Was discussing poetry and other forms of artistic expression with one of my younger friends who “gets it” and during this to and fro, introduced her to one of my favorites which she’d never heard of before and I shared why I loved her and what called to me. During the conversation I brought up how she took her own life like a few of my other favorite writers and realized most of my favorite artists have suffered from the big black dog.
For those of you who are artists of any kind – take hope there is more of us than you realize and even though you feel alone, you’re not. Dont give up! Using art to express what you are going through is beneficial not for your own sanity but for those who drink from the water-bowl of the big black dog.
I came across this list on famous artists who struggled with the black dog’s barking and its a pretty good one. I do however feel they should of included some of my other favorites like Dylan Thomas, Anne Sexton, Tennessee Williams, Virginia Woolf and Emily Dickinson.
tinaaltman.com 
Yes it is a struggle and at times that dog engulfs me other times he rides in my purse like a barbie toy. I just discovered Sexton and Plath both excellent confessional poets who took their own lives. I wonder do we only create because we dance along the abyss’s edge? For surely i know of no other place.
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This made me giggle and sigh at the same time because I completely get it.
Spoken like a true poet 😉
Something I’ve been saying for many years is that I “wallow in the abyss of my own misery” and the only thing which gives me hope is making art or partaking from those who have experienced the same.
Thank you dear friend.
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This rang bells for me because I’ve suffered from depression for years and I’m a writer. I’ve yet to be published, but it was a light bulb moment reading your post. I hold myself back, I need to believe in myself. Thank you, Tina. 🙂
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Welcome and keep going sweetie! Use your pain as inspiration or reason to push you and know you ARE a writer!
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