August 24, 2008
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Douglas Adams saved my life.
Today, I replaced the Kurt Vonnegut quote about living on the edge, which had held top billing in my quotes module, with one that I had found this morning, by the late Douglas Adams.
I used to have severe depression occasionally. The diagnosis was bipolar type 2, hypomania, meaning that my moods tended to swing more down than up. Sometimes I got suicidal. The last time that happened to me was about twenty years ago.
In desperation, I turned to laugh therapy. I watched video tapes of old Marx Brothers movies and listened to audio books of Douglas Adams reading the 5 or 6 volumes of his Hitchhiker’s Guide trilogy.
I survived a very bad winter that way, and the depression never came back after that. As my son Doug likes to say, I don’t get depressed, just a little indented.
Thank you, Mr. Adams, wherever you are.
Comments (6)
I’ve come across more than a few wise quotes attributed to Mr. Adams.
The good Mr. Adams had a right sort of approach to life. And frankly? I believe we’re much more capable of managing our own down periods than any therapist… after all, who really knows us better?
..i wouldn’t mind stopping at the “just a little indented” phase..and sometimes find myself wishing for a little of that mania thing too.
He is one of my favorites too.
hubby loves the books but not a great fan of the movie. The BBC series of HGTTG is worth a look
“just a little indented” – oh I love it!