Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by william styron

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Dear friends, this book is not a story that the subject will be spoiled for you. However, if you are still sensitive to this topic, don't read it because I briefly wrote the plot of this book.

William Styron talked about his own experience regarding depression in the book "Darkness Visible". He starts with a trip he took to Paris where he first feels changes in himself such as listlessness, getting tired easily, and being less talkative. Gradually, the symptoms increase and William Styron tries various ways to treat himself but finally reaches the peak of suicidal thoughts and is hospitalized and eventually recovers. What is interesting is the description of the state of a person suffering from depression in his own words for a better understanding of those who believe they have depression. But there is no content about how he recovered! Also, for example, he says that his suicidal thoughts disappeared after stopping a certain drug! Well, these thoughts were no longer the reason for his depression but an external factor. I really wanted to write my own opinions too, but as someone who has no expertise in this subject, it is much better to remain silent. People do not have an easy time understanding the mind and soul, and currently, they do not even know what dentistry is.

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Irohen

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Author William Styron, in his work "Sophie's Choice", takes us on a profound personal journey through a harrowing episode of depression that struck him in his later middle age.

What makes his exploration of this mental illness truly captivating is his remarkable ability to vividly describe the complex feelings and sensations that accompany the darkness of the spirit. These are notoriously difficult to accurately convey, as those who have suffered from depression can readily affirm.

Generalized anxiety and depression have plagued the male side of my family. I have endured it, as did my father, and I am quite certain his father did too. In my lifetime, society has become more understanding, no longer simply dismissing this common medical condition as just "the blues" or "feeling down" and expecting one to simply pull oneself together within a few days. However, many still have little comprehension of the excruciating physical sensations that typically accompany the mental turmoil within. Styron describes them with great dexterity. Personally, and everyone likely has a slightly different perception of these sensations, making them challenging to explain. I can sense when a "bad spell" is more than just the ordinary blues and is evolving into something more serious. A deep, dark, liquid-like feeling cascades through my brain and permeates every muscle and fiber of my body, inducing a paralysis that strips away ease and well-being.

Styron immerses us in his debilitating experience through a trip to Paris, where he was to receive a writer's award that would ordinarily have invigorated him. Instead, already深陷于 depression, it was a two-day struggle just to attend the award ceremony, the celebratory luncheon, and dinner with friends. He flies home on the Concord to ensure he can keep a psychiatry appointment the next day and commence treatment.

The account is indeed personal, but this is precisely the power of Styron's narrative. It is not merely a medical and psychiatric expose of depression, although he does also explore the causes and common treatments of the era (1980s). Rather, he presents the context of what it looks like from the perspective of the victim's drastically altered and restricted life. Despite being an incredibly concise book (less than 100 pages in my edition), the author offers a highly intense story of his depression, his sense of hopelessness bordering on suicide, and his arduous journey back from the depths. He quite rightly emphasizes how he has learned that, although depressive episodes often tend to recur, depression is always something that eventually lifts, especially with strong support.

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k1000o2te

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The author has written about his experiences of dealing with depression, which is very readable and touching. The translation and printing, as expected from the publisher Mahi, are very good.

Depression is a common mental health issue that can have a significant impact on a person's life. The author's account provides valuable insights into the challenges and difficulties that come with it.

It is important to raise awareness about depression and to offer support and understanding to those who are going through it. By sharing personal experiences, we can help to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and encourage more people to seek help.

The publisher Mahi has done a great job in presenting this article in a professional and engaging manner. The translation ensures that the message reaches a wider audience, while the printing quality adds to the overall reading experience.

Overall, this is a great article that offers hope and inspiration to those who are struggling with depression. It is a reminder that we are not alone and that there is always help available.

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AmeYuui

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The place where I read this book was very special for me. Yesterday, in the psychology class that I had attended several sessions before, we confronted with some horrible realities. The teacher said that I had fallen into a state of depression and its prognosis might pose insurmountable risks. When he said these things, I felt hatred and tried hard not to let tears fall. My heart was burning for myself and at the same time I was saying in my heart that this recognition is the beginning of the way to get out of it. Reading the book written by someone who has gone through this period and found salvation was of great help to my hatred. Probably I have to read it again and again and store the energy from the hope that the author conveys.

