Depression afflicts more than 18 million Americans in any given year. Of those sufferers, a little over six and a half million are men. This article takes a look at five famous American men who struggled with depression and examines how their depression influenced their lives and careers.
A Successful Depression Outcome: Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw (1948 - ) was the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Between 1970 and 1983, he led the Steelers to four Super Bowl wins and eight AFC Central championships. In the 1990s, after his third divorce, Bradshaw began experiencing anxiety attacks, weight loss, and bouts of uncontrollable crying. He was diagnosed with clinical depression and started on Paxil, which has kept his condition stable. He has stated he expects to remain on Paxil for the rest of his life. Bradshaw also credits his religious faith with helping him through difficult times.
Rock Star Who Succumbed to Depression: Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain (1967 - 1994) was the lead singer of the group Nirvana, one of the original grunge bands. His depression probably started in childhood, when friends can remember him withdrawing to hide in a closet on days when he felt bad. Nirvana's meteoric rise to fame destabilized Cobain even further. He began drifting in and out of depression (most experts agree he probably suffered from bipolar disorder) and became addicted to heroin as a form of self medication.
On April 8, 1994, Kurt Cobain committed suicide with a single shotgun blast to the head. He left behind a suicide note claiming he could no longer find pleasure in anything, even creating music. (The clinical term for this is anhedonia.)
Writer Who Committed Suicide: Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway (1899 - 1961) published seven novels in his lifetime including The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms. He also wrote numerous short stories and served as a news correspondent during the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
In the late 1950s, Hemingway's physical and mental health began to fail. He became paranoid, thinking that people were following him and trying to kill him. He was also plagued with nightmares and self doubt. He no longer felt sure of anything, including his ability to write. Hemingway was treated with electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) at the Mayo Clinic, but the shock treatments were unsuccessful and Hemingway killed himself on July 2, 1961, shortly after his release from the hospital.
Depressed President: Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) was the 16th president of the United States. He is most famous for guiding the country through the Civil War and for his Emancipation Proclamation which struck a death blow to American slavery.
Numerous friends and associates agree that Lincoln suffered intense periods of melancholy throughout his life. He even spoke of committing suicide. He sometimes shut himself away for long periods and went days without eating or sleeping. His depression was no doubt complicated by the death of his eleven year old son, Willie, in 1862. Lincoln also dreamed of his own death. Sadly his dreams came true on April 14, 1865, when he succumbed to the bullet of an assassin.
Reactive Depression: Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (1918 - )has appeared on the news show 60 Minutes for more than forty years, since its debut in 1968. He is known for his hard-hitting interviews with luminaries such as the Ayatollah Khomeini, Anwar Sadat, Ayn Rand, and Salvador Dali. Wallace has won over 20 Emmy awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Emmy.
According to interviews, Wallace developed a reactive depression after being sued for libel by General William Westmoreland, who was upset about an episode aired by 60 Minutes about government deception and Vietnam. Finding himself "spacey" and unable to eat or sleep, Wallace sought talk therapy and medication to treat his depression, which resolved successfully.
A Final Word on Men and Depression
Fewer men than women are diagnosed with depression. However, experts are quick to admit that men are probably under-diagnosed. Men may tend to conceal symptoms such as tearfulness, sad mood, or self doubt, since such symptoms don't conform to what is expected of men in this culture.
Knowing that other men--talented, famous men--have faced similar struggles may encourage more men to seek treatment. And since depression is 80% to 90% treatable, particularly if intervention comes early, asking for help is the most important step a depressed individual can take.
Sources:
Depression Facts and Statistics.
Ernest Hemingway. American Society of Authors and Writers.
Morgan, John & Shoop, Stephen (2004). "Terry Bradshaw's Winning Drive Against Depression." USA Today.
Shenk, Joshua Wolf (2005). "Lincoln's Great Depression." The Atlantic.
Wallace, Mike. Academy of Achievement.
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