Spike's daughter Jane talks about her father's depression
In a letter to his eldest daughter, Laura, dated 10 July
1974, Spike wrote, "I was born a sensitive person –
and during the war I suffered an experience which caused
me to have fits of depression. Of course I can't help
it, but when I'm ill I need great understanding, love
and patience and I don't often get it, so I lock myself
in my office until I'm better."
Jane Milligan says, "He felt the pain of the world
very much and I don't think he'd have had it
any other way, but as a child I would rather he hadn't
taken so many pills because ultimately, you know, you just
become confused.
"I didn't like him taking tablets because I
just thought that they were suppressing the problem."
Spike said, "You know, I've been on the very
floor of hell with depression for half of my life. I was
alive, I could see, I could touch things, but nothing gave
me any pleasure. But now, now I know that it doesn't
last forever. It does pass.
"Over all these years, I didn't know very much about
what was the matter with me. I couldn't do anything when
it came on except hide from the world for weeks at a time.
But many, many people with depression can be helped out
of these terrible moods and thoughts by learning more about
what causes them and by learning different ways to deal
with them."
Listen to Spike read some his
poems about depression
Find out more about the incidence
and symptoms of depression
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