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LonelyLittleStar

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The author describes the feelings he has experienced during the period of depression very well and tries to answer the questions in this regard that are in his mind.

The book was of small volume but had a great impact.

It delved deep into the complex emotions and thoughts that accompany depression, providing valuable insights and perspectives.

The author's ability to vividly depict his personal experiences made it easier for readers to empathize and understand.

Despite its small size, the book managed to convey a powerful message and offer a glimmer of hope for those who are also struggling with similar issues.

It serves as a reminder that we are not alone in our battles and that there is always a way forward, no matter how difficult the situation may seem.

Overall, it was a remarkable piece of work that left a lasting impression on me.

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Cynical-Psycho

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The title of this book gives the impression of a harrowing and gritty exploration of madness and depression. However, it is actually a literary examination of the subject by a writer of literature.

The formal language he employs creates a divide between the readers and his humanity and suffering, making it seem like a dinner-party conversation about his "dance with depression."

The only thing that can be gleaned, and which is appropriate, is his focus on the idea that for someone who has never experienced the depths of depression, there is no language for the depressed to explain it.

I was a bit nervous that reading it would stir up old demons or bring my mind back to places I've left behind. But it failed to touch a nerve and, quite frankly, failed to provide any meaningful insights into the subject.

It seems that the book's attempt to present a literary perspective on depression falls short, leaving the readers with a sense of detachment and a lack of real understanding.

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lemozine

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I highly recommend reading this short book to anyone who is experiencing depression, has someone around them with depression, or simply wants to learn more about depression.

"Darkness Visible" is the author's account of his own period of depression. William Styron was a renowned writer who suffered from severe depression in his sixties and even contemplated suicide. Eventually, he was able to overcome this illness and later wrote about his experiences during that depressive time. This short book ("Darkness Visible") contributed to Styron's greater fame. Of course, the book was written about thirty years ago, and surely better books have been written in these years. However, a friend of mine who had been dealing with depression for a long time and had read many books about it said that this book is still a readable and enlightening one.

It offers a unique perspective on the inner turmoil and struggles that a person with depression goes through. Styron's honest and vivid descriptions can help readers better understand the complexity and severity of this mental illness.

Whether you are directly affected by depression or just want to gain a deeper understanding of it, "Darkness Visible" is definitely worth a read.

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onegem

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

It was August in the year 2000.

I was on the verge of entering the room for my final exam. This was the introduction to Unix and it was coming to an end.

So was I.

Tears were flowing copiously as I leaned over the second floor balcony. I was overcome with darkness, the likes of which I had never experienced before.

I completed the exam but could not pull myself together. I had no reason for living. In my grief, I recalled an earlier experience of incredible bliss that followed a near death/drowning experience at Luther Burbank Park during my first visit to Seattle in 1977. The water was calling me to her. I could taste her and the light drew me near. I kept remembering the bliss of that day as I sank deeper into the lake, my last breath bubbling to the surface, and the incredible softness and beauty of the afternoon sun reaching below the surface, with me in total surrender, enveloped by her. My brother pushed me to the surface that afternoon and, with the aid of the lifeguard, revived me. It wasn't my time.

The bliss was calling again and I was ready. I arranged a meeting with my best friend at the time. We had a last beer together and said our goodbyes. Again, it wasn't my time.

A month later, this book was sitting in the lunchroom at my workplace. I took it home and read it, and saw myself in the pages looking back at me. It would be a couple of months before I regained my appetite for living.

Looking back, I've had a major episode of depression approximately every 15 years. None were as deep and despairing as this last one.

There was something about this slim volume that really helped in the immediate post-suicidal period when I was in a sort of purgatory, a daze, a grey zone between the worlds.

I'm better now, thanks to caring friends and divine intervention. I have a zest for life, interesting projects, friends, and community. Just like before. But I am different for having had the experience I had.

Here is hope that your days are full of light.

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Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness

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