Classic Rock
Pete Townshend talks about his battle with depression
Depression is a serious issue and can affect anyone, regardless of whether you’re famous, rich, or have almost everything you may desire. The legendary The Who guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend battles depression for decades already and told the Sunday Times that he even has suicidal thoughts on a daily basis.
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Pete Townshend talks about his battle with depression
“When I first wake up I’m suicidal, actually suicidal.” So he explained that waking up quite early, between 2 and 5am helps him because he is “still in the state that I was the day before”.
“I have a couple of cups of tea, two digestive biscuits — apparently equal to 17 sugar lumps — and I feel happy. If I start my journals before I have my cup of tea, I’ll paint a very bleak picture of my life. Despite the fact that I have everything that I want and everything that I need … And I have had a really extraordinary life.”
He also explained why therapy didn’t work: “After the third year, I realized that the woman counseling me had only said about three words. I was just listening to myself. So now I just write journals. Every morning I rebuild myself in a sense with tea and coffee, and a few vitamin pills.”
“I think because of social media in particular, the way that we carelessly share not only our anxieties but also perhaps our solutions. We’re a bit careless about that because what works for me won’t necessarily work for you,” Pete Townshend said.
Depression is a disease, so ask for help, go to see a psychiatrist, a psychologist. If you know someone who is not feeling good, listen to them and give them the emotional support they need.
