Reflecting on your own mental health through writing is a monumental task, especially if your goal is to publish your work. Exposing your deep internal struggles and pain is a true act of courage and can come with its own set of consequences. Writers of memoir generally need to be prepared for the potential consequences of publishing their writing. Will your readers trust you if you identify with a diagnostic label? What if your writing does not reflect on your mental health, but how someone else’s mental illness or mental health experience/trauma impacted you?
Today I’d like to talk about a few things to consider when writing/publishing writing about mental health, whether you’re discussing your own mental health experiences or those of someone else in your life. These are merely my opinions, but come from my experience in creative writing, coaching, and working with other writers in the community.
1. First and foremost, think deeply about your timing. Am I ready to tell this story? Will I be triggering myself every time I sit down to write it? Do I have enough distance from the events/feelings I will be discussing to write objectively and withstand criticism from any beta readers or editors I ask to read the book?
You may be feeling an urgent need to get your thoughts and feelings to paper. Maybe something horrifically unjust happened and you want everyone to know, or you have so much welled up inside that you just need to write it down. All of that is completely valid. But ask yourself if you are ready for the rigorous process of writing and revising a book. Are you ready to relive these experiences until they’ve been crafted perfectly for your ideal reader? If not, there’s nothing wrong with writing these memories down in a journal, and waiting until some time has passed.
2. Be conscious of the language you are using. Many people suffering from mental illness find words like “crazy,” “nuts,” “insane,” or “cuckoo” to be incredibly hurtful. That’s not to say that you cannot or should not utilize these words in your writing; in fact, if using these words humorously in reference to yourself is empowering, even satisfying, then by all means use them. But it’s important to be intentional in how you’re using them. Be very careful when labeling other people with these kinds of terms. Words like “crazy” or “nuts” have been historically used to exploit and harm the mentally ill and you should be conscious that it may be harmful or triggering to your reader to read these words when discussing other people.
Some of us may have been maliciously bullied with these terms or even had more diagnostic labels weaponized against us. Saying things offhandedly like “I’m so OCD” or “he must have been psychotic” can not only be insensitive, but ignorant. This leads into my next point.
3. Do not pretend to be/speak as an authority if you do not have the training/evidence to back up your claims. If you’re going to speak on clinical matters such as medication and diagnostic labels, your reader will want to see that you either have the medical expertise or have done the necessary research to substantiate your argument. If you’re speaking purely from your own dealings with the mental health system and your traumas with it, be up front about this. It’s important to speak with authenticity.
Medications and diagnosis are two major parts of some people’s treatment and others’ harm. As someone who is medicated for depression and anxiety, I can write about the side effects I experienced from different medications I was prescribed. However, I am a writer, not a practicing doctor, so I’m not going to tell my reader what medications they should or shouldn’t take. Writers are always taught to show, not tell, and this is important here. Show your reader the effects of your medications, diagnostic labeling, treatment, etc. The reader will feel closer to you—their narrator—for it.
4. If you are writing about someone else’s mental illness’s impact on your own life, make them aware that you are writing about them and get their permission (if possible). I wouldn’t advise this in situations of past abuse or any other scenario that would put you, the writer, in an unsafe position. This again though would go back to the lesson on timing. If this is a fraught relationship, this person is still around, and they would be unhappy to be publicly portrayed, is this something you should be publishing right now? Remember, there’s no harm in writing it down and revisiting publication down the road.
If this person is deceased or is otherwise unable to give you permission to write about them, I would advise you to still make any others who may be impacted by the publication of the book aware before publication. You wouldn’t necessarily need permission if you have written your narrative appropriately to avoid defamation or libel suits but this is just good practice in any (safe) scenario. In any situation in which you are sending the text itself to be approved by someone in your life, send it in the very late stages of the editing/publishing process, so they are aware of how serious you are about publishing the story.
5. Take care of yourself. These are heavy topics, whether we’re discussing our own mental health or not. It takes discipline, patience, and a strong heart to relive difficult memories. If this writing causes you pain but you are determined to see it through, you must allow yourself time to rest. Strategies to reset your brain, such as taking a hot shower, watching a comedy special, walking around the block, etc., are critical to your writing’s success. You don’t want to get so deep into the traumatic memories and emotions that you can’t find your way out. Establish a support and care strategy, whatever it might be.
Similar to last week, I feel this list is not exhaustive. I’m only covering the basics here in what people should be aware of when writing about mental health topics. I would really appreciate feedback/comments on what others think should be on this list (or if you have differing opinions about what I’ve shared) and I would discuss this in a future post.
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Featured photo by Lisa Fotios.
Hanna Etu 