Depression and Alcoholism in Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness

Class # 10 ASSIGNMENT
Please Read the following or briefly skim over from online:
• William Styron (1990) Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness
This is an autobiographical account of the experience of serious mood symptoms, hospitalization, a suicide attempt and medications. It is not meant to be representative of all mood disorders and it is not meant to be representative of responses to types of treatment. It is meant to provide a better understanding of the subjective experience of mood disorders and one person’s response to treatment.
Written Assignment:
Please answer any two questions from below (in over two pages) or at least one page for each question. In APA format.
1. What would be the DSM 5 diagnoses for Styron. What specifiers may apply? Does Styron manifest a personality style? If so, which one. Explain your ratings in a one page narrative.
2. What symptoms were most upsetting to the author? Why?
3. What defense(s) does Styron use? Explain.
4. What role does alcohol paly in Styron’s depression? Explain.
5. Some authors have noted a relationship between depression/alcoholism and literary creativity. Does Styron believe that authors who are depressed or alcoholic are more creative than authors who are not? If so, why so? If not, why not?
6. According to Styron, to what extent was his depression genetic or biological (e.g., family history, alcohol) and to what extent was his depression environmental (e.g., circumstances, loss)? Explain.
7. What does Styron mean when he writes: “A phenomenon that a number of people have noted while in deep depression is the sense of being accompanied by a second self – a wraithlike observer who, not sharing the dementia of his double, is able to watch with dispassionate curiosity as his companion struggles against the oncoming disaster, or decides to embrace it.” In particular, what does he mean by “struggles against” vs “embrace it”?
8. Why does the author think that others (who have not experienced depression) cannot comprehend depression?
9. Styron writes: “the mind announces to its indwelling consciousness” (page 44) and “I never gave much thought to my work in terms of its connection with the unconscious” (page 78) and “despair, owing to some evil trick played upon the sick brain by the inhabiting psyche” (page 50). According to Styron, what is the relation of the subconscious (psyche) and conscious (brain) in terms of depression?
10. According to the author, to what extent is suicide a choice or the inevitable consequence of the depressive illness? (pages 28-33)
11. Why does the author believe that loss is central to depression? (page 56)
12. According to the author, what factors most contributed to his recovery from depression?
13. According to the author, what factors most prohibited recovery?
14. Why wasn’t Styron’s wife more help to him than she was?
15. Why did Styron find the hospital a “kinder, gentler madhouse” than the one he left? (page 73)
16. What medication issues emerged from this author in treating his depression. Explain.
17. What transferences issues emerged in the author’s relationships with therapists? Explain.
18. What countertransference issues emerged in the author’s relationships with therapists? Explain.