal car wrecks. During this time I also lived through a divorce. I'm sure you can imagine that there were times I was in a major funk. I would sit at home and do absoutely nothing. I didnt want to do anything. I didnt socialize. Family and friends seemed to become distant. The only thing I did was work, come home, sleep, and go back to work.

The only thing that worked to get me through these times was I forced myself to do the things I liked even though I didnt want to. The "not wanting to" part would go away after I started doing what ever it was that I was making myself do and I usually had a good time doing it. It was the "getting started" part that was always so hard. Sometimes it was as if I needed someone to light a stick of dynamite under my butt to get me moving but after spending some time doing something fun, or spending time with some friends, I really would have a good time. The absolutely worst thing I could do during those times was to sit and do nothing. The less I did, the less I wanted to do. It was very destructive.

I now have a semi routine to keep me busy when I get home from work. I run for about 3 to 4 miles, I practice my guitar, and spend some time with the photography. I also keep reminding myself that no matter how bad it seems, I really dont have it all that bad. There are alot of people that have more problems than I can imagine. I count my blessings and then thank God for them all.

This keeps me going. I hope it helps

bt*ist · 07-04-2007, 09:06 PM

I find photography to be very therapeutic, especially if you put yourself somewhere and task yourself with taking photos. Also, I find it helps if you're in a particular place (the zoo, national park) rather than just wandering aimlessly. It helps even more if you go somewhere you haven't been before. And though it may seem silly, I also get particular enjoyment out of spending my time afterwards going through the photos, looking at where I can improve them (either through better technique in the future, or perhaps improving by editing), changing them to black and white, cropping. It's just very satisfying. After that, getting them developed, sharing them with others, posting them on the web... it's all good stuff.

As long as there's space on the memory card, I say keep shooting!

*Mallee Boy* · 07-04-2007, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by slipchuck

I was put on steriods a year ago due to an neurological disorder.... now I am in a major depression from them.

I would like to hear some stories from others on how photography helped you through some tough times

thanks

randy

G'day Randy,
I think its more about anything that gives you joy and a sense of well being, not necessarily just photography. Often (for me) the photography is merely the catalyst to get out and about. The fact that I (& now my wife) enjoy digital photography immensely is a bonus. I can not explain the joy I get from not only photographing a sunrise, but experiencing the first rays of a new day, it is mesmerising.

Often too, its the preparation and planning for the shoot that is a large part of the fun. For example, we are headed for the US in Oct/ November and are going to shoot Yosemite, Redwoods, Crater Lake etc etc etc. The planning for this is a lot of fun and very challenging, but mate, are we looking forward to it.

I wish you well Randy, if its any consolation we have just come through a period where someone close was on life support for 10 days with little hope of recovery....he was 23. The good news is he is off the machine and while there is still a long way to go, he has hung in there and got through that part of it. What makes this young fella's case unique is that he is wheel chair bound from spina bifida.

Cheers mate, tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day with lots of great subjetcs just begging to be photographed.
Grant

PDL · 07-05-2007, 12:35 AM

Due to a chonic inflamitory disease I was put on steroids on and off for about 10 years. While I did suffer from some depression - it was not anything close to what you discribe.

When I feel really down - I listen to music - my favorite is Beethoven's 9th. If someone who is deaf can create such music - then my problems do not seem so great. The same goes with photography - I will look at the work of Adams, Weston, White, Cunningham and other masters - especially their early work - when they were for the most part down and out.

Speak with your doctor about methods of mitigation for the depression (some of the stuff I took for a while stated that paranoia was a "potential side effect" - I was on that for just a few weeks)

Stay safe - PDL

Rolly · 07-05-2007, 02:06 AM

What ails you is a physical illness or incapacity much the same as a broken leg, inflamed kidney, etc. except that there are no visible symptoms.
It is, however, very real.
Work out the extent of the limitations it imposes on you (you may need the help of a 'significant other/very close friend' here) and from what's not adversely impacting on your choices, select a few things that really give you a load of profound joy. Here you need to apply the 'I've got tonsillitis - gimme icecream' principle: Find what makes you feel good and allow yourself great dollops of it.
The "Black Dog", as Winston Churchill called his chronic depression, is an enemy best starved of its power by nurturing yourself.
In your chemically induced form the symptoms will, in all probability, gradually attenuate with cessation of the troublesome cause, whereas 'Winny' took his with him to the grave.
His writing and painting gave him a great deal of comfort and I suspect that for you photography may have a similar effect.
Above all give yourself the privilege of time for rest and introspection, focusing on the pleasures, great and small, profound and trivial, that life offers you.

I'm sure that I echo the sentiments of many others when I say that your involvement and contribution to these forums is greatly enjoyed by the rest of us.
Please keep at it; we need you and your wisdom and insight.

Whatever; look after yourself, reach out for whatever assistance you may need and be sure that, however grim things may seem, life goes on regardless, so you may as well make the most of it.

My very best wishes

Rolly

**J.Scott** · 07-05-2007, 03:31 AM

Originally Posted by slipchuck

I was put on steriods a year ago due to an neurological disorder.... now I am in a major depression from them.

I would like to hear some stories from others on how photography helped you through some tough times

thanks

randy

Depression is nothing to take lightly. A close family member suffers greatly from it and I can tell you that seeing your Dr. should be the start. Hopefully he/she will prescribe proper meds to get you on an even keel. No amount of people/friends/family telling you to 'cheer up' will ever succeed in rousing you from this funk. Please don't try self medicating like a few acquaintances of mine - that just complicates matters.

Mike Cash · 07-05-2007, 03:37 AM

I don't have anywhere near the troubles some have listed here, and find myself moved to count my blessings rather than moan about my relatively petty problems.

Despite working in a locale that many in the past have indicated to me they think must be cool (Japan), the nature of my truck driving job can be incredibly dull. As Murray Head told us in One Night in Bangkok, "One town's very like another when your head's down over your pieces, brother." In other words, when one is busy tending to daily business merely being in what some would consider an exotic and inherently interesting locale isn't enough to keep things interestings.

One way I keep the day from being utterly dull is to work photography into it. My K100D is always at my elbow, ready to go. And I generally keep one or two film cameras handy; a 35mm rangefinder and a medium format folder. Setting myself the challenge of spotting and capturing interesting images from the restricted shooting position of the wheel of a tractor-trailer in traffic (while stopped, of course) certainly helps to alleviate the boredom. It certainly makes traffic jams and red lights more tolerable. Many is the time I have spotted something and fervently wished the light would turn red so I could capture it.

slipchuck · 07-05-2007, 09:43 AM

A heart felt thanks to everyone.... you are all great souls!
As for the doctor question, I have been actively involved with them since my son died in the '90's.
The advice here is top notch.... just what I needed to hear.

thanks so much again,

cheers

randy

silverbullet · 07-05-2007, 01:32 PM

Randy,
I just wanted to add something to this discussion. I have not experienced the level of depression that you are currently facing, but all of us have our 'down' periods. With my photography, I find that when I am feeling down, I enjoy using the camera not to make photographs, but to make memories. The snapshots that I take of my family, friends and events will always mean more to me than the best landscapes, macros etc. that I will ever shoot. A few weeks ago I took my K100 to work and shot quite a few of my co-workers. Reveiwing the pictures a couple of days later brought a smile to my face.

Chris

Arpe · 07-05-2007, 11:48 PM

Well I can't say photography has helped me through anything, other than life in general, but Randy, just think of all the great photos you'll be taking when you come down to New Zealand (you have starting saving haven't you?) and if you're nice you may even have somewhere to stay for free at the bottom of the Northe Island.

See you then!